Mercedes-Benz SLK completes 20 years

The Mercedes-Benz SLK has been a hugely popular car from the three point-star company. It was an instant hit after it was first unveiled back in 1996 at the Turin Motor Show in Italy. The German automaker, till now, has manufactured three generations of the SLK roadster. In 2016, as the SLK completes its 20th anniversary, Mercedes-Benz will also be launching its successor, the SLC in the global market to further continue its legacy.

The SLK is a compact luxury roadster with a sporty styling. It was launched at a relatively affordable price tag and was particularly popular with the fairer sex. The first generation SLK was also the first hardtop convertible ever built by Mercedes-Benz. The roadster was based on the W202 C-Class series. The car, for its size, was easy to drive and was up to date with improved safety. A unique feature on the SLK was the ‘Vario roof’ technology. 

A ‘Vario roof’ stands for a metal folding roof which could convert the coupe into a striking roadster. The roadster was originally introduced with a four cylinder, inline petrol engine and was called SLK 200; while the supercharged variant was called SLK 230 K. The car was offered with an automatic or 5-speed manual transmission.

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In the year 2000, the SLK received a facelift with restyled front and rear ends and other cosmetic updates. The choice of engines was further expanded with a SLK 200 Kompressor and a new 3.0-litre V6 motor in the SLK 320. In 2001, Mercedes-Benz also introduced the AMG version that was called SLK 32 AMG. It featured a V6 petrol engine that produced 354 horses.

The second generation SLK was introduced in 2004 and received various changes as compared to the previous model. With design cues inspired from Formula One, the SLK had a striking appeal. On the inside, the roadster received adaptive two-stage airbags and head and thorax airbags. Additionally, the roof could be operated by a remote control with an improved mechanism for more space in the trunk. In terms of engine options, the SLK 350 variant and the SLK 55 AMG were added. The SLK 350 variant had a 3.5-litre V6 motor while the SLK 55 AMG was powered by a 5.4-litre V8 engine. The further modified version of the AMG version was used as a safety car in the Formula One championship in 2004 and 2005.

With the introduction of the third generation SLK in 2011, design themes were developed by combining the first and second generation models. This generation of the roadster received the BlueEFFICIENCY technology and was also the first SLK-series to be offer with a diesel engine in the international market. The two-piece metal folding Vario roof also featured a Magic Sky Control containing a glass roof that can be switched to light or dark hues. The third gen SLK was offered in a wide range of petrol and diesel engine options.

With a variety of SLK models over the years, the three-point star company has successfully sold over 6,70,000 units till date. As mentioned above, the SLC will be the latest successor in the SLK series from the German manufacturer, with the latest modern technology and an enhanced look. The SLC follows the latest design philosophy followed by Mercedes-Benz which can be seen in the new models like the C-Class, the E-Class, the S-Class and the GLE. The SLC was unveiled at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show and will soon be launched in the international markets, followed by its sale in India later this year.