Up to speed: Ray Hutton: SLK gets that supercar look
Mercedes has turned the gentle SLK two-seater into a miniature version of its fearsome SLR supercar. The new SLK has the same prominent pointed nose carrying a large three-pointed star to remind us of the McLaren Mercedes Formula One racers.
Although it has nowhere near the 200mph-plus performance of the SLR, the junior roadster has had a significant power boost to go with its restyling, including for the first time an AMG version, the SLK55 with a 360bhp 5.5 litre V8 engine. The 163bhp SLK200 Kompressor is the starting point for the new SLK range, which will arrive in Britain this summer.
Mercedes says prices will increase slightly — the current SLK starts at £25,735. A new 3.5 litre V6 engine is likely to make the SLK350 the pick of the range: with 272bhp, its power is 25% greater than that of the existing 320 model. Unusually, it is quicker with the new seven-speed automatic transmission than it is with a six-speed manual gearbox.
The original 1996 SLK is famous for being the first modern car with a retractable hard top. The theme continues with the new model but the stashed top takes up less boot space. Because the new car is longer and wider, its redesigned cabin offers more room. And, recognising that open cars can literally be a pain in the neck, Mercedes has developed Airscarf, an extension of the heater system that blows hot air through vents in the headrests and adjusts automatically with road speed and outside temperature.
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