Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
Encyclopedia
The SLK is a compact roadster
manufactured by Mercedes-Benz
in three generations; R170 launched in 1996, the R171 in 2004 and R172 in 2011.
As one of the first modern retractable hardtop convertibles, the SLK followed the 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder and preceded other retractable hardtops such as the Peugeot 206
cc, Lexus SC
, Pontiac G6
and the Chrysler Sebring
. The SLK Vario-roof was first shown on the SLK II concept car at the 1994 Paris Motor Show. The car went on sale two years later in Europe, and in 1997 in the US. The SLK is built in Bremen, Germany.
The designation SLK derives from the company's design mission to create a roadster that was at once sporty, light and short — in German: Sportlich, Leicht und Kurz.
and BMW Z3
. Based on the 1994 concept SLK I shown at the Turin Motor Show and the SLK II from the Paris Motor Show, it featured an unusual folding hardtop. It was powered by a 193 hp
2.3 L
supercharged I4
engine
and a choice of automatic transmission
or 5-speed manual transmission
. The SLK was a modern incarnation of the 1950s Mercedes-Benz 190SL
by returning to four cylinders and a 94 inches (2,387.6 mm) wheelbase. Massively successful in its first year, worldwide sales hit 55,000, over double the entire nine-year production of 190SLs, and between 1996 and 2004, over 311,000 SLKs were sold. The very first R170 Mercedes SLK was completed on January 29, 1997 and last on April 7, 2004.
The steel roof provides added protection normally found in a coupe with the enjoyment of a convertible at the same time. The technology was considered advanced as its rivals still had folding cloth tops.
which included new front and rear bumper designs, body-coloured side skirts and the introduction of new wing mirrors incorporating indicators. The range was expanded to include a new entry-level model SLK 200 Kompressor and a new V6 in the SLK 320. Technical improvements included the addition of Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a new 6-speed manual transmission. A stabilizer bar was added to the rear and the front one was reinforced. A 3.46:1 axle was added for the manual shift SLK, and the fuel tank grew from 12 to 14 gallons.
In 2001 a new AMG
model was added, with a 349 hp supercharged
version of the 3.2 L V6. This SLK 32 AMG was the most powerful R170 SLK, and was a direct rival of the BMW M Roadster and Porsche Boxster
S. It was only offered with the newly engineered five-gear "SpeedShift" and boasted 35% quicker automatic shifts.. All engines were hand built by AMG by an individual engineer. The SLK32 AMG's engine has two spark plugs per cylinder for maximum combustion and was fitted with an intercooled Lysholm-type "twin-screw" supercharger. Brakes became 13.15" diameter from 11.8" standard. AMG production ran between Aug 2000 and March 2004. Only 4,333 were built in total, of which 979 were retained for Germany, 2,056 exported to the USA and 263 to the UK.
In July 2004 a Special Edition was launched prior to the replacement with the new R171 SLK in 2005. The R170 lived on as the Chrysler Crossfire
until 2008, sharing substantial elements of the SLK including engines and interiors.
s Ten Best list
for 1997 and was named “North American Car of the Year” by CAR & DRIVER magazine for 1998. Only in the USA sale of the SL320 (6 cylinder) was ended when the SLK arrived to distance it from the senior SL.
The second generation SLK vehicle was unveiled in 74th Geneva Motor Show in March 2004 with a new body, new engines and new interior. Known by its code name R171, the exterior featured a new Formula One-inspired front design, and also took design cues from the Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA
concept car from 2000.
For 2005 the SLK was named one of Car and Driver Ten Best
and won the Canadian Car of the Year
's Best New Convertible award.
Models of the new SLK include:
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 features a 3.5L V6 that puts out 302hp and torque of 273ft. lbs., matched with a 7-Speed Automatic transmission.
The SLK 55 AMG was announced in August 2011, it features a normally aspirated 5.5 litre V8 with 422hp (310kW) and can reach 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
manufactured by Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
in three generations; R170 launched in 1996, the R171 in 2004 and R172 in 2011.
As one of the first modern retractable hardtop convertibles, the SLK followed the 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder and preceded other retractable hardtops such as the Peugeot 206
Peugeot 206
The Peugeot 206 is a supermini car, manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot from 1998 to 2010.Even though the 206 has finished production in most markets as of 2010, in Europe since 2009, it is available the 206+, with a back and especially a front design that resembles the Peugeot 207.-The...
cc, Lexus SC
Lexus SC
The Lexus SC is a personal luxury coupé that was retailed by Lexus, and built from 1991 through 2010. It features a front engine, rear-wheel drive design and seating for up to four passengers. The first generation SC debuted as the V8-powered SC 400 in 1991, and the I6-powered SC 300 was added in...
, Pontiac G6
Pontiac G6
The Pontiac G6 was a mid-size car produced under the Pontiac brand of American automaker General Motors.It was introduced in the fall of 2004 to replace the Grand Am. The car was built on the GM Epsilon platform which it shared with the Chevrolet Malibu and Saab 9-3 along with other General Motors...
and the Chrysler Sebring
Chrysler Sebring
The Chrysler Sebring is a line of mid-size cars that was sold by Chrysler from 1995 to 2010.The Sebring came in three generations. The first, from 1995 to 2000, was available first only as a coupe and starting in 1996 as a convertible. The two body designs did not share many components nor any...
. The SLK Vario-roof was first shown on the SLK II concept car at the 1994 Paris Motor Show. The car went on sale two years later in Europe, and in 1997 in the US. The SLK is built in Bremen, Germany.
The designation SLK derives from the company's design mission to create a roadster that was at once sporty, light and short — in German: Sportlich, Leicht und Kurz.
Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (1996–2004)
The SLK-Class was launched in 1996 on the new R170-platform, The SLK 230 Kompressor launch model was designed to compete with the Porsche BoxsterPorsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined roadster built by Porsche. The Boxster is Porsche's first road vehicle to be originally designed as a roadster since the 550 Spyder....
and BMW Z3
BMW Z3
The BMW Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, as well as the first new BMW model assembled in the United States. The Z3 was introduced as a 1996 model year vehicle, shortly after being featured in the James Bond movie,...
. Based on the 1994 concept SLK I shown at the Turin Motor Show and the SLK II from the Paris Motor Show, it featured an unusual folding hardtop. It was powered by a 193 hp
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
2.3 L
Litér
- External links :*...
supercharged I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
and a choice of automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
or 5-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. The SLK was a modern incarnation of the 1950s Mercedes-Benz 190SL
Mercedes-Benz 190SL
The Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a two door grand touring convertible with a removable hardtop that was produced by Mercedes-Benz between May 1955 and February 1963...
by returning to four cylinders and a 94 inches (2,387.6 mm) wheelbase. Massively successful in its first year, worldwide sales hit 55,000, over double the entire nine-year production of 190SLs, and between 1996 and 2004, over 311,000 SLKs were sold. The very first R170 Mercedes SLK was completed on January 29, 1997 and last on April 7, 2004.
Vario-roof
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 (12.3 cu ft). 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.The steel roof provides added protection normally found in a coupe with the enjoyment of a convertible at the same time. The technology was considered advanced as its rivals still had folding cloth tops.
R170 facelift (2000)
In 2000 the SLK received a faceliftFacelift
Facelift is the common name for rhytidectomy, a cosmetic surgery procedure.Facelift may also refer to:* Facelift , the revival of a product through cosmetic means such as changing its appearance...
which included new front and rear bumper designs, body-coloured side skirts and the introduction of new wing mirrors incorporating indicators. The range was expanded to include a new entry-level model SLK 200 Kompressor and a new V6 in the SLK 320. Technical improvements included the addition of Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a new 6-speed manual transmission. A stabilizer bar was added to the rear and the front one was reinforced. A 3.46:1 axle was added for the manual shift SLK, and the fuel tank grew from 12 to 14 gallons.
In 2001 a new AMG
Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG GmbH, commonly known as AMG, is a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz car company specializing in high-performance luxury cars....
model was added, with a 349 hp supercharged
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
version of the 3.2 L V6. This SLK 32 AMG was the most powerful R170 SLK, and was a direct rival of the BMW M Roadster and Porsche Boxster
Porsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined roadster built by Porsche. The Boxster is Porsche's first road vehicle to be originally designed as a roadster since the 550 Spyder....
S. It was only offered with the newly engineered five-gear "SpeedShift" and boasted 35% quicker automatic shifts.. All engines were hand built by AMG by an individual engineer. The SLK32 AMG's engine has two spark plugs per cylinder for maximum combustion and was fitted with an intercooled Lysholm-type "twin-screw" supercharger. Brakes became 13.15" diameter from 11.8" standard. AMG production ran between Aug 2000 and March 2004. Only 4,333 were built in total, of which 979 were retained for Germany, 2,056 exported to the USA and 263 to the UK.
In July 2004 a Special Edition was launched prior to the replacement with the new R171 SLK in 2005. The R170 lived on as the Chrysler Crossfire
Chrysler Crossfire
The Chrysler Crossfire is a rear-wheel drive sports car marketed by Chrysler as both coupé and roadster and was built for Chrysler by Karmann of Germany.-Design:...
until 2008, sharing substantial elements of the SLK including engines and interiors.
R170 range summary
Not all models were exported to all markets.- SLK 200 (1996-2000) - 2.0 L (1998 cc) 136 bhp I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
- SLK 200 Kompressor (2000-2004) - 2.0 L (1998 cc) 163 bhp I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
supercharged engine, 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds, top speed of 223 km/h (138 mph). - SLK 230 Kompressor (1996-2000) - 2.3 L (2295 cc) 193 bhp I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
supercharged engine - SLK 230 Kompressor (2000-2004) - 2.3 L (2295 cc) 197 bhp I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
supercharged engine, 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds, top speed of 240 km/h (148 mph). - SLK 320 (2000-2004) - 3.2 L (3199 cc) 218 bhp V6 engine, 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, top speed of 245 km/h (152 mph).
- SLK 32 AMG (2001-2004) - 3.2 L (3199 cc) 349 bhp V6 engine, 0-62 mph in 5.2 seconds.
The SLK in the USA
The SLK was announced to the USA market on Sept. 7, 1997 as a 1998 model. The SLK was on Car and DriverCar and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
s Ten Best list
Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:# The vehicle must be on sale by January...
for 1997 and was named “North American Car of the Year” by CAR & DRIVER magazine for 1998. Only in the USA sale of the SL320 (6 cylinder) was ended when the SLK arrived to distance it from the senior SL.
Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (2004–2011)
Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA
The Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA was a concept car the was shown at the Detroit International Auto Show in January 2000. The two-seater convertible concept car was based on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, and was only long....
concept car from 2000.
For 2005 the SLK was named one of Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:# The vehicle must be on sale by January...
and won the Canadian Car of the Year
Canadian Car of the Year
Canadian Car of the Year winners, as chosen by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada:-Canadian Car of the Year:-2011:Canadian Car of the Year winners, as chosen by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada:...
's Best New Convertible award.
Models of the new SLK include:
- SLK 200 Kompressor - 1.8 L 120 kW I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
superchargedSuperchargerA supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
engine, 0–100 km/h (62 mph) 7.9 seconds, top speed of 143 mph. (not available in Canada and the United States) - SLK 300 (known as SLK 280 in some markets) - 3.0 L (2996 cc) 170 kW double overhead cam V6 engine, 0–100 km/h (62 mph) 6.3 seconds, top speed 155 mph. (starting in 2006 model yearModel yearThe model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
) - SLK 350 - new 3.5 L (3498 cc) 200 kW double overhead cam V6 engine, 0–100 km/h (62 mph) 5.4 seconds, top speed 155 mph (electronically limited).
- SLK 55 AMG - 5.4 L (5439 cc) 265 kW V8 engineV8 engineA V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 0–100 km/h (62 mph) 4.9 seconds (official time), tested speed 4.3 seconds, top speed 155 mi/h. A tuned version of this was used as the Formula OneFormula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
safety carSafety carIn motorsport, a safety car or pace car is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such as an obstruction on the track. During a caution period the safety car enters the track ahead of the leader...
, replaced by CLK 63 AMG at the beginning of 2006 Season. The SLK55 AMG was the first Mercedes tuned by AMG's Performance Studio to a Black Series model.
R171 facelift (2007)
In January 2008 at the Detroit Motor Show, the SLK-Class facelift was launched, following pre-show announcements in December 2007. The R171 facelift included new engines, with a particular improvement to the SLK 200 and 350 with more power and better fuel efficiency. The exterior changes were subtle, with alterations limited to the front bumper design and new wing mirrors.- SLK 200 Kompressor - 1.8 L 135 kW I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
superchargedSuperchargerA supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
engine - SLK 350 - 3.5 L (3498 cc) 224 kW DOHC V6 engine
- SLK 300 and 55 AMG retained their existing engines
Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (2011–)
Mercedes-Benz announced the new SLK in the autumn of 2010, several months prior to its official 2011 launch, allowing car magazines to drive disguised test cars. The company took the unusual step of issuing several press releases in October and November 2010 announcing new features such as "Magic Sky Control". In January 2011 the car was officially announced.The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 features a 3.5L V6 that puts out 302hp and torque of 273ft. lbs., matched with a 7-Speed Automatic transmission.
The SLK 55 AMG was announced in August 2011, it features a normally aspirated 5.5 litre V8 with 422hp (310kW) and can reach 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.
Sales
The SLK became a symbol of the brand image with a powerful halo effect and brought new customers to Mercedes-Benz, increasingly popular to female drivers and a status symbol for "WAGS" and wealthy dominant women in power. Some 42 per cent of the drivers in Western Europe who chose the roadster were new Mercedes customers.| Calendar year | US sales |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 11,268 |
| 2002 | 7,784 |
| 2003 | 6,023 |
| 2004 | 7,360 |
| 2005 | 11,278 |
| 2006 | 10,410 |
| 2007 | 7,270 |
| 2008 | 4,941 |
| 2009 | 2,566 |
| 2010 | 1,980 |