Mercedes-Benz to add a comfort-focused SL for 2027, Källenius confirms

Mercedes-Benz will add a third SL variant for 2027, a comfort-oriented roadster badged as a regular Mercedes-Benz model, CEO Ola Källenius confirmed at the Golden Steering Wheel awards in Berlin. It will join the existing AMG and Maybach versions rather than replace either of them.

Källenius said the new model will be presented next year, and that the facelifted range will cover the 2028 model year. Mercedes has not yet disclosed pricing, powertrain output or other exact specifications for the car.

A softer SL aimed at relaxed open-top driving

According to Auto Bild's account of the announcement, Källenius described the new model's role as expanding the SL family by another model, and said an SL has to combine assured performance, high comfort and a special driving experience. The regular Mercedes-badged SL is positioned around relaxed open-top driving and refinement, without the AMG's performance edge or the Maybach's ornamentation.

A camouflaged prototype photographed before the announcement showed a cleaner front bumper with a traditional three-pointed star and star-pattern running lights, distinct from the AMG's Panamericana grille and the Maybach's heavier front end. Each SL variant gets its own face to match its character.

Engine details remain unconfirmed

Mercedes has reportedly dropped the four-cylinder SL 43 engine, and an inline-six is reportedly under consideration, though nothing is confirmed. Beyond that, the carmaker has not announced the new SL's engine, power or torque figures, saying those details will come later.

Where the new SL sits in the range

The AMG SL keeps a performance brief with sharper handling and a focus on outright pace, though Mercedes has already softened that formula once with a refreshed chassis tuned for more comfort. The Maybach SL 680, which joined the range for the 2026 model year, sits at the opposite extreme with maximum luxury and presence.

The new Mercedes-badged SL is intended to fill the gap between those two. That matters because buyers have had only two choices since the current SL launched for the 2022 model year: one roadster wearing either an AMG or a Maybach badge. A third, comfort-first option widens the range for buyers who want an SL's open-top experience without a performance focus or Maybach-level trim.

Buyers shopping the SL-Class today are still looking at the existing AMG and Maybach variants, since the comfort-focused model will not reach production until next year. The SL is one of seven new models Mercedes plans to launch in 2027.

Pricing and specifications still to come

Mercedes has not announced how much the new SL will cost, nor its exact specifications. The brand has said those details will be revealed later, so the inline-six engine option and every other mechanical detail remain unconfirmed until the car is shown in full.

Lexus is recalling 7,015 examples of its second-generation IS sedan and convertible in Australia to replace front passenger airbag inflators fitted under an earlier Takata recall. The voluntary safety campaign covers vehicles produced between August 31, 2005 and December 25, 2012, spanning the IS250, IS250C, IS350 and IS F nameplates.

Why the inflators are being replaced again

The recall notice states the affected cars carry certain Takata front passenger airbag inflators installed as replacement parts under a prior recall, which contain a desiccated, phase-stabilised ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Lexus Australia says continued prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high temperature cycling may cause the inflator to rupture during airbag deployment because the propellant can degrade.

A rupture can send metal fragments through the airbag and into the cabin at high speed, which may cause injury or death to occupants. Lexus describes the recall as a proactive measure and says investigation of recovered parts has not currently identified any propellant degradation. No issues have been reported, and the company says customers can keep driving their vehicles.

The recall is limited to the front passenger airbag in these IS models and does not affect any other airbags or other Lexus model lines. That narrow scope matters for owners: the fix is a single inflator, not a wider airbag system inspection, so the practical burden on drivers is a workshop visit rather than a broader safety review.

What owners need to do

Affected owners should book an appointment with an authorised dealer to have the inflator replaced free of charge. Lexus estimates the work at about 4.5 hours per vehicle, though it advises that depending on the dealer's schedule the car may need to be made available for longer.

Owners with questions can contact their preferred Lexus dealer or the Lexus Customer Assistance Centre on 1800 023 009 on weekdays between 9:30am and 5:30pm. The original recall notice and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) list are attached to the recall documentation.

The sources do not state how many of the 7,015 affected cars have already had a replacement inflator fitted, so that figure has not been announced. Owners who are unsure whether their car is caught should check the VIN list rather than assume a previous recall visit has closed the matter.

A long history of Takata recalls for the IS

This is not the first Takata-related campaign for the IS in Australia. In June 2016, Lexus Australia recalled 21,750 IS sedan and convertible variants built between 2005 and 2011 because the front passenger airbag inflator could become susceptible to moisture intrusion over time, making the assembly prone to rupture. A further 2,166 IS models were added in January 2017.

The pattern here is a recall of a recall part. Because the inflators now being replaced were themselves fitted as remedies under earlier campaigns, the latest notice shows that a repaired car is not automatically a closed case. For buyers of used second-generation IS models, checking the VIN against the current list is the reliable way to confirm the work has been done.