Mercedes SLK : 3rd round
Since 1996, a lot has been written about this German roadster. Agile and sporty, comfortable and refined, it convinces even those most reluctant to accept hair-in-the-wind driving. The latest generation meets current concerns, confronting “eco-accountability� without compromising its peak performances.
In the car industry, an unprecedented item of equipment is often an infallible selling point. The SLK Class has its own, becoming the world’s first vehicle to feature a retractable panoramic roof with Magic Sky Control which, with just one touch, opens or closes at will. The standard 4 and 6 cylinder engines then guarantee, in the manufacturer’s words, “exemplary efficiency and a particularly sporty temperament�, despite the appreciable factor of “gas consumption 25 % lower� then their predecessors. Still hungry for praise, this model intends to win it in the area of safety, with systems for detecting drowsiness, anticipatory protection of passengers and automatic braking that cuts in as soon as the risk of a pile-up is perceived. As one is never better served than by oneself, Dieter Zetsche , Chairman of the Daimler AG Management Board and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars, declares : “The new SLK assumes, like no other car, its role as a vector of current trends… In the future, it will continue to offer the same driving enjoyment and confirm its status as cult roadster�. It in fact fully exercises its power of seduction in the advertising campaign : the main character, young, athletic and attractive, runs barefoot before coming to a dead halt in front of the car and taking possession of it. Symbiosis clearly experienced as a kind of rebirth.
The story began in 1996 : in just a few seconds, the open-top fireball turned into a hard-top coupé. The second generation addressed passenger comfort by wrapping their shoulders and necks in a scarf of warm air. This third generation could well consecrate the Magic Sky Control. Paradoxically, the SLK is seen as the most sober and ecological vehicle in its category, recognizable at first glance by its long hood, compact passenger space and stocky rear. Decidedly, sensuality is still on the agenda. As evidenced by the self-assured allure of the vertical radiator grille, bearing the Mercedes symbolic star. The car’s interior is characterized by precise design and noble materials. The SLS remains a car for connoisseurs. But no matter, when you’re onto a good thing, why not exploit it to the end !
Tests seem to uphold the manufacturer’s ambitions, provided, however, that one does not make any mistakes when choosing the engine/gearbox and options. Available since January, the SLK starts from 38,675 €, 44,256 € or 52,300 €, depending on the model.
By Laetitia Rossi
