- Mercedes-Benz will replace the SL’s four-cylinder engine with a six-cylinder unit.
- These automakers are switching to meet stricter emissions regulations.
- The new SL53 will allegedly arrive with a facelift in 2027.
Mercedes-Benz is rumored to be making major changes to the entry-level SL. With the upcoming 2027 facelift, the automaker will replace the current car’s four-cylinder engine with a six-cylinder engine.
According to the new one Auto and Sport Motorcycles Reports are that Mercedes will discontinue the M139 engine that powers the SL43 because it doesn’t meet Euro 7 emissions standards. The automaker will allegedly replace it with the M256 Evo, a mild hybrid 3.0-liter inline-six, and call it the AMG SL53.
The new engine is expected to produce 449 horsepower and is equipped with a 23 hp integrated starter-generator. The SL53 will also come standard with all-wheel drive, unlike the rear-wheel drive SL43.
V8 SL
The report also says Mercedes will change the V8 engine that powers the SL55 and SL63. The 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine will switch from a cross-plane crank to a flat-plane crank, improving performance while still meeting new emissions regulations.
The engine will produce 537 hp in the SL55 and 650 hp in the SL63. The 55 currently produces 469 horsepower and 516 lb-ft, while the 63 will see significant upgrades, jumping from 577 hp to 650 hp.
The report doesn’t provide details about the SL63 SE Performance plug-in hybrid, which pairs a V8 to an electric motor. Power is rated at 805 hp, but we expect the new V8 to produce more than 880 hp.
43
Motorcycle Pickup1: This may be one of the few times emissions regulations benefit enthusiasts. Mercedes had to update its powertrain lineup, and as a result, buyers get better engines in the entry-level offering and more power at the top end. It’s a win-win.
