Once you see the spy photos of the new Mercedes SLK, you might react that it would have been designed because of the good results from the Mercedes Formula 1 team that was headed by Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
A smaller roadster SLK, the new Mercedes SLK has the nose of the Formula 1. Aside from this, it still has several features that were adopted from the Formula 1. Examples of these features are the bigger lights - the head and the tail, and the new shape with some triangular bars beneath the nose of the front bumper - to resemble the Silver Arrows.
As a proof that Mercedes never lets its cars behind when it comes to innovations, the improved version of the car will come along with an updated interior to match the rejuvenated appearance of the exterior. Engines used in the old version will remain in the new version but the CLS 350 CGI with 292 bhp is rumored to join the engine options for the new one.
And speaking of rumors, a diesel version of the SLK is also being talked about. The reason behind this hear-say is probably the European market's in dire need of diesel.
Diesel fans will have to wait if the rumor is true when the new Mercedes SLK will be unleashed in the Frankfurt car show sometime in September.
About Mercedes SLK
After the tremendous success of Mazda's MX-5 or the Miata, the public witnessed several ingressions of roadsters from many car manufacturers in the middle of the year 1990. Almost all manufacturers - be it big or small, famous or not so famous - engineered their own roadster. As Mercedes-Benz's response on this matter, in 1997, it designed the SLK. It was both a coupe and a cabrio. It had a striking metal roof that folds and stores itself just like in a usual cabrio.
The car's name was chosen to exude the German company's intentions for the car. These intentions are that it should be Sportlich (sporty), Leicht (light) and Kompakt (compact).
As to the sales, the Mercedes SLK was successful since then. As a matter of fact, after SLK was introduced customers still had to wait several months to get in their hands the brand new Mercedes SLK after ordering it.
The SLK was initially powered by 2.0 lt. and 2.3 lt. normally-aspirated or mechanically compressed engines that produce 136 hp to 193 hp. During the early 2000, the car had undergone changes and along with these are new varieties of engines. The present engine line up is comprised by a 2.0lt 136 hp normally aspirated engine, a 2.0lt, 163hp compressed engine, a 2.3lt 193hp compressed engine and, as its maiden release, a 3.2 V6 producing 225hp. The last mentioned engine a performance of 0-60 mph in just less than 6.5 seconds.
The SLK was soon followed by the Peugeot 206cc, Lexus SC and the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.
The SKL comes as 350, 230, and 280; all are equipped with top of the line .
First launched in 1996, the Mercedes SLK 350 initiated the building of the current folding hard-top craze for roadsters. Like any other Mercedes-Benz auto mobile, this model experienced several innovations. It has a refined wedge-shaped SLK look with more curves in the flanks and Mercedes' corporate F1-style nose. The last feature that was mentioned establishes a direct link that is visually comparable to the SLR super car.
With the standard folding hard-top, the 350 has three choices of engines. Among these are the 161bhp, four-cylinder SLK 200K and the 268bhp, V6 SLK 350. Both engines come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with power that is going to the rear wheels. The 200K can come with an optional five-speed auto 'box'. The SLK 350, on the other hand, can get the new 7G-Tronic seven-speed auto that was recently released for the S-Class.
The Mercedes SLK 350 utilizes a brand new 3.5-litre V6 engine. Due to the engine's variable camshaft control on both intake and exhaust sides, the car has a flatter torque curve and improved fuel economy.
The Mercedes SLK 230 was first introduced in 1997 for 1998model year. It was built with the aim of competing with Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3. It uses 185 hp 2.3 L supercharged I4 engine and an automatic transmission. In 1997, the SLK was among the "Car and Driver's Ten Bests".
In 1999, a 5-speed manual transmission was augmented. The car's being sporty was brought by the use of 215 hp 3.2 L V6 and 6-speed manual transmission in the 2001 model.
With front wheel 7J x 16 Standard aluminum-alloys five-spoke design, the SLK 280 has ventilated front and solid rear brakes. It uses manual for the standard transmission. An amazing aspect in this car is that its 0-60 mph can be reaches in just 6.1 seconds. This car uses 6 cylinder engines and is a rear wheel drive.
