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OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Stuttgart, Germany, Dec 21, 2007
The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Roadsters have long captured the hearts of sports car enthusiasts. Incorporating around 650 newly developed parts, the SLK models of 2008 are even more dynamic and now offer an even more emotionally charged driving experience. Key visual enhancements include new-look front and rear sections as well as a meticulously modified interior with a new instrument cluster and three-spoke sports steering wheel. A fast-running V6 sports engine developing 224 kW/305 hp and an optionally available direct-steer system truly bring the bold, dynamic character of the two-seater SLK 350 to the fore. Furthermore, all of the engines in the line-up are now far more economical on fuel and, therefore, emit even less CO2, despite a substantial increase in output in many cases. The new-generation SLK models will be available from April 2008, costing between � 36,503.25 and � 69,049.75 incl. VAT.
Since their first appearance in 1996, the compact SLK Roadsters have come to symbolise Mercedes-Benz' dynamic brand image. Already a familiar sight on our roads, the second-generation two-seater is to be further enhanced with the implementation of a raft of measures in 2008, the aim being to further emphasise the car's sporty character and continue the SLK-Class success story by introducing new, dynamic, powerful elements. Some 310,000 first-generation roadster models were sold between 1996 and 2004. And around 185,000 customers � some 60,000 of them in Germanyalone � have already purchased the second-generation model since its launch in March 2004 (figures at year-end 2007). This means that total unit sales of the SLK Roadster are now approaching the half-million mark.
The new-generation SLK displays new sporty highlights, further enhancing the appeal of the successful two-seater with the trendsetting vario-roof that transforms the car from a roadster into a weatherproof coup� in a matter of seconds.
Distinctive character: even more pronounced arrow shape at the front end and a diffuser-style rear end
The designers have given the already dynamic-looking two-seater cult model an even sportier appearance. Eye-catching features include the new-look front bumper with a modified air-dam arrangement and a more pronounced arrow shape. Plus the area around the Mercedes star has been restyled to render it even more succinct. In addition, the designers have modified the rear end by introducing a diffuser-style lower section that makes the Roadster appear more powerful when viewed from behind � an effect that is enhanced considerably by the trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes and the AMG-inspired darkened tail lights. The now larger exterior mirrors feature LED indicators with a pronounced arrow shape, while the range of light-alloy wheels is also almost entirely new.
High-quality cockpit and new three-spoke sports steering wheel
Many of the interior details have also been redesigned and upgraded following a careful process of material selection. Particular importance was attached to optimising the interior so as to make it even more driver-oriented. Centrepieces include a new three-spoke sports steering wheel with multifunction buttons and a new instrument cluster with captivating dial surrounds.
New "gullwing red" leather appointments will be available � reminiscent of the interior appointments in the legendary 300 SL gullwing model. Further new additions include nappa leather appointments in "natural beige", which complement the new "pale burr walnut" and "black ash grain" wood trims perfectly.
Enhanced audio and telematics systems
Mercedes-Benz is installing the new NTG 2.5 audio and telematics generation in the SLK for the first time. It is easier to operate and offers an even wider range of useful functions. Standard features integrated in every radio include a hands-free system with Bluetooth technology. Optional available is a new media interface in the glove compartment, allowing the full integration of mobile audio devices such as an iPod, which can then be operated via the audio system's user interface.
Together with the new telematics generation, Mercedes-Benz is also offering the LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system as an optional extra in the SLK-Class for the first time.
Voluminous surround sound even when the roof is open
Passengers can enjoy a unique listening experience, regardless of whether the vario-roof is open or closed, thanks to the optionally available harman kardon� Logic7� sound system. Rich and voluminous surround sound makes for crystal-clear listening pleasure, the like of which has never before been associated with a roadster.
Fast-running sports engine: higher output and much lower fuel consumption
The sporty credentials of the 2008 SLK generation are further enhanced by three modified powerplants that consume less fuel and, therefore, emit less CO2. The four-cylinder powerplant in the SLK 200 Kompressor and the six-cylinder sports engine in the SLK 350 both offer substantially more power and torque. Only the SLK 55 AMG retains its familiar engine � an eight-cylinder unit that has lost none of its mesmerising performance capability and remains a unique selling point in the SLK segment.
The Mercedes-Benz engineers paid special attention to the fast-running V6 sports engine that makes its debut in the new-generation SLK, totally altering the six-cylinder unit's character by making sweeping changes to the mechanical setup. Although the displacement remains the same at 3498 cc, the engine now develops 224 kW/305 hp at 6500 rpm � some 24 kW (33 hp) more than its predecessor. The peak torque has also been boosted, by 10 Nm, and now stands at 360 Nm when the engine is running at 4900 rpm.
This result was achieved by raising the engine speed limit to 6800 rpm; it can even be increased to 7200 rpm for a brief period � oil temperature and other engine parameters permitting. Other changes introduced include a higher compression ratio, a new intake manifold and an extensively modified valve train.
Further aspects which add to the emotionally charged appeal of the new engine include deliberately powerful sports-engine acoustics with a strikingly emotive sound design when decelerating. In combination with the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission, the engine management system also blips the throttle automatically during downshifts. As well as producing an extremely sporty sound, this throttle-blipping function reduces load alteration effects.
Despite the higher output and high-calibre performance, the SLK 350 consumes considerably less fuel. With the six-speed manual transmission on board, combined fuel consumption is just 9.5 litres per 100 km, a remarkable reduction of 1.1 litres per 100 km; if the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission is fitted, the sports powerplant returns a combined fuel consumption of just 9.2 litres per 100 km � an improvement of 0.9 litres compared to its predecessor. Lower fuel consumption means that CO2 emissions are also reduced � by 23 g/km to 219 g/km in the automatic version and by 28 g/km to 227 g/km in the manual version.
Three further engines to choose from
The engine line-up for the second generation of the successful SLK-Class is being augmented by three further variants:
- The output of the four-cylinder supercharged engine has been boosted by
15 kW/21 hp (to 135 kW/184 hp), while its torque has been increased from 240 to 250 Nm. Combined fuel consumption has been cut by 1.0 litres to 7.7 litres per 100 km whilst CO2 emissions have been reduced by 27 g/km to 182 g/km.
- The SLK 280 has also been further improved with respect to fuel economy and, therefore, CO2 emissions. Fuel consumption has been cut by 0.4 litres to 9.3 litres per 100 km (if an automatic transmission is fitted, the figure is
0.2 litres lower at 9.1 litres per 100 km), while CO2 emissions have been reduced by 11 g to 220 g/km (if an automatic transmission is fitted, the figure is 6 g lower at 216 g/km).
- The SLK 55 AMG is still equipped with the familiar 5.5-litre V8 powerplant developing 265 kW/360 hp and a peak torque of 510 Nm.
Standard equipment for the three new SLK models includes a precise six-speed manual gearshift, while the SLK 55 AMG still comes with the 7G-TRONIC Sport seven-speed automatic transmission fitted as standard. Optional extras available include a five-speed automatic transmission for the SLK 200 and the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission or, alternatively, the 7G-TRONIC Sport with shift paddles on the steering wheel for the six-cylinder SLK 280 and SLK 350 models.
New direct-steer system for outstanding agility and tangible driving pleasure
A newly developed direct steering system with variable steering assistance, available as an optional extra (standard for the SLK 55 AMG), further highlights the qualities of the sporty chassis, combining agility and manoeuvrability when driving on twisting rural roads with steering comfort when parking and assured steering characteristics when travelling at high speed.
The direct- steer system is based on the previously installed speed-sensitive power steering system and operates by purely mechanical means, meaning that there is no need for elaborate actuators and complex sensors. At its heart is a new rack with slick gearing, which ensures that the steering gear ratio changes in tune with the steering angle. The ratio is indirect when the steering is in or around the central position so as to ensure excellent straight-line stability and, therefore, a high degree of assuredness when travelling at high speed. At a steering angle of just 5 degrees, the ratio starts to increase extremely rapidly and the steering feels much more direct. As a result, the number of steering wheel revolutions from lock to lock is reduced by around 25 percent if the new direct steering is fitted. This means that, even in city traffic, relatively little steering wheel movement is required to correct the car's path. Fast sequences of bends on rural roads can be negotiated almost intuitively with relatively small steering movements � with assurance, precision and a healthy dose of driving enjoyment.
Visually enhanced SLK 55 AMG
On a technical level, the SLK 55 AMG remains almost unchanged. The only differences are a few visual enhancements. The front end of the AMG model now features a new apron with a black-painted cross strut and side air outlets as well as darkened headlamps.
The trendsetting SLK
As trendsetters and technology leaders, the SLK-Class Roadsters have long enjoyed the image of a modern cult car. Even after the extensive modifications, the familiar outstanding qualities remain, for example, the vario-roof that transforms the roadster into a coup� in 22 seconds, not to mention the extensive standard-equipment package, including head/thorax sidebags, adaptive front airbags and two-stage belt-force limiters. Plus the roadster also comes with the option of the unique AIRSCARF neck-level heating system, which allows open-top driving pleasure all year round, even in winter.
Prices for the new-generation SLK:
SLK 200 KOMPRESSOR: � 36,503.25
SLK 280: � 41,858.25
SLK 350 with sports engine: � 46,975.25
SLK 55 AMG: � 69,049.75
(incl. VAT in each case)
Copyright � 2009, fastfivecars. All rights reserved.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Stuttgart, Germany, Sep 14, 2006
Ten years of the SLK-Class: Cult car celebrates birthday
* Model established a new high-growth market segment
* World's first sports car with vario-roof and AIRSCARF
* Unique combination of roadster driving pleasure and coup� comfort
* Market share of around 50 per cent in Germany and Western Europe
When the SLK-Class roadster appeared in Mercedes showrooms in autumn 1996, it represented nothing less than a revolution in the automotive world. Never before had the Stuttgart-based auto maker presented itself in such youthful, dy-namic and attractive form. The SLK's looks instantly announced the new brand image - and a few minutes at the wheel made it clear that the new style was un-derpinned by impressive dynamic qualities.
Few, if any, cars before it were able to capture people's hearts the way the SLK did. It showed that driving could also engage the emotions and create a sense of joie de vivre. For many people, it was a case of "love at first sight" that drove them to own this vehicle � a phenomenon which was reflected in the order books: the SLK sold out shortly after the market launch. Following a major increase in production capacity, over 48,000 SLK models rolled off the assembly line in the first full sales year -- some 50 per cent more than originally planned.
There was no looking back after this sensational start. In fact, the benefits which the compact roadster brought Mercedes-Benz were threefold: as well as being a fifth successful model series it became a symbol of the brand image with a powerful halo effect and - not least - it brought in new customers. Indeed, some 42 per cent of the drivers in Western Europe who chose the roadster were new Mercedes customers.
At the same time, the SLK-Class established a new market segment, whose volume has more than trebled over the last ten years and which now accounts for sales of some 161,000 vehicles worldwide. In 1996, only two other car brands (apart from Mercedes-Benz) offered open sports cars in the SLK mould. Today, there are already nine vendors in this vehicle class. There can be no doubt about it: the launch of the SLK-Class exactly ten years ago was the spark that triggered the explosive growth in the market for compact roadsters.
Concept cars: two design studies pave the way for the production version
Mercedes-Benz had prepared the market launch of the SLK � its fifth passenger-car model series � with great care. Two whole years before, in April 1994, the Stuttgart product planners had caused a stir at the Turin motor show with a roadster study which they had created to test out their ideas for a compact sports car and to gauge the response of the public. "We are showing a forward-looking study for a roadster offering a unique combination of driving pleasure in its purest form with characteristic Mercedes safety features", as the company's press release an-nounced at the time.
The expectations aroused by this show car were surpassed comprehensively in autumn 1994 by the second SLK study. This now featured the vario-roof and had an exclusive customised look and feel with a blue paint finish and harmonising blue-tone leather as well as comfort and convenience features which included automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows and a stereo system. In this way, Mercedes-Benz was able to provide a convincing demonstration of the breadth of appeal and potential which can be offered by a compact roadster.
Mercedes-Benz had done the unexpected and had demonstrated to great effect that a compact roadster could offer a high degree of driving pleasure yet still be an absolutely serious and down-to-earth car in terms of safety and everyday practicality. This meant that the two roadster studies had already opened up a new market niche and the SLK had already assumed the status of a trendsetter even before it went into production. By 1996 everything was in place: the world premiere of the SLK-Class was held at the Turin motor show in the spring with the European market launch following on September 14, 1996.
Vario-roof: roadster and coup� in one
The Mercedes two-seater was the right car at the right moment. It met contempo-rary customers' needs for individuality and driving pleasure without compromise. Furthermore, it did so with the help of a whole raft of innovative technical solutions which also guaranteed characteristically high Mercedes standards of safety and comfort.
A notable example is the vario-roof: thanks to this newly developed feature, the roadster not only caused a stir, but also became a trendsetter and a model for a new generation of open-top cars. This is borne out by the fact that recent years have seen an increasing number of cabriolets and roadsters whose manufacturers have adopted this intelligent roof technology in order to offer their customers the same characteristics which set the SLK-Class apart back in 1996: open-top driving pleasure and the comfort of a coup�. Thanks to the vario-roof, both can be provided effortlessly at any time in response to the vagaries of the weather or simply on a whim of the driver.
The roof design developed by Mercedes-Benz consists of a folding steel hard top which is divided in half along an axis at right angles to the direction of travel. Both halves are linked by a kinematic mechanism which is locked securely when the roof is closed. At the touch of a button on the centre console, a hydraulic system with five cylinders controls the fully automatic folding process in which the boot lid is also integrated. It opens by tipping to the rear so that the two roof halves have sufficient freedom of movement to pivot backwards as the vario-roof opens; the roof sections then position themselves one on top of the other, and disappear into the boot. If the roof is to be closed, the same sequence of movements is performed in reverse order.
The hydraulic system stows the vario-roof in the upper section of the boot. A plastic roller blind separates it from the luggage space below, an area with a capacity of 145 litres in the first-generation SLK. With the vario-roof closed, the load volume increased to a substantial 348 litres.
Safety: at luxury-class level
The 1996 SLK-Class also impressed with other qualities, such as safety. Two fixed roll-over bars behind the seats worked with the particularly strong A-pillars to form an integrated system offering a high degree of roll-over protection. And with airbags, sidebags, belt tensioners, belt force limiters and automatic child-seat recognition, the compact roadster offered the same safety technology as the E-Class - and that was quite simply the best that was available at the time.
A look under the bonnet of the first SLK ten years ago would have revealed one or other of the proven four-cylinder engines from the C-Class. Customers could choose between a 2.3-litre supercharged engine with an output of 142 kW/193 hp and a mighty 280 Newton metres of torque or a 2-litre four-cylinder unit with 100 kW/136 hp and maximum torque of 190 Newton metres. With an NEDC com-bined fuel consumption figure of just 8.8 litres, the supercharged SLK 230 KOMPRESSOR had a maximum speed of 231 km/h and could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. In the year 2000, as part of the model update measures, a supercharger was added to the 2.0-litre engine, too, thereby increasing its output to 120 kW/163 hp. Furthermore, the range was expanded with two six-cylinder power plants: the SLK 320 with 160 kW/218 hp and the 260-kW/354-hp SLK 32 AMG.
Model range: the first generation of the SLK-Class
1996-2000
SLK 200: 4-cyl., in-line, 100 kW/136 hp
SLK 230 KOMPRESSOR: 4-cyl., in-line, 142 kW/193 hp
2000-2004
SLK 200 KOMPRESSOR: 4-cyl., in-line, 120 kW/163 hp
SLK 230 KOMPRESSOR: 4-cyl., in-line, 145 kW/197 hp
SLK 320: V6, 160 kW/218 hp
2001-2004
SLK 32 AMG: V6, 260 kW/354 hp
"Sporty", "Light", "[K]compact" - the auto industry soon appreciated the significance of the model designation of the compact Mercedes roadster, a vehicle which has been regarded as synonymous with open-top driving enjoyment, superbly attractive styling, the highest standards of safety and technical perfection for ten years now.
It is thanks to these qualities that the SLK captured people's hearts and acquired the image of a contemporary cult car. Between 1996 and 2004, over 311,000 customers around the world chose the compelling Mercedes roadster.
The new-generation roadster: sporty design and more technological highlights
Eight years after the premiere of the first SLK, February 2004 saw the debut of the successor model which displays its sporting prowess even more distinctly than the first generation. Underpinned by more powerful engines and a sporty suspension set-up, the stronger sporting character of the new SLK-Class is also reflected by the design which picks up styling cues from contemporary racing cars and positions the two-seater even more decisively as a fully-fledged member of the Mercedes-Benz sports-car family.
The new sports roadster takes up its predecessor's role as a model and trendsetter for open-top cars with additional innovative features developed by Mercedes. Chief among these is the AIRSCARF neck-level heating system which cannot be found in any other open-top car on the market.
Available as an optional extra, the AIRSCARF system is integrated in the back-rests of the SLK's seats. A blower sucks in air from the interior of the sports car and passes it through an electric heating element rated at about 200 watts. A plastic duct then feeds the heated air to the head restraint where it is emitted by means of a special vent oriented towards the centre of the vehicle. Developed by Mercedes specialists, this system delivers warmth directly to the point of need and ensures that the driver and passenger can continue to enjoy a comfortable temperature at neck level even in winter when the cold airflow over the roadster has a significant chill factor.
Images taken with a thermographic camera show how effectively the patented AIRSCARF heating system operates when outside temperatures are low. The highly-sensitive camera makes it possible to see the different temperature zones on and around the driver, the seat backrest and parts of the interior of the SLK: the zones emitting the greatest heat radiation appear red, violet and white while the cooler ones are green or yellow. The lowest temperatures are to be found in the dark blue and black zones.
The thermogram shows clearly how effectively the heated air from the head re-straint wraps round the neck as well as the back of the head and how the warmth spreads out from these areas. Even after driving only a short distance, a pleasant temperature zone forms around the shoulders, neck and head - like a scarf of warm air. The heating element in the backrest is based on PTC (positive temperature coefficient) technology: an electric current is passed through ceramic particles which heat up in a matter of seconds and then continue to emit heat. AIRSCARF is activated at the touch of a button and adjusts itself automatically on the basis of the ambient temperature and road speed (up to 120 km/h) in order to achieve optimal distribution of the warm air in all situations. At higher speeds, the system operates at a constant setting. Three different heating settings can be set individually by means of a pushbutton control on the centre console.
Driving comfort: lowest interior noise level in a roadster thanks to vario-roof
The Mercedes engineers have also continued to develop and enhance the vario-roof for the second-generation SLK so that it now not only opens and closes even more quickly (22 seconds) but also occupies even less space in the boot of the sports car.
Measurements taken in accordance with the VDA method show that, with the roof open, the boot now has a luggage capacity of 208 litres - 63 litres more than the predecessor model. This improvement has been made possible by a new roof design in which the rear window pivots about its own axis. This allows the window to nestle next to the curved surface of the roof shell once the roof has been opened, thus restricting the capacity of the boot less than in the first-generation SLK.
As well as protecting the occupants of the SLK from the elements, the vario-roof offers significant benefits in terms of low noise levels and makes the sports car perfectly suited to long-distance motoring, too. This has been confirmed by tests carried out in the University of Stuttgart's aeroacoustics wind tunnel: the vario-roof's ability to absorb wind noise more effectively than a soft-top means that noise levels inside the SLK-Class are well below those of other roadsters.
A newly developed aeroacoustic measurement technique makes the wind noise visible on a computer display in the form of colours which vary depending on the volume (sound level) and frequency. It can be seen that the area at driver head height - a particularly critical zone as far as acoustics are concerned - appears in dark blue, indicating that it is especially quiet. The wind noise here at a road speed of 140 km/h is no more than 71 - 73 decibels (dB (A)). The sound level inside the car is just as low: 73.4 decibels was recorded at the driver's left ear and 71.2 decibels at the right ear.
There is a marked difference in the results for sports cars with a soft-top roof, with the concave-mirror measurement technique returning significantly higher wind noise readings of between 75 and 77 decibels in the aeroacoustics wind tunnel and interior noise levels of up to 79.6 dB (A) - a very noticeable increase of six decibels (compared with the SLK-Class) which effectively doubles the audible sound.
Technical highlights: a wider range of advanced features
Other technical innovations which are offered by the Mercedes roadster but are by no means universal in this vehicle class include ...
� powerful bi-xenon headlamps with cornering light function;
� LED tail lights;
� airbags which deploy in one or two stages, depending on the severity of the accident;
� large head/thorax side airbags in the seat backrests;
� paint finish with enhanced scratch resistance based on ceramic particles.
The range of engines is also unique in this market segment: in spring 2004, Mercedes-Benz became the first manufacturer to offer an eight-cylinder engine in the vehicle class. With an output of 265 kW/360 hp, the SLK 55 AMG accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
Customers also have a choice of two advanced six-cylinder power plants: the SLK 280 has an output of 170 kW/231 hp and offers a maximum torque of 300 Newton metres; the peak power output of the SLK 350 is 200 kW/272 hp with maximum torque of 350 Newton metres. Mercedes-Benz continues to offer the proven 120 kW/163 hp four-cylinder engine in the SLK 200 KOMPRESSOR.
7G-TRONIC, the world's only seven-speed automatic transmission is standard in the SLK 55 AMG and available as an option for the SLK 280 and SLK 350. It is also possible to specify a sportier version of the 7G-TRONIC transmission for the V6 models.
Model range: the current SLK-Class
Since 2004
SLK 200 KOMPRESSOR: 4-cyl., in-line, 120 kW/163 hp
SLK 350: V6, 200 kW/272 hp
SLK 55 AMG: V8, 265 kW/360 hp
Additionally, since 2005
SLK 280: V6, 170 kW/231 hp
Sports package: technology and design extras for even more driving pleasure
Available for the four and six-cylinder models since September 2006, the sports package which Mercedes-Benz has created for the SLK-Class is intended for drivers who wish to add even greater emphasis to the sporty and dynamic character of the compact roadster. The package includes sports suspension with 18-inch light-alloy wheels, 225/40 R 18 tyres at the front, 245/35 R 18 tyres at the rear and powerful 17-inch brakes with perforated front discs. In addition, the body of SLK models equipped with the sports package is lowered by ten millimetres.
Externally, the SLK with the sports package can be identified by headlamps with dark surrounds and an AMG airflow breakaway edge on the boot lid. Inside, red seat belts and red topstitching on the door panels, seats, leather steering wheel and the gaiter of the leather-trimmed shift/selector lever add a distinctly sporty touch. The floor mats are also edged in red and the instrument cluster features red needles. A striking contrast is provided by the black roof lining and the carbon-look trim strip above the glove compartment.
A figure that tells a success story: 460,000 SLK models in ten years
The second-generation SLK-Class is continuing the successful tradition established by its predecessor. With 60,500 vehicles built in 2005, it attained the highest annual production volume to date for this model series. Overall, Mercedes-Benz has already produced some 148,000 units of the sporty roadster since spring 2004.
With an average market share of 30 per cent, the SLK-Class is the world leader in this market segment. In Germany, the average market share of the SLK-Class is 52 per cent and the average market share of 50 per cent which it enjoys in other countries in Western Europe makes it the best-selling car in its class.
In total, some 459,000 SLK models have rolled off the Mercedes-Benz assembly lines since autumn 1996.
Copyright � 2009, fastfivecars. All rights reserved.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Stuttgart, Germany, Sep 14, 2006
Ten years of the SLK-Class: superbly successful trendsetter among open-top cars
It was exactly ten years ago that the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class made its debut in the showrooms. The compact roadster was one of the highlights of the first Mercedes-Benz strategic product initiative and still stands as a symbol of the new, dynamic brand image of the Stuttgart-based car maker. Furthermore, the SLK-Class established a new market segment in 1996, a segment which has since enjoyed exceptionally rapid growth. Thanks to the steel vario-roof, which turns the two-seater into a weatherproof coup� in a matter of seconds, the roadster was and continues to be the inspiration for many other open-top cars. The current SLK-Class continues to set trends with innovations such as the AIRSCARF neck-level heating system. Worldwide, Mercedes-Benz has produced a total of some 459,000 SLK models since 1996. With an average market share of 34 per cent, the current SLK-Class is the world leader in the compact roadster segment.
"Roadster driving pleasure with new perfection" was how Mercedes-Benz summed up the SLK-Class at its market launch in autumn 1996. The Stuttgart-based car maker's claim was borne out by the roadster's compelling design, so-phisticated technology and exemplary safety which provided the basis for its success and helped it attain the status of a contemporary cult car.
The innovative vario-roof is what made the SLK unique among open-top cars. It offers all the benefits of a fixed hard top but is just as flexible as a soft top. The fully automatic transformation from roadster to coup� � or vice-versa � takes only a matter of seconds and the brilliant design of the vario-roof allows it to be stowed in the boot. It deploys at the touch of a button, sliding forward and closing above the occupants to protect them from the elements.
Invented by Mercedes, it was this feature that made the 1996 SLK a trendsetter for a new generation of open-top cars equipped with vario-roof-type technology which offers distinct benefits with regard to sound insulation and year-round comfort. Ten years after its world premiere in the SLK, this innovative roof technology has been adopted by many car makers for their cabriolets and roadsters.
Mercedes-Benz also opened a new chapter in the field of cabriolet safety with the SLK-Class. The two-seater's airbags, sidebags, belt tensioners, belt force limiters, automatic child-seat recognition function and effective roll-over protection (featuring tubular reinforcements in the A-pillars and high-strength steel roll-over bars) also put it well ahead of other open-top cars.
Innovation: the world's only car with a warm-air blower integrated in the seats
The new SLK-Class, which has been on the market since March 2004, expresses its sporty character even more emphatically and sets new trends with its trailblazing technology. In addition to an enhanced vario-roof, which opens even more quickly and occupies less boot space thanks to its pivoting rear window, the Mer-cedes sports car is unique in offering the AIRSCARF neck-level heating system. Integrated in the seat backrests, the patented AIRSCARF system blows warm air from openings in the head restraints and thus functions as an invisible scarf which keeps each occupant's head, throat and neck warm. This means that the SLK-Class makes it possible to enjoy open-top driving pleasure even during the colder months. In other words, AIRSCARF allows SLK owners to drive with the top down for longer and more frequently.
A number of features � including adaptive, two-stage airbags and newly developed head/thorax sidebags � also set the Mercedes two-seater apart from other sports cars in this segment.
A sensational success: demand for the SLK exceeded all expectations
In addition to trendsetting technology, high design values are another hallmark of the SLK-Class. When the roadster appeared ten years ago, its stylish lines were an instant hit and were one of the decisive factors in the sensational success of the model series. Enthusiasm for the two-seater was so great that the SLK sold out shortly after the market launch and production capacity had to be increased significantly.
More than 311,000 units of the first-generation SLK-Class were produced between autumn 1996 and March 2004, while more than 40 international prizes and awards underline the immense popularity of this compact roadster.
The new SLK-Class has been continuing this successful trend since March 2004. Customers have a choice of four engine variants, including the six-cylinder SLK 280 and SLK 350 as well as the SLK 55 AMG which has an eight-cylinder power plant. The power output of the SLK models ranges from 120 kW/163 hp to 265 kW/360 hp. Since late summer 2006, Mercedes-Benz has offered a new SLK-Class Sports package which gives the two-seater an even more dynamic look and feel.
To date, Mercedes-Benz has produced some 148,000 units of the current SLK-Class and leads the world market in this segment with an average share of 34 per cent. In Germany and other West European countries, almost one out of two new registrations in this sports-car segment is an SLK model.
Copyright � 2009, fastfivecars. All rights reserved.
