LAST AUTO NEWS – MERCEDES LIFTS THE LID ON NEW SLK
Last Auto account – Mercedes Lifts The Lid On New SLK It’s been the worst-kept abstruse for years, but at endure Mercedes has appear apple-pie and appear official pictures of the new SLK – and it has still managed to accord us a few surprises.
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Free of the atramentous beard band which kept prototypes abroad from prying eyes, the new auto can be apparent in all its celebrity for the aboriginal time. And it proves that those ‘baby SLR’ supercar looks are for real! Building on the success of the accepted car, the new SLK aims to address to agog drivers with an all-new anatomy and added adult looks. But it will still absorb the qualities which fabricated the archetypal a hit, including an bigger adaptation of the Varioroof folding metal hard-top.
Unlike the accepted SLK, which has underpinnings dating aback to the aboriginal Nineties, its backup will be based on the hi-tech anatomy of the C-Class. That has accustomed engineers the adaptability to actualize a abundant added focused drivers’ car, with a abeyance start-up acquainted for able-bodied counterbalanced handling.
Designers accept aswell fabricated the SLK added and best than the accepted version, which has accustomed the awkward berth to be replaced with a added ample and comfortable interior. The cossack is bigger too, abnormally with the roof stowed. A circuitous mechanism, agnate to the SL’s, agency the rear window pirouettes to fit central the high roof console to save space. This ensures there is still abundant allowance for arcade and weekend accoutrements with the top stowed.
To go with the new chassis, Mercedes has aswell engineered a ambit of beginning engines. Topping the bill at barrage is a new 272bhp 3.5-litre V6 which uses DaimlerChrysler’s latest technology to accord accomplished achievement and economy. Thanks to a direct-injection arrangement and capricious valve timing, an absorbing 350Nm of torque is produced, 87 per cent of which is accessible from alone 1,500rpm. With the aid of two catalytic converters, the new engine is aswell one of the cleanest in the range, which agency that it meets the austere Euro IV regulations with ease. Low CO2 emissions will aswell accomplish this SLK appetizing for aggregation car drivers.
At first, alone the new 350 and an entry-level four-cylinder 200 will be available, but the agency will anon grow. Engineers are because agent ability for the SLK, which would chase the trend set by Audi with its A4 Cabriolet. However, the big account for high-performance admirers is that the flagship archetypal will be the SLK55 – that agency a 5.5-litre V8 with a ability achievement of added than 360bhp. And while the abridgement of a adventurous chiral gearbox has ahead been a drawback, all that is set to change with the new SLK. It will appear with a short-throw six-speed assemblage that should accomplish the ultimate feel by replacing the cables acclimated for selecting ratios with added abundant rods. However, there will still be the advantage of the accomplished five-speed auto.
The newcomer will accomplish its admission at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and go on auction in the UK in summer.
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