The Mercedes-AMG SL is one of the much-awaited cars this year. Spy shots of the convertible confirm that its development is already in full swing and nearing completion.

What makes the upcoming SL more exciting than its predecessor is that AMG is now in full control of its development. That means a more elegant and sportier car with a major performance boost up ahead.

Rumors say that the auto will feature an all-wheel-drive system either as a standard or optional configuration. Then it will carry the high-performance brand’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 partnered with an electric motor to deliver a mild-hybrid output of over 800 hp.

While most are probably more excited about the performance of the new AMG SL, one should also appreciate its new platform. According to Daimler, it uses a complex system of materials to make its architecture achieve maximum rigidity but light enough so as not to compromise with its driving dynamics and comfort. Such construction was used in motorsport and the first SL’s coupe and roadster variants.

The frame of the car is reinforced with composite aluminum, steel, magnesium, carbon, and glass fiber. All the materials are joined using a wide range of methods. Among them are MIG (metal inert gas) welding for joining steel and aluminum, laser welding by a robot for areas that require greater precision, and various riveting as well as bolting techniques to keep everything together.

In a nutshell, the complex architecture aims to provide precise driving dynamics, high comfort, a high level of safety, and optimal packaging while keeping the sexy and sporty body proportions of the much anticipated Mercedes-AMG SL.