General Introductions

Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class, your luxury roadster manufactured by Daimler Chrysler at Bremen, Germany, in the year 1997. It is well known for its convertible hardtop.

The first generation of the SLK is the SLK230 Kompressor whose platform is R170. This was introduced during 1997 for the model year 1998. The BMW Z3 and the Porsche Boxster, these are the cars that are competing against the SLK. The difference of the latter among the two other cars is its convertible hardtop but the added weight of the top slow has a bad impact on the feat of its 2.3L 185 hp supercharged Straight-4 engine and automatic transmission. The SLK is among the list for the Ten Best of Cars and Drivers during 1997.

In the year of 1999, a manual transmission of 5 speeds is added however the addition of a manual transmission of 6 speeds and 3.2L V6 engine with 215 hp in the year 2001, the SLK 320 is surely sporty (sportlich). In the same year, an AMG model is introduced. It is the 345 hp supercharged transformation of the SLK 320. The SLK 32 AMG is the rival of Porsche Boxter S and the BMW M and its performance is the best compared to the other SLKs. Not all of these cars are manufactured in Germany; the SLK 320 is manufactured in South Africa.

Engine

The model has engine specifications like 2.0L 136 hp straight 4 engine, acceleration of 0 to 100 kilometer per hour in 9.3 seconds and a top speed o f208 km per hour for SLK 200. The SLK 230 Kompressor is 2.3L 193 hp straight 4 supercharged with a performance of 0 to 100 km per hour in 7.4 seconds with a top speed of 231 km per hour. The SLK 200 Kompressor is 2.0L 192 hp straight 4 supercharged with 0 to 100 km per hour in 7.7 seconds with a top speed of 236 km per hour. These are models with the platform R170 and are prefacelifts.

The R170 models with facelift are SLK 230 Kompressor which has a supercharged engine of 2.3L 197 hp straight 4 which can reach 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and with a top speed of 240 km per hour. The SLK 200 Kompressor has a supercharged engine with 2.0L 163 hp straight 4, it can do 0 to 60 mile per hour in 8.2 seconds with a top speed of 223 km per hour. The SLK 320 has a V6 engine with 3.2L 218 hp, this can do 0 to 60 mile per hour in 6.5 seconds with a top speed of 245 km per hour. The SLK 32 AMG has a V6 engine with 3.2L 354 hp; its performance is 0 to 60 mile per hour and with an electronic limited top speed of 250 km per hour.

Awards

Another model which is the 2004-R171 has a Formula One inspired look with a great performances under its name. It is featured again list for Ten Best of the Car and Drivers, plus it is selected and won an award for Best New Convertible in Canada. It also has an appeal to women because it is announced as a “car to be seen” for Lucire magazine in New Zealand in the year 2005.

Performance

The models for the 2004-R171 are; the SLK 200 Kompressor with a supercharged engine of 1.8L 120 kW straight 4, it can do 0 to 100 km per hour in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 143 mile per hour. This type of car is not available in the United States or in Canada. The SLK 350 is a new 3.5L V6 engine with a double overhead camera, it can do 0 to 100 km per hour in 5.4 seconds and its top speed is acquired at 155 mile per hour. The SLK 280 has a 3.0L V6 engine with a double overhead camera, it can reach 0 to 100 km per hour in 6.3 seconds with a top speed of 155 mile per hour. Lastly, the SLK 55 AMG has a 5.4L 265kW V8 engine which can reach 0 to 100 km per hour in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 155 mile per hour. A version with tunings of this type was utilized as a Formula One race car.