2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK
Mercedes-Benz will soon launch its third revised roadster in three years, when the SLK joins the new CLK and SL models in Canadian dealerships this fall.
The philosophy for the company's least expensive two-seat roadster sounds pretty much like the philosophy for the other two Teutonic droptops -- more style, more power, more sport and more room.
To achieve this, the SLK will get new engines (including a big-butt V8), a bigger layout, a new look, a seven-speed automatic shifter, and another techno-breakthrough of the creature comfort kind -- Airscarf, a neck-level heating system.
Airscarf should be of particular interest in any place that gets the full winter experience, Mercedes believes, since it ''delivers a flow of warm air from the headrests at the touch of a button, thereby enabling SLK occupants to keep the roof down even when there is a chill in the air. This extends the top-down driving season to the full calendar year.''
Going top-down in January would certainly add to the SLK's appeal, since it sounds like it's going to be even more fun to drive than the current (and premiere) version.
It certainly looks at least as cool as the current SLK, which is a good start.
The new style is meant to support the move to a more powerful car through the use of a long hood, a raked windshield, wide doors and a short trunk. Mercedes believes these are the ''typical characteristics of a roadster'' and that ''the new SLK underlines these even more emphatically than its predecessor.''
Furthermore, ''with attractive geometry details such as the strikingly sharp nose section, special fins on the radiator grille, and the twin-exhaust system reminiscent of a racing car, the design of the new SLK recalls the fact that this two-seater is the child of a company with a long and illustrious tradition of sports car production.''
Changes in materials and appearance are meant to ''substantially upgrade'' the interior experience, and the design concept is ''characterized by switches, push-buttons and decorative elements with silver-coloured surfaces, creating a sharp contrast with the black surfaces of the instrument panel.''
People who enjoy the proximity of dead animal skins will appreciate that they can choose from six interior leather colors with the new SLK.
Mercedes-Benz will soon launch its third revised roadster in three years, when the SLK joins the new CLK and SL models in Canadian dealerships this fall.
The philosophy for the company's least expensive two-seat roadster sounds pretty much like the philosophy for the other two Teutonic droptops -- more style, more power, more sport and more room.
To achieve this, the SLK will get new engines (including a big-butt V8), a bigger layout, a new look, a seven-speed automatic shifter, and another techno-breakthrough of the creature comfort kind -- Airscarf, a neck-level heating system.
Airscarf should be of particular interest in any place that gets the full winter experience, Mercedes believes, since it ''delivers a flow of warm air from the headrests at the touch of a button, thereby enabling SLK occupants to keep the roof down even when there is a chill in the air. This extends the top-down driving season to the full calendar year.''
Going top-down in January would certainly add to the SLK's appeal, since it sounds like it's going to be even more fun to drive than the current (and premiere) version.
It certainly looks at least as cool as the current SLK, which is a good start.
The new style is meant to support the move to a more powerful car through the use of a long hood, a raked windshield, wide doors and a short trunk. Mercedes believes these are the ''typical characteristics of a roadster'' and that ''the new SLK underlines these even more emphatically than its predecessor.''
Furthermore, ''with attractive geometry details such as the strikingly sharp nose section, special fins on the radiator grille, and the twin-exhaust system reminiscent of a racing car, the design of the new SLK recalls the fact that this two-seater is the child of a company with a long and illustrious tradition of sports car production.''
Changes in materials and appearance are meant to ''substantially upgrade'' the interior experience, and the design concept is ''characterized by switches, push-buttons and decorative elements with silver-coloured surfaces, creating a sharp contrast with the black surfaces of the instrument panel.''
People who enjoy the proximity of dead animal skins will appreciate that they can choose from six interior leather colors with the new SLK.