It's time for a re-do of the SLK, the car that in 1996 ushered in the era of the new-age “affordable” premium roadster, and originator Mercedes-Benz has made certain to address the original car's foibles.
In the late 1990s, Mercedes, BMW AG and Porsche AG were heady with years of success, and each had decided to introduce “entry level” roadsters designed to grow the brand. Each had larger, more-expensive coupes or convertibles — Porsche's 911, Mercedes' SL, BMW's 8-Series. But the new generation was meant to enhance accessibility for younger, less wealthy buyers.
The nearly concurrent development cycles led to the staccato launches of the Mercedes SLK, Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3. Each in many ways epitomized the philosophy of its brand, and all were hugely successful.
Mercedes' trump card with the SLK (an acronym of the German words for short, light and compact) was a history of earlier SLKs and a unique folding-hardtop technology that imparted all the benefits of a hardtop coupe, while at the push of a button, the top folded upon itself and tucked away into the trunk.
Despite the trick hardtop, the original SLK was not a pinpoint-accurate shot, particularly when it hit the U.S. market in '97. At the launch, the most powerful engine was a supercharged 4-cyl. that was eager enough, but its 185 hp did not befit the badge. The only transmission was a 5-speed automatic. The interior was robust but hardly plush.
And the slab-sided, mini-SL styling, though satisfying to those who saw it as deliberate execution of Mercedes' solemn, traditional design language, was not overly expressive. The SLK was named the North American Car of the Year for 1998, but many purists sniffed it was an upscale “secretary's car.”
Mercedes subsequently fixed the performance deficit with 6-cyl. power and a 6-speed manual transmission, but all the add-ons in the world couldn't fix the impassive sheetmetal and behind-the-times interior.
That is addressed by the all-new '05 SLK350, a car that is more assertively styled, more appropriately appointed and demonstrably more performance-oriented.
The sheetmetal now bulges and stretches with a tension the original SLK could never generate, and the slightly overstyled front is meant to evoke the SLR supercar. The stylists also muscled-up the rear flanks, where the Coke-bottle hips highlight a huskier track and meatier 17-in. (43-cm) wheels.
The look simply is more macho, and Mercedes, stung by the image of the first SLK, admits that was the goal. The signature folding hardtop, by the way, now takes up less space in the trunk (better have soft luggage in any event) and does its thing in a blazing 22 seconds.
But in a move to be more competitive as a performance car, the mechanicals really are what the new SLK is all about. The all-new 3.5L DOHC V-6 — Mercedes' first twin-cam V-6 — churns out 268 hp and 258 lb.-ft. (350 Nm) of torque.
That's a healthy 53 horses more than the outgoing car got from its 3.2L SOHC V-6, and it's enough, Mercedes says, to launch the new SLK from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in a Boxster S-whipping 5.4 seconds. (Porsche just announced power upgrades for the '05 Boxster lineup, though, so the comparison may no longer be valid.)
The new all-aluminum V-6 is a gem, making excellent low-range torque and breathing like an F1 engine at high rpm. It's got variable valve timing for intake and exhaust cams, tumble flaps in the intake tract to swirl up the fuel/air mixture and a dual-stage intake to plump the torque. Its scorching power is matched by a scandalously deep exhaust tone that could make most V-8s run for cover.
Both available transmissions are all-new and also are spectacular: The 6-speed manual has a unique single-rod mechanism that imparts delightful weighting and action while similarly speeding the shift itself.
Meanwhile, the new SLK's automatic is Mercedes' superb 7-speed unit, first seen in the E-Class. It simply is amazing, swapping ratios so quickly, so effortlessly and with so little perceived “shift shock” that it's easy to lose track of where you are among those seven closely spaced ratios.
It locks up the torque converter in any gear, but don't worry: Mash the throttle while you're trundling around in sixth gear, and the new automatic will blast off a downshift to second, if necessary — all before you can finish pinning the throttle all the way into the carpet.
The 7-speed automatic also incorporates Mercedes' “Touchshift” manual control, which is the best in the business. Any time you'd like to take control, simply move the lever left or right while it's in the “drive” position. When you've had enough self-shifting, simply stop and the tranny soon knows you'd like it to once again take over.
The final bugaboo from the original SLK — recirculating-ball steering — also is trashed, with Mercedes now specifying a rack-and-pinion setup. The new SLK's steering is immediately noticeable for being much more direct, precise and responsive.
There still could be more feel from the front tires' contact patches, but few contemporary steering systems can impart genuine feel and still provide the isolation most buyers expect.
The McPherson-strut front/5-link independent rear suspension delivers more grip than most SLK buyers are likely to test, though the new SLK chassis still leans toward solid, benign dynamics — with a still-too-intrusive electronic stability control philosophy — that's not as entertainingly tossable as the Boxster.
Finally, the SLK's new interior is outstanding, with rich-looking materials and detailing and superb assembly. Particularly impressive are the vast areas of upper-dash and upper-door material, a soft and cushy, almost rubbery plastic that is lush and thick and looks remarkably durable — still a consideration for a car whose interior could face potential top-down rain drenchings.
And there's a new optional feature that's a treat: Airscarf, an in-seat heating system that ducts warm air to vents near your neck. Mercedes research shows warming the head and neck area goes a long way toward allowing the occupants to comfortably drive top-down in lower temperatures.
The new SLK brings it all in at a price that seems fair enough: $45,500 (destination is an extra $720) to start, though one can option the car to the moon.
The pricing places the SLK between Porsche's base Boxster and the Boxster S. Next month, Mercedes launches the SLK55 AMG, the ultra high-performance edition for those who need more from this already superbly updated roadster.
