RE: Officially Revealed: Mercedes-Benz SLK

RE: Officially Revealed: Mercedes-Benz SLK

Thursday 13th January 2011

Officially Revealed: Mercedes-Benz SLK

It really is a kind of magic. Or so they still insist



To help us celebrate PH Open Season, Mercedes-Benz has kindly agreed reveal its all-new SLK roadster today*, complete with its very own 'world first'. Say hello to the Magic Sky Control roof (more mushroom tea, vicar?) which switches from light to dark at the touch of a button.

We now know the car's going to be launched with a pair of 4-cylinder petrol engines making 184hp and 204hp respectively, and a 3.5-litre V6 offering 306hp. The SLK 350 will do 0-62mph in 5.6secs but power junkies will doubtless wait a bit longer for the V8 version. Although it's not been announced yet, we're expecting a new SLK 55 packing a normally-aspirated version of the latest AMG 5.5 unit offering in the region of 420hp. (There's also a diesel option somewhere on the horizon, a twin-turbo 2.1-litre with 204hp that presumably offers unlimited miles to the gallon.)


Mercedes says the SLK will arrive with three suspension options. A conventional steel set-up is standard, which can be upgraded to either a sports suspension with firmer springs and dampers, or to the Dynamic Handling package which has an electronically controlled fully automatic damping system. The Dynamic Handling pack will also include Direct-Steer (active assistance) and Torque-Vectoring brakes.

The most obvious changes are visual, with the new SLK boasting a thoroughly new look inside-and-out that's designed to reflect some of the characteristics of the SLS Gullwing, and also the original 1950s SL.


To that end you get a new, upright radiator grille with the M-B star set prominently within and clearly defined headlamps. (It says here...) The car also has 'timelessly classic' proportions when viewed from the side, and design touches like the chrome fin on the wing vents are a nod to those old '50s machine.

The inside looks pretty nice too, we reckon, and we'd take a punt on it being one of the most refined convertibles in its class. As well having Magic Sky to play with when the roof's up (assuming you haven't skimped with the standard steel vario-roof), the open-air experience will be soothed by Airscarf which blows warm air around your neck, and a new system of turbulence control called Airguide. 'It consists of pivoting transparent plastic layers which are attached to the reverse of the roll-over bars. The driver or passenger can swing them to the centre of the vehicle in a flash, thus taming turbulent air flow,' says M-B. However we can't spot it in any of the pics released today. (Maybe because they're transparent..? Ed.)

Official UK launch date for the SLK will be June, and prices and specs remain to be confirmed.











   

*That's not the real reason.

Author
Discussion

illmonkey

Original Poster:

18,096 posts

197 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
*Sex wee*

Gorgeous car

Edited by illmonkey on Thursday 13th January 11:07

KenBlocksPants

5,910 posts

183 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Looks spanking.. a poor mans SLS. Which is not a bad thing.

Only good with a V8 in it though wink

stuckmojo

2,946 posts

187 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
I don't know, it looks like it's got a face too big for the body. A bit like Kiera Knightley.

/waits for the artillery barrage

MIP1983

210 posts

204 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
I've always thought the SLK looked quite dull and not very pretty, with no signifigant evolution of what was always quite a bland looking design. I'd have a Z4 or Porche over this any day.

loomx

327 posts

224 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Front grill makes it ugly, far too big (Deep). Its completely out of proportion with the rest of the car.

kambites

67,442 posts

220 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Hmm, awkward in places, especially the nose.

I still think it's better looking, overall, than the Z4 though. Probably roughly on a par withe Boxster.

ukzz4iroc

3,216 posts

173 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
stuckmojo said:
I don't know, it looks like it's got a face too big for the body. A bit like Kiera Knightley.

/waits for the artillery barrage
Yes but you still would wouldn't you....

Matt UK

17,637 posts

199 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Great that MB are sticking with a V8 as the range-topper in this age of 'down-sizing'

Civpilot

6,235 posts

239 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
article said said:
and a new system of turbulence control called Airguide. 'It consists of pivoting transparent plastic layers which are attached to the reverse of the roll-over bars. The driver or passenger can swing them to the centre of the vehicle in a flash, thus taming turbulent air flow,' says M-B. However we can't spot it in any of the pics released today
And yet they are clearly visable in this photo attached to each roll hoop?



Overall the car looks good I think, but might be in the minority

kambites

67,442 posts

220 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
It's a German sports car that's not a BMW or Porsche, people on Pistonheads aren't allowed to complement it. hehe

RTH

1,057 posts

211 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
loomx said:
Front grill makes it ugly, far too big (Deep). Its completely out of proportion with the rest of the car.
Agree.

myhandle

1,178 posts

173 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Daimler-Chrysler may be no more, but there is more than a little Crossfire Roadster in this design.

Oddball RS

1,757 posts

217 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Great inside, yuck outside, sorry but thats how it is.

Fuelbrother DC

84 posts

163 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
stuckmojo said:
I don't know, it looks like it's got a face too big for the body. A bit like Kiera Knightley.
Finally someone who thinks the same! Cheers! hehe

Luca Brasi

885 posts

173 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
You'd have to be mad to take this over a Z4.

Jaz300CE

29 posts

183 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Love the front. the back makes it look too girly

stuckmojo

2,946 posts

187 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
ukzz4iroc said:
stuckmojo said:
I don't know, it looks like it's got a face too big for the body. A bit like Kiera Knightley.

/waits for the artillery barrage
Yes but you still would wouldn't you....
oh god yes! That's besides the point. smile

kambites

67,442 posts

220 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Luca Brasi said:
You'd have to be mad to take this over a Z4.
Why?

vrooom

3,763 posts

266 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Why those car has 'lip' sticking out on rear arch?

Whitean3

2,182 posts

197 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
I think it looks great. Lovely looking mini SL.
Would I buy one? No. My wife had an SLK when I met here-looked good, but was not pleasant to drive really.

For a car like this, I would want something sporty- there are other better "sports convertible" options out there- Boxster (the one I would choose- the latest 3.4S model was fabulous to drive), and Z4 being the obvious rivals. Don't want an autobox and MB's manuals aren't the greatest. This is more a car to be seen in, than a true drivers car- in my opinion!