Tenth Anniversary for Mercedes SLK-Class

Press Release

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

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.

Model history: Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

April 22, 1996
World premiere at the Turin motor show

September 14, 1996
European market launch

November 1996
Awarded the "Goldenes Lenkrad" [golden steering wheel] by "Bild am Sonntag"

February 1997
Voted "Bestes Cabrio 1997" [best convertible of 1997] by the readers of "auto, motor und sport"

March 2000
Model update, design and technology enhancements

• ESP®, six-speed manual transmission and sidebags as standard
• New SLK 200 KOMPRESSOR with 120 kW/163 hp
• SLK 230 KOMPRESSOR uprated to 145 kW/197 hp
• New SLK 320 with V6 engine (160 kW/218 hp) and air conditioning as standard

Spring 2001
Launch of the SLK 32 AMG with 260 kW/354 hp

Summer 2002
International market analysts EurotaxSchwacke find SLK-Class offers best value retention

Spring 2003
"Final Edition" special model with 16-inch light-alloy wheels, nappa leather appointments and chrome silver metallic radiator grille

Spring 2004

• World premiere of the new SLK-Class at the Geneva motor show
• New SLK 55 AMG makes its debut as the Formula 1 Safety Car at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne
• Market launch of the new SLK-Class on March 27, 2004

November 2004
Awarded the "Goldenes Lenkrad" [golden steering wheel] by "Bild am Sonntag"

April 2005
Winner of the "Cabriolet" category in the "Autonis" competition organised by "mot" magazine

June 2005
New variant joins model line-up: SLK 280 with V6 engine (170 kW/231 hp)

February 2006
Declared "Wertmeister 2006" [vehicle offering best value retention in 2006] by "Auto-Bild"

September 2006
New Sports package (option) with 18-inch light-alloy wheels, sports suspension and other extras