No, this is not an AMG GT, but we don’t blame you for mistaking it for one. What this is, is the face of the new 2017 Mercedes SL Facelift, being prepared for official debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show later this month.

As expected, the 2017 Mercedes SL will only get a mild update in terms of design to get rid of some of the more annoying design features of the R231 body and bring the looks up to date and on the line with other Mercedes-Benz product. That means the car is going to look invariably like the AMG GT. Think of it as an open-top AMG GT, the Roadster version that will never be.

So the new 2017 Mercedes SL comes with a new diamond grille, round headlights, revised bumpers with signature Mercedes grilles, and hopefully revised rear-end as well. There will undoubtedly be changes to the powertrains with focus on efficiency and improved drivability, and they may also give the interior some nip and tuck. What we like to see is a complete redesign of the R231, but that won’t happen until at least 2020.