New Mercedes SLK roadster launches in April

When the original Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster was launched worldwide in 1996 it was the first two-seater sports car to have a folding metal roof, an idea that is now commonplace and spawned a whole generation of coupe-cabriolet (CC) models from many other manufacturers.

The folding metal roof might now be widely used, but think ‘roadster’ and that conjures up the premium sporting brand of Mercedes-Benz. They might also manufacturer SUVs, MPVs, saloons, estates and limousines but roadsters are readily associated with the Mercedes-Benz premium brand and sporting heritage.

Nearly 500,000 SLKs have been sold worldwide since the first SLK roadster was launched in 1996 and Germany is the largest market for them followed by the USA and then the UK.

Since the SLK roadster was launched in the UK in 1997, 42,768 of them have been sold and that figure includes 18,773 of the second generation models launched in 2004.

Mercedes-Benz UK say the SLK takes 30 per cent of the premium sports car sector against the Audi TT, Alfa Spider, BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxster. Although total sector sales are falling, down from 20,000 in 2005 to 14,000 in 2007, Mercedes-Benz UK said this week the new SLK range will give a boost to the market sector.

On average throughout its life cycle the SLK models achieve over 4,000 sales annually in the UK and 62 per cent of customers are female.

From April 17 the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class two-seater roadsters go on sale having undergone an extensive facelift incorporating 650 newly developed components.

The average price increase for the latest generation SLKs is 2.2 per cent and Mercedes-Benz said this week at the international press launch that this reflects more powerful engines, lower emissions, enhanced telematics and better overall performance across the range.

As before there are four petrol engined models in the line-up, the SLK 200 Kompressor costing £29,705, the SLK 280 at £32,530, the SLK 360 at £36,755 and the SLK 55 AMG at £51,875.

An astonishing 93 per cent of UK customers order an SLK with automatic transmission. This adds £1,480 to the price of the SLK 200 for a five-speed unit and £1,610 to the price of the three other models which use a 7G-TRONIC auto gearbox.

The 1.8-litre, four-cylinder SLK 200 Kompressor is traditionally the most popular model in the UK accounting for 58 per cent of sales. The SLK 350 takes 21 per cent, the SLK 280 17 per cent and the 55 AMG variant just 4 per cent.

The SLK 200 Kompressor engine has been revised with 20 more hp, now 185hp, and 10Nm more torque, now up to 250Nm. Fuel economy is improved by 4.2mpg to 36.7mpg and CO2 emissions are reduced by 27g/km to 182g/km. The car is quicker as well with top speed 146mph and 0-62mph taking 7.6 seconds.

The SLK 280 unit has also been upgraded but the horsepower remains the same at 231hp, torque remains 300Nm but CO2 emissions drop by 11g/km to 220g/km. Top speed is limited to 155mph and 0-62mph takes 6.3 seconds.

The SLK 350 unit is new. This high revving unit now has 33hp more at 305hp, 360Nm of torque, 23g/km lower CO2 at 219g/km with a combined cycle fuel consumption of 30.7mpg. Top speed is again limited to 155mph and 0-62mph takes 5.4 seconds.

The SLK 55 AMG engine remains unchanged. This hand-built V8 unit produces 360hp, has 510Nm of torque, returns 23.5mpg with a 288g/km CO2 rating. Top speed is also limited to 155mph and 0-62mph is covered in 4.9 seconds.

The SLK’s UK customer profile makes interesting reading: 62 per cent are female, compared with 30 per cent Mercedes-Benz range average. Fifty-four per cent are aged 36 to 55 years, 78 per cent are married or have a partner, 85 per cent have more than two cars in the household and 20 per cent list their occupation as ‘professional’.

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