PRODUCTION CHIEF WENDY WARREN KEEBLER: I am always delighted by the interior lighting in these Mercedes-Benzes; it’s truly special and adds a touch found in no other cars I can think of. Speaking of lighting, the “active curve illumination” for the headlights is just so cool. This option seems well worthwhile. ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR CHERYL BLAHNIK: After living out of a minivan for a week, needless to say this was a real treat. Not only is this a head-turner of a car, but it doesn’t just stop at its looks: The car has serious game. I love the hardtop, too. When it’s up, you hardly hear the wind and road. And from a styling standpoint, the top definitely gives it a finished look. EXECUTIVE EDITOR WES RAYNAL: A car I liked better than I thought I would. It looks good with the AMG body bits, there’s plenty of poke and a nice growl from the V8. Throw it around a bit and the car responds quickly. It’s a bullet off the line and there’s decent grip. The steering is OK but nowhere near as good as a Porsche Boxster’s. Still, the message the car sends is, “Go ahead, fling me around, I can handle it.” MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: I like this SLK, but I would never buy it over a Boxster or Cayman, BMW M coupe or roadster. It’s fast and fun, handles well, but the steering is a wash and the transmission wholly unsatisfying. The folding hardtop serves as the trump card, but I can live without it one way or another (conventional convertible or fixed roof). DRIVERS LOG: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG - AutoWeek Magazine M
