Motor Authority - blog Category: SLK Class

Like a compact SL, the next-gen SLK will be brawnier and more masculine in its appearance than the current SLK, but it will also offer a bit more bite to back up the bark. New tidbits out today hint that the next-gen SLK may end up being one of the most interesting cars in Mercedes-Benz's lineup.

With a 300-350-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 as a post-debut special, the SLK will potentially offer a lot of punch even in standard guise. The AMG version, however, could deliver a gobsmacking 470 horsepower from a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-8 engine to replace the aging 6.2-liter V-8 found in the current '63' model family.

Barring the new...

Like a compact SL, the next-gen SLK will be brawnier and more masculine in its appearance than the current SLK, but it will also offer a bit more bite to back up the bark. New tidbits out today hint that the next-gen SLK may end up being one of the most interesting cars in Mercedes-Benz's lineup. With a 300-350-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 as a post-debut special, the SLK will potentially offer a lot of punch even in standard guise. The AMG version, however, could deliver a gobsmacking 470 horsepower from a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-8 engine to replace the aging 6.2-liter V-8 found in the current '63' model family. Barring the new small-displacement twin-turbo V-8, a revised version of the 5.5-liter mill, also bearing twin-turbos, could generate 422 horsepower for the next-gen SLK 55 AMG. A 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel is also a likely candidate, at least for Europe, for an entry-level SLK. The oil-burner might even see U.S. sales, but that will depend heavily on Mercedes' decisions regarding the same engine going into the C-Class. Other major changes to the SLK could include a weight savings regime good for about 200 pounds off the car's curb weight, plus a revised interior designed around themes from the SLS AMG supercar, including a tall center stack surrounded by chrome vents. Read our preview story for more details on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLK. [Auto Bild] Read More

The SLK roadster has served Mercedes-Benz well over its life since introduction in 2004, and like all cars its once-cutting-edge design has become somewhat tired, despite a mid-cycle facelift. An all-new SLK is in the works, however, spotted on numerous occasions testing in Germany and previewed in our renderings below. A new report today tips the roadster for introduction in early 2011, after going on a strict diet and gaining some cargo space - and possibly gaining a sporty new engine.

According to a new report from Automobile, the next-gen SLK will drop 200 pounds in weight while adding a bit of space to the smallish trunk, increasing...

The SLK roadster has served Mercedes-Benz well over its life since introduction in 2004, and like all cars its once-cutting-edge design has become somewhat tired, despite a mid-cycle facelift. An all-new SLK is in the works, however, spotted on numerous occasions testing in Germany and previewed in our renderings below. A new report today tips the roadster for introduction in early 2011, after going on a strict diet and gaining some cargo space - and possibly gaining a sporty new engine. According to a new report from Automobile, the next-gen SLK will drop 200 pounds in weight while adding a bit of space to the smallish trunk, increasing capacity to 11.2 cubic feet. That will definitely make the vehicle more useful, both for trips to the golf course and weekend getaways. A new engine may also be in the mix, with a 300-350 horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 tipped for release some time after the car's official debut. The launch engines will stick with the current tried-and-true lineup of  gasoline engines, with evolutionary developments expected. There is also talk of a possible twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-8 generating over 470 horsepower for the AMG version once the standard 6.2-liter V-8 is replaced, though neither of the twin-turbo reports has yet been confirmed by any Mercedes or AMG officials. There is also the possibility that the 2011 SLK will get the 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel found in the current C250 CDI. Rated at 204 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque in its C-Class application, the engine would be sporty, but whether Americans would find it palatable is an open question. Mercedes has discussed bringing diesels to the U.S., but in the GLK and C-Class, not a sporty model like the SLK. Aside from the next-gen car's general proportions not much is clear due to generous slabs of camouflage cladding in the spy photos captured so far. Nevertheless, the car's LED daytime running lights, common to all of Mercedes' most recent models, are obvious. The door-mounted side mirrors stand out further on thinner stalks than the outgoing model, while the general proportions of the car with the top up seem to reflect a longer hood and more rearward seating position. The sharper angle between the rear of the hard top and the rear deck area also mimic the upcoming SLS AMG supercar to a degree, though the real design cues shared with that car are expected to be located around the front fascia. At any rate, it's clear that Mercedes has dumped the controversial front end of the current models for something new. In addition to the spy shots, we have these computer generated renderings previewing the final design of the stylish roadster. The next-generation SLK had been expected to make its debut in late 2010, so the 2011 release date moves the car's schedule back a bit - unsurprising given the past year's economic climate. Pricing for the current model starts just under $46,000 in the U.S., and the next model isn't expected to stray far from that mark. Read More

Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout - APEAL - is how J.D. Power measures the 'gratification' a car owner experiences with each new model on the market. For the fifth year running Porsche took top honors, but several trends in the market show a wide range of improvements.

First up: American carmakers have closed the gap on their import counterparts. In 2007, domestics fell 27 points short of imports, while in 2008 that shrunk to 15 points. This year there's just 5 points between domestics and imports, reflecting the huge improvement in design and build quality of American vehicles.

“Consumers have a great array of appealing... Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout - APEAL - is how J.D. Power measures the 'gratification' a car owner experiences with each new model on the market. For the fifth year running Porsche took top honors, but several trends in the market show a wide range of improvements. First up: American carmakers have closed the gap on their import counterparts. In 2007, domestics fell 27 points short of imports, while in 2008 that shrunk to 15 points. This year there's just 5 points between domestics and imports, reflecting the huge improvement in design and build quality of American vehicles. “Consumers have a great array of appealing vehicles to choose from by both domestic and import brands,” said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. Underscoring the improvement of the American brands is the overall industry improvement. The average score across all models in 2009 is up 9 points from 2008 to 779. A large part of that increase is attributed to a boost in owner satisfaction with fuel economy, according to Sargent. “Although lower fuel prices and the switch to smaller vehicles have undoubtedly helped, there are also many individual vehicles that have made strong improvements in fuel economy ratings,” said Sargent. “For example, the Ford F-150, Cadillac Escalade, Volkswagen Jetta and redesigned Dodge Ram have all made major strides in owner satisfaction with fuel economy through the introduction of more efficient powertrains.” The Germans also did well - as usual - in the APEAL rankings for 2009. Beyond Porsche's first-place finish, Volkswagen took home four category awards for the CC, GTI, Passat and Tiguan. Mercedes-Benz nabbed two of its own for the S-Class and SLK-Class. The APEAL results are built on owner evaluations of more than 90 vehicle attributes, with responses gathered between February and May 2009 from more than 80,900 purchasers and lessees of new 2009 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership. Read More

The SLK roadster has served Mercedes Benz well over its life since introduction in 2004, and like all cars its once-cutting-edge design has become somewhat tired, despite a mid-cycle facelift. An all-new SLK is in the works, however, and it's been spotted testing in the still-wintry German weather.

Aside from the car's general proportions not much is clear thanks to generous slabs of camouflage cladding. Nevertheless, the car's LED daytime running lights, common to all of Mercedes' most recent models, are obvious. The door-mounted side mirrors stand out further on thinner stalks than the outgoing model, while the general proportions of the... The SLK roadster has served Mercedes Benz well over its life since introduction in 2004, and like all cars its once-cutting-edge design has become somewhat tired, despite a mid-cycle facelift. An all-new SLK is in the works, however, and it's been spotted testing in the still-wintry German weather. Aside from the car's general proportions not much is clear thanks to generous slabs of camouflage cladding. Nevertheless, the car's LED daytime running lights, common to all of Mercedes' most recent models, are obvious. The door-mounted side mirrors stand out further on thinner stalks than the outgoing model, while the general proportions of the car with the top up seem to reflect a longer hood and more rearward seating position. The sharper angle between the rear of the hard top and the rear deck area also mimics the 2010 SLC to a degree, though the real design cues shared with that car are expected to be located around the front fascia. At any rate, it's clear that Mercedes has dumped the controversial front end of the current models for something new. Powertrains expected for the next-generation SLK include the 2.2L four-cylinder diesel found in the current C250 CDI. Rated at 204hp (152kW) and 369lb-ft (500Nm) in its C-Class application, the engine would be sporty, but whether Americans would find it palatable is an open question. Mercedes has discussed bringing diesels to the U.S., but in the GLK and C-Class, not a sporty model like the SLK. Petrol engines featuring evolutionary developments on the current range are expected, though there is also talk of a possible twin-turbo 3.5L V6 generating over 470hp (350kW) for an AMG version. More details and specifics will emerge as the car moves forward in its development cycle. The next-generation SLK is expected to make its debut in late 2010. Pricing for the current model starts just under $46,000 in the U.S., and the next model is expected to stay near that mark.2011 Mercedes Benz SLK 63 AMGNext-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK spy shots Read More

In an attempt to show off the potential of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cars, MBTech, an engineering group with close ties to Mercedes Benz, has run a series of tests at Germany’s Nurburgring using a SLK powered by the alternative fuel. The aim was to show that reduced CO2 emissions don’t have to mean lower performance.

MBTech also used the cramped trunk of the SLK, which still has to store the car’s folding roof, to showcase its new compact gas cylinder design. Other new technologies featured on the CNG SLK concept included new fuel-injection and exhaust system.

The CNG SLK Concept from MBtech develops up to 196hp... In an attempt to show off the potential of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cars, MBTech, an engineering group with close ties to Mercedes Benz, has run a series of tests at Germany’s Nurburgring using a SLK powered by the alternative fuel. The aim was to show that reduced CO2 emissions don’t have to mean lower performance. MBTech also used the cramped trunk of the SLK, which still has to store the car’s folding roof, to showcase its new compact gas cylinder design. Other new technologies featured on the CNG SLK concept included new fuel-injection and exhaust system. The CNG SLK Concept from MBtech develops up to 196hp (146kW) and a maximum torque of 200lb-ft (270Nm) from its 2.0L four-cylinder engine. This is enough to accelerate the car from a standstill to 100 km/h in a respectable 7.8 seconds. It has a top speed of 244 km/h. While this is nothing to get excited about, it requires only 5.6kg of CNG per 100km and emits less than 150g of CO2 per km, which is still impressive for the amount of performance delivered. The key to the design of MBTech’s new CNG system is a fifth injector, which is used to enhance the traditional four injection valves. However, this does not inject the gas selectively into the cylinders but rather into the central air intake. This enables the delivery of the quantities of gas required for the high cylinder performance even in the event of strongly fluctuating gas quality. MBTech is yet to reveal if any major carmakers are planning CNG versions of their top sports cars but given the need for more fuel-efficient models in most markets we could see some of the technologies demonstrated in the CNG SLK Concept make their way to production in the near future.MBTech CNG Mercedes Benz SLK Concept Read More

The 2010 model year is likely to be a bit of a letdown across the industry as companies back off product plans to weather the weak economy. But Mercedes-Benz has some plans for the model year, including its all-new lithium-ion powered S400 hybrid.

The S-Class hybrid will be the single largest mechanical update for the new model year, bringing what is billed as the first widely-marketed lithium-ion battery in a hybrid. The new hybrid will come with the rest of the S-Class in August of this year.

The standard S-Class sedans will also get a few updates, including new standard wheels, new driver assistance systems including Attention Assist,... The 2010 model year is likely to be a bit of a letdown across the industry as companies back off product plans to weather the weak economy. But Mercedes-Benz has some plans for the model year, including its all-new lithium-ion powered S400 hybrid. The S-Class hybrid will be the single largest mechanical update for the new model year, bringing what is billed as the first widely-marketed lithium-ion battery in a hybrid. The new hybrid will come with the rest of the S-Class in August of this year. The standard S-Class sedans will also get a few updates, including new standard wheels, new driver assistance systems including Attention Assist, Nightview Assist PLUS and Lane Keeping Assist. Other key changes include a renaming of the firm's diesel offerings from GL320, ML320 and R320 to GL350, ML350 and R350. The numbers typically indicate displacement, but in this case the name change doesn't appear to come with an engine upgrade - the same V6 turbodiesel lies under their hoods. GL-Class cars also get a facelift, POST-SAFE post-accident safety system, new options and two new paint colors: palladium silver and steel grey. M-Class cars get a hybrid addition in December in the form of the ML450 Hybrid, while the rest get standard burl walnut trim, tire pressure monitoring and upgraded steering wheels, along with the same new color options as the GL-Class. The vast majority of the rest of Mercedes' lineup goes on sale as 2010 models starting in August, with the GLK-Class already on sale, the E-Class jumping the gun in June, the CLS-Class starting in September, and the SL-Class, SLK-Class and G-Class waiting until October.2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupe Official2010 Mercedes Benz S-Class facelift2010 Mercedes Benz S63 and S65 AMG sedans Read More