Mercedes Builds One-Off AMG SL 55 for 2026 WTA Champion
Mercedes-Benz has created a one-off AMG SL 55 4MATIC+ for the singles champion of the 2026 FAGE WTA Finals, combining the V8 roadster with an ultraviolet exterior, a white leather cabin and tournament-specific personalization.
The car was unveiled at the Mercedes-Benz Brand Studio in Beverly Hills ahead of the season-ending women’s tennis tournament. The manufacturer’s November 6 announcement describes it as a MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure vehicle rather than a new production trim.
The tournament is scheduled for November 8-15 in Indian Wells, California. Mercedes says the car will be handed to the singles champion on center court during the November 15 trophy ceremony, so the recipient was not yet known when the vehicle was revealed.
Ultraviolet paint and a personalized winner’s badge
The most visible change is a MANUFAKTUR ultraviolet paint finish inspired by the WTA’s purple branding. Mercedes paired it with 21-inch AMG forged cross-spoke wheels and a Crystal White MANUFAKTUR Nappa leather interior.
Carbon-fiber cabin trim provides the performance-car contrast. The tournament-specific details include custom door sills, embossed headrest cushions and a badge that will carry the eventual champion’s name.
Mercedes says its Sindelfingen MANUFAKTUR team produced the special details through the company’s Made to Measure program. The release presents the car as a demonstration of the program’s customization range, but it does not say that this exact color-and-trim combination will be offered to regular customers.
The release does not announce mechanical changes
Mercedes identifies the prize car as an AMG SL 55 4MATIC+ but does not list a model year, vehicle value or modified power output. It also does not announce changes to the engine, transmission, suspension or braking system. The disclosed work is focused on paint, materials and personalized trim.
For context, the current U.S.-market AMG SL 55 uses a handcrafted 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 rated by Mercedes at 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The company lists a nine-speed AMG Speedshift transmission, 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive and a manufacturer-estimated 3.8-second 0-to-60-mph time.
Those figures describe the standard U.S. model page, not a separately verified test of the WTA prize car. Mercedes has not said the one-off vehicle is faster or more powerful.
The WTA confirms the handover plan
The WTA’s own announcement confirms that the singles champion will receive the car during the November 15 ceremony. It adds that each doubles champion will receive a complimentary 12-month lease of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
The WTA says eight top-ranked singles players will compete in the Finals. The event’s 2026 stop is its first in Indian Wells and marks a return to North America before a planned move to Charlotte, North Carolina, for 2027 through 2029.
Mercedes-Benz became a Premier Partner and the Exclusive Automobile Partner of the WTA Tour for the 2026 season. The automaker and tour have used that relationship for branded courts, content, fan experiences and the Los Angeles Clubhouse event where the SL was shown.
A performance car used as a culture and sponsorship platform
The special SL is both a performance vehicle and a marketing asset. Rather than introduce new hardware, Mercedes is using color, craftsmanship and the promised champion-name badge to connect its high-end personalization program with a global sporting event.
That approach parallels other recent automaker-sports partnerships, including the Jeep-Juventus program recognized by the 2026 Global Football Industry Awards. In both cases, the vehicle brand is trying to extend the relationship beyond logo placement through events and exclusive experiences.
Mercedes has not disclosed the cost of the one-off SL 55, the value assigned to the prize, whether taxes or delivery costs are included, or whether the winner may choose an alternative. Those details may become clearer when the champion receives the car on November 15.
Featured image: The one-off Mercedes-AMG SL 55 4MATIC+ created for the 2026 WTA Finals singles champion. Photo supplied by Mercedes-Benz; the photographer is not identified in the release. Source: Mercedes-Benz Media. Used for editorial reporting under the Mercedes-Benz Media terms.