Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a luxury roadster built by the German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz since 1997. The name was chosen to reflect the company's intentions for the car - that it be Sportlich (sporty), Leicht (light) and Kompakt (compact). To date there have been two generations of SLK.
The SLK is perhaps most famous for its retractable hardtop. While it did not pioneer this feature, the SLK revived it in modern automobiles. It was soon followed by the Peugeot 206cc, Lexus SC and the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

The SLK was updated in 2004 with a new Formula One-inspired appearance and serious performance. For 2005 the new R171-platform SLK was again on Car and Driver's Ten Best list, and it also won the Canadian Car of the Year's Best New Convertible award. Highlighting its potential appeal to women, New Zealand's Lucire magazine announced it as its 'Car to Be Seen in' for 2005. The current SLK is also built in Bremen, Germany. Both cars have been claimed to be fun to drive with the SLK350 going from 0-60mph in a short 5.4 seconds. There are rumours that Mercedes-Benz is going to produce a SLK 63 AMG model with their new 6.2L naturally aspirated engine designed from scratch by AMG division.

Models of the new SLK include:
SLK 200 Kompressor - 1.8 L 120 kW (163 hp DIN) I4 supercharged engine, 0-100 km/h (62 mph) 7.9 seconds, top speed of 143 mph. (not available in Canada and the US)
SLK 280 - 3.0 L (2996 cc) 170 kW (231 hp DIN) double overhead cam V6 engine, 0-100 km/h (62 mph) 6.3 seconds, top speed 155 mph. (starting in 2006 model year)
SLK 350 - new 3.5 L (3498 cc) 200 kW (272 hp DIN) double overhead cam V6 engine, 0-100 km/h (62 mph) 5.4 seconds, top speed 155 mph (electronically limited).
SLK 55 AMG - 5.4 L (5439 cc) 265 kW (360 hp DIN) V8 engine, 0-100 km/h (62 mph) 4.4 seconds, top speed 155 mph (electronically limited). A tuned version of this was used as the Formula One safety car, replaced by CLK 63 AMG at the beginning of 2006 Season.