In the
past we might have compared the SLK to that cute girl next door, or perhaps
even a confident woman in a short suit skirt and naughty secretary glasses. So
weren’t we shocked when Mercedes unveiled the all-new 2012 SLK. To
carry on the metaphor, the internal monolog most certainly sounded like this:
“Whoa… it’s a dude.”
FAST FACTS
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1. The Evoque uses a 2.0L 240 horsepower
4-cylinder engine with a turbocharger, backed by a 6-speed automatic
transmission.
2. A number of interior components, like the
audio system and gear shifter, are taken from Jaguars that cost twice as
much.
3. Fuel economy is rated by the EPA at 19 mpg
city, 28 mpg highway.
4. Unlike other Range Rovers, the Evoque is a
car-based crossover rather than a traditional SUV.
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Perhaps “dude” isn’t quite the
right word. The chiseled features of the SLK aren’t at all the somewhat corny
romantic comedy type. Rather, they’re the square-jawed, five-o’clock shadow in
a Hugo Boss suit type. Not a clear enough picture? Just think about the last
cologne commercial you saw. Yea, it looks like that guy.
But handsome looks will only get
you so far and on further inspection the SLK doesn’t seem to bring much to the
table. Thankfully, a drive in the SLK350 reveals much more than a spec sheet can
tell you.
LITTLE
IMPROVEMENTS
Unlike the somewhat drastic
change that BMW made with the Z4, the SLK hasn’t grown
much. It’s 2-inches longer than the oldcar,
with a minutely stretched wheelbase and an extra inch side to side. There’s
little new under the hood as well. Sure, the 3.5-liter V6 has gained
direct-injection, and while that makes for a more significant jump in power on
other Mercs (like the C350), horsepower is only up two ponies to 302 and torque
rises just 8 lb-ft for a total of 273. The result is a 0-60 time of 5.4
seconds, matching the outgoing model – certainly nothing to be ashamed of.
The more significant change comes
in terms of fuel economy with a 20-mpg city rating and a 29-mpg highway rating,
an improvement of two and four units respectively. One might argue that fuel
economy doesn’t really matter on a vehicle like this, but we’d beg to differ.
Thanks in part to its retractable hard top and its uniquely Mercedes driving
characteristics, this is just one more way in which the SLK has become an even
better daily driver.
MORE THAN
JUST AN OCCASIONAL USE CAR
Not convinced? Then take the SLK’s
cargo space. Even with the top down there’s a useable 6.5 cubic feet of cargo
space – enough to fit an overnight bag on your way to the airport for a quick
business trip. Plus, with the top up, the trunk can hold 10 cu-ft., which
proved enough space to not only hold a few bags of groceries, we even managed
one of those massive boxes of diapers. Taking that functionality into account,
if you don’t need pretend rear seats, the SLK is as livable, or perhaps even
more so, than a lot of luxury convertibles, like the 3 Series, Lexus IS or
Infiniti G.
Mercedes continues to offer just
one transmission with the SLK, a 7-speed automatic, which comes with three different
drive modes: efficiency, sport and manual. Continuously improved, the
transmission’s Sport mode swaps gears effectively and is preferable to hitting
the paddles yourself. One reason for this is that it’s been engineered to drop
as many as four gears at once, to make sure you get the acceleration you ask
for when the pedal is pushed. Mercedes claims the Eco mode (the car’s default
setting) will deliver an up to 7 percent fuel economy improvement.
FUN FACTOR
IS MUCH IMPROVED
Those who prefer the Sport
transmission setting will also want to upgrade to the Dynamic Handling Package
($990), which includes an electronic differential that reduces wheel spin on
the inside wheel in a corner, as well as a continuously adjustable damping
suspension with two driver-selectable modes.
An optional Sport Package
($2,500) then seems like a must, if not for the AMG aerodynamic kit and red
accent lighting inside (very cool), then for the light weight 18-inch
five-spoke AMG forged alloy wheels. So equipped, the car has all the road
presence of its big brother the SL. Adding a further level of individualization
on our test car was a Diamond White Metallic white paint ($1,500).
While the previous SLK was a
fine-enough sports car, this new model makes no apologies, its driving
characteristics as much improved as its looks. With the Z4 having become more
of a grand-tourer and the Merc gaining a new sporting edge, the line between
the two is now blurred considerably.
The electronic differential
really helps the car rotate around corners, though the steering still feels a
bit over-boosted. Acceleration is rapid and the V6 makes a thoroughly enjoyable
sound. The brakes are much like the steering, being loose initially and perhaps
too firm at the bottom.
GIMMICKS
AND GIZMOS
Inside is where you’ll find much
of what’s new about the 2012 SLK, including the optional Panorama Roof ($500)
or Magic Sky Control roof. ($2,500) The latter is nice but offers little shade,
and if you’re weekly forecast calls for sun most of the time, it might not be
the best choice. As for “Magic Sky Control”, it’s another glass roof, but it can
transition to a heavily tinted surface with the touch of a button. They don’t
call it magic for nothing.
Regardless of which top you
choose, all hide away in an impressive series of folding parts that will wow
bystanders for a solid 20 seconds. The time it takes to open or close a
convertible roof always seems like a useless statistic, but get caught in a
sudden downpour and the quicker the better.
Top down, you can appreciate the
Airscarf system (a part of the $2,590 Premium Package 1), which blows hot or
cool air onto the neck through vents in the headrest. Also included are heated
seats, an iPod interface XM Satellite radio and an impressive harmon/kardon
audio system. Notably absent, however, are cooled or vented seats.
The cabin itself is premium,
though missing any wow factor. The actual display of the Comand system
(especially some of the radio screens) looks dated already and it’s
disappointing that a keyless access system is a $650 upgrade and not standard.
This is a Mercedes-Benz after all. Thankfully, a wood grain interior trim is
optional and aluminum comes standard – there’s nothing worse than being forced
to upgrade just because the factory wood looks so dated and cheap.
Another notable feature for 2012
comes in the safety department with the addition of Attention Assist as
standard, which will notify the driver with a visual warning on the dash if it
detects jerky steering corrections, indicating you’re starting to doze off.
Pricing for the SLK350 starts at
$55,675. As tested, our model included a long list of options, totaling roughly
$11,000 bringing the price to $66,650 – and that’s without the pricey Magic Sky
Control roof.
A MERCEDES
WITH A STICK SHIFT?
Currently the SLK350 and 415-hp
SLK55 AMG model are on offer, although Mercedes is set to offer an SLK250 model
soon, with points that appeal to both the budget conscious and the driving
enthusiast. A new turbocharged 4-cylinder engine generates 201-hp and 229 lb-ft
of torque, and despite the big drop in power is just one second off to 60 mph.
Fuel economy will increase further, delivering a 23/31 mpg rating while the
real not to driver’s everywhere is a rare-to-Mercedes 6-speed manual
transmission. Pricing for this model has yet to be released, but if the savings
is significant, it might be a hard model to turn down, especially considering
the
THE
VERDICT
Long before hardtop convertibles
became as mainstream as they currently are, Mercedes offered the SLK, a car
that continues to deliver incredible every-day practicality for a luxury
roadster. With added refinement and much improved fuel economy, the SLK350 has
moved further from being a weekend toy to becoming a feasible only car. At the
same time, rather than lose some of the fun factor as it has matured, it now
delivers a heightened driving experience. With the latest model, Mercedes is
further proving that a luxury sports can in fact be your only car.
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