Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 2004 Review

What we liked
>> Stunning looks and performance
>> Extra kit at little price increase
>> Serious second-generation upgrade

Not so much
>> Kompressor's exhaust note
>> Lack of cabin cubbies
>> Dash instrumentation direction

OVERVIEW
Mercedes-Benz was on a good thing with its first generation SLK which was launched in 1996, the model finding over 300,000 owners worldwide and remaining king of the luxury roadster hill for the eight years it was in production.

The second generation SLK-Class released in Australia in September 2004 has big boots to fill but Mercedes-Benz expects it be as popular and has added features aimed to convert anyone who was in two-minds over the first model. It certainly is prettier and perkier, making a more serious statement of performance than its relatively sedate-looking, tourer-type elder.

New looks and body, longer list of standard features and innovative options list, more powerful engines and improved transmissions are evidence Mercedes-Benz is determined to remain at the top of the luxury roadster class. Overall it's a swifter, longer, stronger SLK.

Three variants are available: the four-cylinder SLK 200 Kompressor, V6 SLK 350 Roadster and V8 SLK 55 AMG, which arrives in Australia early 2005 and is the only eight-cylinder powered option in the roadster class.

FEATURES
We're talking coupe to convertible here, and to take up the latter lifestyle more often Mercedes-Benz has developed AIRSCARF; a neck-level heating system designed to enhance thermal comfort in open-top driving.

The already impressive folding hardtop 'vario-roof' on the outgoing model has been improved, opening and closing more quickly and compactly, enabling more boot space.

Second-generation SLK features uprated power options across the range and increased standard-fit safety products. SLK's chassis has also been tuned, now with three-link front suspension and modified multi-link rear suspension, adapted to the new SLK's wider track. Depending on the model, SLK comes with 16, 17 or 18" alloy wheels and bigger brakes to suit.

Luxury-class model additions for new SLK include Bi-xenon headlights, satellite navigation, sports suspension and steering-wheel gearshift buttons for the automatic transmission, but it's the newly-refined kit at little expense over the outgoing model that is the best feature of Mercedes-Benz's second-generation offering. The previous SLK 200 with five-speed auto, for example, was listed at $86,174, and Mercedes-Benz's retail price for the equivalent new model version is $86,900. The SLK 200 is now available with a six-speed manual at $83,800 and the SLK 350 retails for $112,900 or $109,400 if you choose the six-speed manual. Pricing for SLK 55 AMG will be announced upon its release next year. We're tipping around $220,000-plus.

COMFORT
The new SLK's cockpit is austere yet attractive and combines hard-edged sportiness with comfort. The fully adjustable sports seats are firm and feature magnesium backrests, and there's extra interior space than the outgoing model, made possible by the increase in exterior body dimensions.

Mercedes-Benz offers 50 different colour combinations for the interior, matching leather upholstery against metallic finishes and using a two-tone scheme in the door linings to complement the choice of interior colour on the centre panel, armrest and parts of the magnesium door handle. The dash is serious-looking and features an uncluttered instrument display with two large dial instruments that are slanted towards the driver.

Mercedes-Benz has made the open-air experience unfussy and comfortable, providing a mesh screen 'draught stop' that is fastened to the roll bars and designed to complement the AIRSCARF heating system and reduce cabin turbulence. Mercedes-Benz's THERMATIC climate control, one of the many occupant comfort inclusions, maintains closed cabin conditions, and night time driving is enhanced by soft lighting in the footwells and instrument displays.

SAFETY
Safety developments in the new SLK, by Mercedes-Benz's own admission, leave "the outgoing model in its slipstream" with the inclusion of adaptive (two-stage) airbags for the first time. Side airbags and two-stage belt force limiters are standard fit, and are activated by a sensor if the car rolls. Mercedes-Benz says it has spent considerable effort on the roadster's roll-over protection, such as integrating high-strength steel plates into the structure of the A-pillars to help the roll-bars withstand high loads.

Construction development for the second-generation SLK involved increased proportion (40 per cent) of high-strength steel alloys and larger crumple zones at the front end than the predecessor. The car is wider (72mm) and its wheelbase longer (30mm), and Mercedes-Benz has made the most of the extra room by allowing for a large crumple zone and underside cross-member for protection against collisions from the rear.

The SLK 350 gets a lightweight braking system that incorporates perforated front discs designed to disperse dirt and water for driving in wet weather conditions. The new version of ESP with the second-generation SLK is offered with a tyre pressure loss warning system.

MECHANICAL
From the Kompressor upwards, second-generation SLK gets new technology that provides improvements over the outgoing powerplants. The two-litre, four-cylinder supercharged engine in the SLK 200 is rated at 120kW and 240Nm and features variable valve timing, affording better torque, economy and emissions results.

The impressive naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine in the SLK 350 offers 25 per cent more power (now at 200kW) and 13 per cent more torque (350Nm) and features what Mercedes-Benz calls 'fourfold variable camshaft adjustment' - continuous inlet and exhaust cam adjustment; by chain for the inlet and a pair of gears for the exhaust cams. Intake ports have been optimised, incorporating pivoting 'tumble flaps' to create turbulence, increasing the speed and evenness of airflow into the combustion chambers. It's clever and helps create a free-breathing, willing response.

The naturally-aspirated 5.5-litre eight cylinder unit from Mercedes-Benz's wow-haus AMG is good for 265kW and 510Nm, placing it at the top of the list of roadster rompers. SLK 55 AMG reaches 100km/h in 4.9 seconds and will get to 200km/h in 17.5 seconds before it is speed limited, at 250km/h. It also features variably adjusted camshafts and newly-developed twin-pipe intake system, and gets sports suspension and chassis treatment involving firmer settings and lower ride.

Mercedes-Benz has replaced the double-wishbone suspension used on the outgoing model with McPherson three-link front suspension, combined with multi-link rear suspension across the new SLK range. The 7G-TRONIC seven-speeder is standard on the SLK 350 and is combined with the AMG-SPEEDSHIFT multifunction steering wheel for SLK 55 AMG. For the first time, a six-speed manual is available as an option on the SLK 350 and SLK 200 Kompressor.

Various sizes of disc brakes are offered, depending on model, ranging from 288 and 340mm in size. They are internally ventilated and Mercedes-Benz says that the cooling of discs and bearings has been enhanced.

COMPETITORS
Major competitors to the SLK in the two-seat roadster market include BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxster, though the closest Porsche equivalent is priced more and its output figures don't cut it against the SLK 350's. The Z4 is similarly priced to the SLK 350 but its output figures are closer to those of the Kompressor, which is considerably cheaper. The Chrysler Crossfire convertible, Nissan 350Z, Alfa Romeo Spider, Honda S2000 line up as cheaper entries into open-top motoring than the SLK 200, and the Lotus Elite is cheaper than the SLK 350.

ON THE ROAD
The second-generation SLK 350 is spectacularly beautiful to look at and to drive, and made light and enjoyable work of the launch test route, which involved twisty, undulating Queensland hinterland roads in addition to highway stints. Handling feels firm; the steering true and reliable, if somewhat dull. Overall the ride feels nimble and stable and remains that way when some of the car's ready power is vented.

The second-generation SLK is a more muscular tourer across the range but still spoils the occupant with luxury equipment and environment. The vario-roof worked as promised and open-top motoring was comfortable and quiet enough, and air flow into the cabin was not invasive. Noosa's weather was beautiful during the launch so we didn't turn on AIRSCARF, and I can't recall caring about my hair. Road and engine noise are barely discernible. On that note, the sound emitted from the Kompressor's exhaust is uninspiring, whereas the SLK 350 sounds sweet and serious.

Instrumentation is clear and the slanted dials work well for the driver, but not so for an average-height passenger. First minor gripe: having to twist over to sticky-beak on the driver's details while in the passenger's seat. The last gripe is equally minor; there's not much space to put a handbag or briefcase despite the cabin's spacious interior.

BOTTOM LINE: Benz imbues its roadster with real sporting prowess

It takes only a corner or two to get the message that this latest SLK is serious. Far from the soft-sell Double Bay or Toorak convertible it replaced, the new SLK is aimed four square at the likes of BMW's Z4 and Porsche's all-conquering Boxster. That means, in addition to F1-inspired looks and a shedload of safety and driver focussed goodies, the new SLK350 comes complete with real oomph and serious driving dynamics.

Released initially in two engine guises, the new SLK telegraphs its sporting intentions via the availability of manual gearboxed versions. Indeed, both the entry level $83,800 SLK 200 Kompressor and $109,400 SLK350 are available with a third pedal and six-speeds. Auto versions cost extra ($86,900 and $112,900 respectively) and in the case of the 350 gets another gear - for a total of seven! For the record, the so-called 7G-TRONIC self-shifter will also be standard equipment on the 265kW V8-engined and go-fast-badged flagship SLK 55 AMG when it arrives Down Under in early 2005.

For the time being, the 7G-equipped 350 is the hottest SLK. And with its all-new 3498cc DOHC V6 producing a claimed 200kW, it hardly wants for performance. Indeed, according to Mercedes, the 350 dispatches the 0-100km/h sprint in a supercar-like 5.5sec. Leave the 7G-TRONIC box to its own devices and combined with the V6's broad spread of torque (350Nm from 2400-5000rpm), the pocket-sized coupe dispatches the 60-120km/h overtaking bracket in a stunning 5.1sec.

Yet the strong standing start and in-gear performance of the new SLK350 is only part of the story. This is arguably the best balanced and most communicative road car to wear the MB three-pointed star for some time.

The new car's structure is significantly stiffer and stronger than the first generation, says Mercedes. Couple this with new rack and pinion steering and front and rear suspension designs aimed at the performance end of the spectrum and the result is a much more wieldy and, indeed, involving car. Turn-in is much sharper than the outgoing car, steering feel is tactile but not boisterous and body control is substantially improved. But fear not, at the same time there's little if any degradation in ride quality. And though quick witted, the SLK never feels nervous or fidgety - something that can't be said of the Z4.

A two-seater only, the latest SLK boasts a substantially upgraded cabin - gone is some (but not all) of the gloss finished silver plastic that seemed to dominate the cabin of the last model. Dash and door top textured finishes are classier, the leather smells real and multi-adjustable electrically adjustable and heated contoured sports seats make it possible for supermodel and Quasimodo alike to get comfortable.

Standard equipment levels are high - in terms of standard safety features (including all the normal antilock and traction control devices plus roll-over protection), driver aids and comfort items. Our tester had just four options (Airscarf $1350; Steering Wheel Mounted Gear Shift $890; Heated Seats $1050; Infrared Remote control for roof operation $320)and wanted for little - except maybe just a touch more incidental storage. For the record too, the Airscarf is anything but a gimmick. Piping warm air out of the seat at neck level, the option makes open-air motoring a joy even on chilly Melbourne spring mornings. Take it from us, if the choice is heated seats or Airscarf, take the latter.

It goes without saying the SLR's trademark folding steel roof is fuss-free. A one-button operation, it works quickly enough to comfortably complete the change to top down fun at the lights. Just make sure you pack cannily - with the SLK's hinged luggage divider in situ (without it the roof is disabled) there's enough for a couple of soft bags but not much else.

Mind you, stating the obvious, if you're looking for a luggage hauler you're looking in the wrong place. The flavour of the SLK is trumpeted clearly by its F1-style nose - it screams sportscar, looks enough like the $1m-plus McLaren Mercedes SLR to make all but the most jaded car watcher look thrice and even has an exhaust note with a serious dash of attitude.

There's no doubt the SLK punches well above its weight. We'd give it the nod over the Z4, but deciding on whether it can match the all-round brilliance of Porsche's Boxster needs more than an isolated seat of the pants impression. Sounds like the perfect excuse for a drive in the country...