Official: 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL facelift

If you’re keeping count it’s facelift time for the SL, Mercedes-Benz’s popular top dog, tin-top roadster. Here are the official pictures showing new headlights, a diamond grille and some under-the-aluminium upgrades, it will be fully revealed at the Los Angeles motor show.

Merc’s big cruiser gets a new, more rounded grille with a glitzy ‘diamond’ pattern, a little like the 3D-effect design available on certain A-Class models, and smoother, more modern-looking headlights like those of the AMG GT sports car. There is also a redesigned bumper, an updated bonnet and side mirrors which have been slightly tweaked too.

The rear end too has modified with different taillights, a revised bumper with a fresh diffuser incorporating the quad-exhaust pipes on the range-topping SL63 AMG and a small bootlid spoiler. On the AMG model, carbon fibre accents are visible on the bumpers and throughout the rest of the vehicle.

On the inside, the cabin receives a larger infotainment display, the latest multi-function flat-bottom steering wheel, a redesigned gearshift lever and a new controller used to select driving modes such as the Individual, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Race. Despite pulling the wraps off its body, we’re still in the dark about the refreshed powertrains.

Full technical details will be announced at the LA show. Currently the Mercedes-Benz SL is available in six-cylinder SL400 and eight-cylinder SL500 form, as well as two AMG variants, the SL63 AMG and the zany V12 SL65 AMG.