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Mercedes-Benz SLK coupe drops rigid top with touch of button
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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FLORENCE, ITALY -- With that eye-popping prow, flat side panels accented with way-big blackwalls and a rakish windshield stretched wide across a cockpit for two, my sleek sports coupe drew a crowd of curious American tourists in the sunlit Italian piazza.
"That little thing's cute enough to take home in my suitcase," a plump woman in pink pantsuit proclaimed with a Texas drawl. Her male companion seemed more interested in the machine's mechanics. "Let's see it do its thing again," he pleaded.
Then, with the flick of a console switch, a piazza audience watched in silent wonder as the new coupe dipped sideglass windows and flipped its steel lid, folding the top with electrohydraulic muscle and tucking it into the trunk.
In only 25 seconds, the car transformed itself from weather-tight coupe to airy convertible.
This quick conversion from hardtop coupe to open-air sports car not only entertains sidewalk spectators but also applies a new dimension of practicality to the conventionally impractical yet ever-exciting concept of a ragtop roadster.
It's a key feature of the snappy SLK230 Kompressor, a new 2-seater by Mercedes-Benz that lands in North America early in 1997 with 1998 model-year label applied.
Mercedes-Benz's SLK with retractable hardtop represents a sporty and more affordable new direction for the German automaker which produces precision machines many critics rank among the world's best -- and most costly. Marketing officials at Mercedes forecast a new clientele for SLK that's younger, not quite so affluent and skewed more toward the distaff side than the traditional Mercedes buyer.
This appeal to a more youthful audience becomes evident in color selections, which include a bold yellow, plus Bahama Blue or Calypso Green -- and a vivid two-tone red leather interior hue, Salsa.
Fee for the new Mercedes adds up to a few dollars less than $40,000, which ranks near the low end of any Mercedes price chart. Still, the bottom line totals to an estimated $10,000 more than roadsters from Japan and Germany, although that figure seems accountable because SLK installs the no-hassle electric hardtop, along with a supercharger in the powerplant and premium standard equipment, such as anti-lock brakes and a traction control device to help control the car when wheels slip.
Its interior, with high-tech trimmings in simulated carbon-fiber contrasted against neo-retro styling of black-on-white instruments rimmed in chrome, pitches toward the luxe end of this narrow market, and the array of items aboard for convenience and comfort confirm the point.
It dazzles and delights both driver and spectator, as proven over several days of tests in Italy while steering pre-production SLK prototypes.
To appreciate the true spirit of this newest Mercedes, though, you must venture beyond the car's split personality and its whimsical mechanical wizardry in the transformation from coupe to 2-seat convertible.
Instead, take it out to play.
Although certainly not a toy, SLK exhibits playful road manners which make it magically fun to drive.
Punch the throttle and it responds with thrilling action when picking through traffic or zipping along a freeway, such as I felt on Italy's autostradas.
It also asserts itself in a twisty set of curves, as navigated recently on 2-lane courses winding through the Italian hills of Tuscany.
A twin-cam 2.3-liter four-in-line engine in SLK, enlivened by adding a supercharger, pumps as much as 191 hp and moves this Mercedes into a speedy new class when measured against potential competitors.
Supercharging the SLK230 Kompressor explains its nomenclature, since "kompressor" translates from German to "supercharger" in English. Also, supercharging a relatively small engine maximizes the payload without adding excessive weight or mass.
The athletic aura of SLK was a surprise for this test of a cute package which perhaps looks more like a boulevard cruiser than serious sports car.
On-board handling hardware includes a fully independent suspension with double wishbone arrangement up front and 5-arm multilink package in the rear, plus a responsive steering setup which begins at the tiny sports steering wheel and ties through short wheelbase to the traditional Mercedes recirculating ball device.
Even so, hard-edged athletic acts may not be the intent of SLK.
Its split personality -- waterproof coupe or convenient convertible sports car -- and the emphasis on luxurious interior refinements suggest that SLK may well appeal most to those who would like to drive a sports car but are unwilling to tolerate the raw camber of raucous roadsters.
And there are so many luxurious elements aboard.
The passenger compartment seems wide and spacious with generous legroom, although outfitted with only two seats.
Individual seats fit and feel as comfortable as do the fancy buckets of a Mercedes E-Class luxury sedan.
Gauges in the instrument panel with chrome rings and black-on-white faces remind me of Mercedes models from the 1950s, yet the touches of carbon-fiber on console and bright flashes of chrome like the perforated door sill strips evoke a futuristic high-tech image.
Everything inside works with power controls, and SLK also sports impressive innovations for safety, such as sensors in the passenger's seat which detect installation of a child's safety seat and automatically deactivate passenger's airbag when a child weighing less than 26 pounds is aboard, or pop-up roll bars concealed behind each seat which deploy if sensors detect a potential rollover.
A side airbag mounted in each door appears as added standard safety system, as does computer-linked anti-skid control which works in conjunction with anti-lock brakes.
Then SLK adds something no roadster carries: Realistic trunk space. Even with hardtop folded into upper trunk, there's still room remaining for two bags.
In Italy after the SLK tests, my spouse announced an intent to acquire this Mercedes, listing its slick looks and conveniences which extend beyond the chameleon change from coupe-convertible to the practicality of a genuine trunk.
1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SLK Specs |
| Description: |
Compact coupe/convertible |
| Model Options: |
Compact coupe/convertible |
| Wheelbase: |
94.5 inches |
| Overall Length: |
157.3 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.3-L I4 Supercharged
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| Transmission: |
Auto/5 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power disc/ABS/ASR |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
32/40 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 39,950 to $ 42,000 |
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