A car's looks can drag you in or drive you away; it's as simple as that. Vehicles tend to be fairly polarizing, there's no grey area, no unknown. Either you like it, or you don't. Just like a house or an article of clothing, a car can elicit some pretty deep feelings and opinions in people, especially when you're going to drop tens of thousands of dollars on it.
When it comes to cars like the brand new, redesigned, 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350, it's all about the looks. Now, that's not to say the SLK 350 has nothing to offer behind the wheel or under the hood, but it is most definitely the car's design that initially grabs your attention and holds onto it.
So let's take a closer look at this sexy beast of a convertible. I had a few commenters over the course of the week who remarked on how feminine the SLK 350 was. Looking at the SLS-inspired front facade and grille, I'm not sure how that's possible. That nose alone is so full of aggression and masculinity, it's hard to call the SLK 350 girlie after spotting that schnoz.
Top up or down, the SLK 350 has a powerful stance. The two-seater loses none of the appeal with its fully electric, retractable hardtop in the closed position. And besides, in just 20 seconds you can expose the modern, sleek interior to the outside world and your arms and shoulders to the summer sun. And even with the roof up, this Merc still has an open, airy feel (despite being only big enough for two) thanks to a tinted panoramic vario-roof (which is a special polycarbonate blend that lets in sunlight during the day while also reducing insulation).
And if you really want to add to the “special” on your SLK 350, you can spring for the MAGIC SKY CONTROL which uses electric impulses to open or close tiny crystals on a teeny-tiny film that sits between two panes of glass to offer more or less tint – in other words: Something complicated that's bound to break eventually and cost an arm and a leg to repair.
My tester didn't have this magical sky nonsense, and I didn't feel like I'd slummed it without that feature. The panoramic vario-roof is a pleasant touch with the top up (which shouldn't be that often) and makes the two-seater cabin feel larger than it is. But, because the fully electric hardtop only takes 20 seconds to retract, I'm pretty sure (like me) you'll have it down as often as possible.
When it comes to cars like the brand new, redesigned, 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350, it's all about the looks. Now, that's not to say the SLK 350 has nothing to offer behind the wheel or under the hood, but it is most definitely the car's design that initially grabs your attention and holds onto it.
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| That nose alone is so full of aggression and masculinity, it's hard to call the SLK 350 girlie after spotting that schnoz. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
So let's take a closer look at this sexy beast of a convertible. I had a few commenters over the course of the week who remarked on how feminine the SLK 350 was. Looking at the SLS-inspired front facade and grille, I'm not sure how that's possible. That nose alone is so full of aggression and masculinity, it's hard to call the SLK 350 girlie after spotting that schnoz.
Top up or down, the SLK 350 has a powerful stance. The two-seater loses none of the appeal with its fully electric, retractable hardtop in the closed position. And besides, in just 20 seconds you can expose the modern, sleek interior to the outside world and your arms and shoulders to the summer sun. And even with the roof up, this Merc still has an open, airy feel (despite being only big enough for two) thanks to a tinted panoramic vario-roof (which is a special polycarbonate blend that lets in sunlight during the day while also reducing insulation).
And if you really want to add to the “special” on your SLK 350, you can spring for the MAGIC SKY CONTROL which uses electric impulses to open or close tiny crystals on a teeny-tiny film that sits between two panes of glass to offer more or less tint – in other words: Something complicated that's bound to break eventually and cost an arm and a leg to repair.
My tester didn't have this magical sky nonsense, and I didn't feel like I'd slummed it without that feature. The panoramic vario-roof is a pleasant touch with the top up (which shouldn't be that often) and makes the two-seater cabin feel larger than it is. But, because the fully electric hardtop only takes 20 seconds to retract, I'm pretty sure (like me) you'll have it down as often as possible.
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| The panoramic vario-roof is a pleasant touch with the top up and makes the two-seater cabin feel larger than it is. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |