With the completely newly developed SLK, one of the most successful sports cars ever built is entering its third generation. The new roadster blends light-footed sportiness with stylish comfort, a striking sports-car design with total suitability for everyday use, and top performance with exemplary ecology, says Mercedes-Benz.
The all-new SLK introduces the world premiere of the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL, which switches to light or dark at the touch of a button. Fuel efficiency and sporty flair come courtesy of powerful new 6-cylinder engine, which offers performance while still being more economical than its predecessor. In addition, the extensive set of safety equipment allows the SLK to set the standard in its segment. With its wealth of technical innovations, the SLK is once again the benchmark in its class.
“The new SLK embodies the role of the trend-setter like no other car,” says Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “I am convinced that with its passionate design, its high-quality interior and its modesty at the filling station it will continue to provide an enormous amount of fun on the road in future, too, consolidating its status as a cult roadster.”
Innovations are part of the successful history of the Mercedes-Benz SLK:
In 1996 the first generation caused a furore with the vario-roof, which transformed the wide-open roadster into a coupé with a fixed roof at the touch of a button in just a few seconds.
The second generation placed the warm AIRSCARF around the neck and shoulders of the occupants as needed, ensuring pleasurable open-top motoring even in cooler temperatures.
Now the third generation is presenting one of its unique highlights – the world premiere of the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL. The sophisticated roof can be quickly switched to light or dark at the touch of a button.
The designers have tailor-made a body for the new SLK which emphasizes its classic roadster proportions and puts them in the spotlight. Behind the long hood is a compact passenger compartment positioned far back, and a short tail end.
The first feature to catch the eye is an upright radiator grille that stands proud and confident in the wind and bears the new Mercedes-Benz brand look. It facilitates the long and well-proportioned hood, and with its rearward light-catching contours, it already hints at the roadster’s dynamic qualities. The wide radiator grille bears the Mercedes-Benz star in a prominent central position and displays a powerfully contoured fin, chromed at the front. The clearly defined headlamps complete the look for the new SLK’s face, which resembles that of the legendary 190 SL from the 1950s, which is regarded by many as being the original “SLK.”
However, it was certainly not just the past that the designers were focusing on; with the new SLK’s front end they also intentionally created a close visual link with the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG “gullwing model” and the new CLS.
Other equipment includes: a multifunction sports steering wheel with a flattened bottom section, a thick leather crown, and sun-reflecting leather which noticeably reduces the degree to which the surfaces it covers heat up, impressive ambient lighting and the innovative neck-level heating system AIRSCARF, familiar from the predecessor.
There will initially be one model of the SLK available at market launch, powered by a new engine with direct injection. The V6 engine in the SLK 350 draws 302hp from its 3498 cubic-centimetre displacement, using this power to accelerate in an estimated 5.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h (top speed 250 km/h). The V6 engine has been completely newly developed, and its most important hallmarks are its sophisticated 3rd-generation direct injection, piezo injectors and multi-spark ignition.
Suspension for the close link with the road
The standard Dynamic Handling package includes a suspension with continuous adjustable damping. It has an electronically controlled fully automatic damping system, which allows the vehicle to roll away gently even on poor road surfaces while still offering high driving dynamics.
Also included in the Dynamic Handling package is the Direct-Steer system and the Torque Vectoring Brakes developed by Mercedes-Benz. The Direct-Steer system offers more handling and agility than the standard steering, while also reducing the amount of physical effort required when parking. In critical conditions, the Torque Vectoring Brakes produce a defined rotational movement of the vehicle about the vertical axis in fractions of seconds through selective brake actuation at the rear wheel on the inside of the bend. This results in the SLK stabilizing without any compromises where dynamism is concerned, and it steers into the bend precisely and under full control.
The new SLK’s bodyshell structure has been further refined, with the hood and wings now made of aluminium.
The new Mercedes-Benz SLK also sets new benchmarks in terms of safety. The third generation of this powerful trend-setter will make use of a whole host of the latest assistance systems to support the driver, including the drowsiness detection system ATTENTION ASSIST, developed by Mercedes-Benz and fitted as standard; the optional anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®, which is unique in the world; and PRE-SAFE® Brake, which can apply the brakes autonomously in the event of an impending rear-end collision. As such, with the SLK, Mercedes-Benz is consistently and significantly exceeding the requirements imposed by safety standards.
Available immediately at Mercedes-Benz dealerships across Canada, the SLK350 is priced at $66,500.
