2026 Mercedes SL Headlights Are The Least Interesting Part

The updated Mercedes SL will likely launch with the company’s new flat-plane crank 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8.
 

It seems German brands are in the middle of a relentless facelift cycle, with updates arriving at a steady pace across their lineups. BMW is deep into a design transformation, and Mercedes-Benz is keeping up with a slew of refreshed models, including the SL roadster seen in this latest batch of spy shots.
 
We’d argue the current SL is one of the better-looking cars Mercedes builds today, and it hardly feels overdue for a refresh. Still, four years have passed since its debut, which makes an update understandable. As these images of both AMG and Maybach-branded prototypes suggest, the changes will be subtle, albeit noticeable.
 
Visible at the front of both testers are redesigned headlights that now feature Mercedes’ increasingly unavoidable star-shaped elements, doubling as turn signals and daytime running lights. The camouflage does a decent job of masking the finer details, but don’t expect a radical departure, as the overall shape will likely stay close to the current SL.
 
At the rear of the AMG version, the familiar quad exhaust setup carries over unchanged, looking nearly identical to the existing model. The taillights retain their shape as well, although the LED signature appears to have been slightly revised.
 

What About The Cabin?
Our spy photographers have yet to capture any images of the updated SL’s interior, though the car is expected to debut with a subtly revised steering wheel.
 
Beyond that, additional cabin updates could be in store, potentially including a version of the MBUX Hyperscreen seen in the facelifted S-Class. To our eyes, this may be a bit of a downgrade from the SL’s current cabin, but big screens are having a thing at the moment.
 

New V8 Power
The extent of the powertrain changes also remains to be seen. However, there’s a strong likelihood that all V8-powered variants, including the SL 63, will transition to the new M177 Evo, a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine that recently debuted in the S-Class. It features a flat-plane crank and meets the latest Euro 7 emissions standards.
 
In standard mild-hybrid guise, this engine delivers 530 hp and 533 lb-ft (723 Nm) of torque, and those figures will likely grow for the SL 63. The outgoing model delivers 577 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm), while the flagship hybrid SL 63 E Performance ups these figures to 805 hp and 1,047 lb-ft (1,419 Nm).