Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Swissbob]

Right. That generation SL was loathed by many. A golden era design wise would have clearly been the days of the W201, W124, W126.

M

Everybody who drove one, raved about that car.

But she wasn’t a beauty.

 

[Esp5]

Are you sure you don’t like this?

Let's put it this way, it's the one I liked the least.

 

[Merc1]

Everybody who drove one, raved about that car.

But she wasn’t a beauty.

Yep it was a great car otherwise.

M

 

[leylandi]

Mercedes-Benz Thread 'Celebrating life with joy and verve: 30 years of the Mercedes-Benz SLK'

Wednesday at 5:22 AM

• An emotive signature model for the brand since 1996
• From roadster to coupé in just 25 seconds thanks to the electrohydraulic vario-roof
• Comprehensive parts supply with Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts

An abundance of joie de vivre and driving pleasure – whether open as a roadster or closed as a coupé: the Mercedes-Benz SLK (R 170) is just as inspiring today as it was at its premiere in April 1996. This compact sports car impresses with its innovative steel vario-roof, high-performance power units and cool design. Thirty years ago, demand...

• GCF
• mercedes-benz slk
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Newsroom

Celebrating life with joy and verve: 30 years of the Mercedes-Benz SLK

• An emotive signature model for the brand since 1996
• From roadster to coupé in just 25 seconds thanks to the electrohydraulic vario-roof
• Comprehensive parts supply with Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts

An abundance of joie de vivre and driving pleasure – whether open as a roadster or closed as a coupé: the Mercedes-Benz SLK (R 170) is just as inspiring today as it was at its premiere in April 1996. This compact sports car impresses with its innovative steel vario-roof, high-performance power units and cool design. Thirty years ago, demand for the SLK was exceptionally high; its name stands for “Sportlich, Leicht, Kurz” (“Sporty, Lightweight, Short”). By 2004, a total of 311,222 examples had been built of the types SLK 200, SLK 200 Kompressor, SLK 230 Kompressor, SLK 320 and SLK 32 AMG.

“There are but few vehicles that can make your heart skip a beat when you see them for the first time. Our new SLK is one of them.” These are the words of Jürgen Hubbert, then member of the Mercedes-Benz Board of Management, at the car’s unveiling at the Turin Motor Show in April 1996. And he is right: the SLK becomes an emotive signature model for the brand. Its appeal is substantiated by numerous international awards, e.g. the “Goldenes Lenkrad” (“Golden Steering Wheel”, Germany, 1996), “L’automobile più bella del mondo” (“Most Beautiful Car in the World”, Italy, 1996) and “Car of the Year” (USA, 1997).

A joyful celebration of colour
The SLK expresses its multi-faceted joie de vivre with an unusual colour concept. Bold hues suit it well. This is shown by many test vehicles presented to the press in 1996 in the striking colour yellowstone (colour code 685). As part of the facelift in the year 2000, interior colours become even more vivid, with merlin blue, magma red and lotus yellow catching the eye.

Many examples of the R 170 have been carefully maintained and are regularly driven. Well-preserved SLKs are available on the market at attractive prices. One key advantage for SLK aficionados: the car’s high level of production quality and its technical kinship with the C-Class of the 202 model series (1992 to 2000) are the basis for its longevity.

Ingeniously folded and optimally covered
One defining feature of the SLK is its steel vario-roof. When closed, it offers excellent comfort and protection from inclement weather, reduces the risk of break-ins, keeps any wind noise to a minimum and comes through automatic car washes unscathed. This makes the SLK a veritable year-round car. Just activate a switch on the centre console, and the roof lifts and folds neatly into the boot in just 25 seconds. And even then there is still enough room for light luggage for two. These occupants can enjoy the open sky view, with reduced buffeting thanks to the standard wind deflector. Twin roll-over bars and reinforced A-pillars ensure a high level of safety.

The folding mechanism itself is a masterpiece of engineering, and its carefully choreographed movement continues to draw admiring gazes to this day. In the 10/1996 issue of “auto motor und sport”, the magazine devotes a four-page photo spread to the transformation from coupé to cabriolet. The title: “Open execution”. If properly maintained, the complex mechanism reliably retains its functionality for decades. The SLK is a trendsetter – its innovative roof concept is widely adopted by other manufacturers in and around the year 2000.

Sporty chassis tuning for agile handling
Double wishbone axles at the front, and a rear multi-link axle – the chassis makes use of proven Mercedes-Benz components. The tuning is adapted: revised springs lower the car by 20 millimetres compared to a comparable C-Class vehicle. The choice of wheels is unusual for the brand. The more powerful versions come with wider wheels and tyres at the rear than at the front. For instance, the SLK 230 Kompressor is fitted with 205/55 R 16 91 V tyres on the front axle and 225/50 R 16 91 V on the rear axle. For short braking distances, the SLK features a braking system taken from the E-Class (W 210).

Short overhangs at both front and rear and “power domes” on the bonnet give the SLK an agile look to match its handling. In the basic variant, it only weighs 1,260 kilograms and, with a length of 3,995 millimetres, it is around half a metre shorter than its big brother, the SL (R 129).

The best-selling model of the R 170 range is the SLK 230 Kompressor. Its four-cylinder engine with mechanical supercharger sounds the part, delivering 142 kW (193 hp) to the rear wheels. The driving performance is impressive: accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, the version with five-gear manual transmission reaches a top speed of 231 km/h. The use of a supercharger to boost performance has illustrious precedents. These include the legendary Mercedes-Benz S models of the 1920s, which apply this principle of charging in order to increase power as well as boost torque – and all this together with efficient fuel consumption.

 

[Uygar]

My neighbor happens to have the exact same one.

 

[Ozy]

Celebrating life with joy and verve: 30 years of the Mercedes-Benz SLK

• An emotive signature model for the brand since 1996
• From roadster to coupé in just 25 seconds thanks to the electrohydraulic vario-roof
• Comprehensive parts supply with Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts

An abundance of joie de vivre and driving pleasure – whether open as a roadster or closed as a coupé: the Mercedes-Benz SLK (R 170) is just as inspiring today as it was at its premiere in April 1996. This compact sports car impresses with its innovative steel vario-roof, high-performance power units and cool design. Thirty years ago, demand for the SLK was exceptionally high; its name stands for “Sportlich, Leicht, Kurz” (“Sporty, Lightweight, Short”). By 2004, a total of 311,222 examples had been built of the types SLK 200, SLK 200 Kompressor, SLK 230 Kompressor, SLK 320 and SLK 32 AMG.

“There are but few vehicles that can make your heart skip a beat when you see them for the first time. Our new SLK is one of them.” These are the words of Jürgen Hubbert, then member of the Mercedes-Benz Board of Management, at the car’s unveiling at the Turin Motor Show in April 1996. And he is right: the SLK becomes an emotive signature model for the brand. Its appeal is substantiated by numerous international awards, e.g. the “Goldenes Lenkrad” (“Golden Steering Wheel”, Germany, 1996), “L’automobile più bella del mondo” (“Most Beautiful Car in the World”, Italy, 1996) and “Car of the Year” (USA, 1997).

A joyful celebration of colour
The SLK expresses its multi-faceted joie de vivre with an unusual colour concept. Bold hues suit it well. This is shown by many test vehicles presented to the press in 1996 in the striking colour yellowstone (colour code 685). As part of the facelift in the year 2000, interior colours become even more vivid, with merlin blue, magma red and lotus yellow catching the eye.

Many examples of the R 170 have been carefully maintained and are regularly driven. Well-preserved SLKs are available on the market at attractive prices. One key advantage for SLK aficionados: the car’s high level of production quality and its technical kinship with the C-Class of the 202 model series (1992 to 2000) are the basis for its longevity.

Ingeniously folded and optimally covered
One defining feature of the SLK is its steel vario-roof. When closed, it offers excellent comfort and protection from inclement weather, reduces the risk of break-ins, keeps any wind noise to a minimum and comes through automatic car washes unscathed. This makes the SLK a veritable year-round car. Just activate a switch on the centre console, and the roof lifts and folds neatly into the boot in just 25 seconds. And even then there is still enough room for light luggage for two. These occupants can enjoy the open sky view, with reduced buffeting thanks to the standard wind deflector. Twin roll-over bars and reinforced A-pillars ensure a high level of safety.

The folding mechanism itself is a masterpiece of engineering, and its carefully choreographed movement continues to draw admiring gazes to this day. In the 10/1996 issue of “auto motor und sport”, the magazine devotes a four-page photo spread to the transformation from coupé to cabriolet. The title: “Open execution”. If properly maintained, the complex mechanism reliably retains its functionality for decades. The SLK is a trendsetter – its innovative roof concept is widely adopted by other manufacturers in and around the year 2000.

Sporty chassis tuning for agile handling
Double wishbone axles at the front, and a rear multi-link axle – the chassis makes use of proven Mercedes-Benz components. The tuning is adapted: revised springs lower the car by 20 millimetres compared to a comparable C-Class vehicle. The choice of wheels is unusual for the brand. The more powerful versions come with wider wheels and tyres at the rear than at the front. For instance, the SLK 230 Kompressor is fitted with 205/55 R 16 91 V tyres on the front axle and 225/50 R 16 91 V on the rear axle. For short braking distances, the SLK features a braking system taken from the E-Class (W 210).

Short overhangs at both front and rear and “power domes” on the bonnet give the SLK an agile look to match its handling. In the basic variant, it only weighs 1,260 kilograms and, with a length of 3,995 millimetres, it is around half a metre shorter than its big brother, the SL (R 129).

The best-selling model of the R 170 range is the SLK 230 Kompressor. Its four-cylinder engine with mechanical supercharger sounds the part, delivering 142 kW (193 hp) to the rear wheels. The driving performance is impressive: accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, the version with five-gear manual transmission reaches a top speed of 231 km/h. The use of a supercharger to boost performance has illustrious precedents. These include the legendary Mercedes-Benz S models of the 1920s, which apply this principle of charging in order to increase power as well as boost torque – and all this together with efficient fuel consumption.

Consistently the ugliest Mercedes model for 30 years, Congrats!

 

[Uygar]

EQ blobs are uglier. It’s just a funky little thing, I kinda love it, lol.

 

[Rolf]

The W212 was beyond repair for me, but the CLS 2 was and still is a gem.

In my opinion the least successful E-class is the W210, it destroyed the rock solid quality of Mercedes and its design from rear to front just didnt gel well together. The W212 is styled a bit on the conservative side but at least was built solidly and the FL in 63 AMG trim looked great.

 

[Rolf]

Consistently the ugliest Mercedes model for 30 years, Congrats!

The SLK 32 AMG is a gorgeous car. It reminds me of a junior R201 SL 55 AMG

 

[leylandi]

 

[Uygar]

Shaping up to be very nice looking actually. Rear end still gives EQ vibes though.

 

[Serpens]

Shaping up to be very nice looking actually. Rear end still gives EQ vibes though.

It does. I hope they one day they show the design proposals for this car. One of them had a big 'ole Bangle butt to ward off the EQ vibes. There was a poster here who used to convince industry people to actually give him internal documents...he predictably disappeared. It actually rattled folks within multiple companies. I don't get the good stuff as a result except over low quality video chat.

 

[Uygar]

It does. I hope they one day they show the design proposals for this car. One of them had a big 'ole Bangle butt to ward off the EQ vibes. There was a poster here who used to convince industry people to actually give him internal documents...he predictably disappeared. It actually rattled folks within multiple companies. I don't get the good stuff as a result except over low quality video chat.

Wow, really?

 

[fortuner]

It does. I hope they one day they show the design proposals for this car. One of them had a big 'ole Bangle butt to ward off the EQ vibes. There was a poster here who used to convince industry people to actually give him internal documents...he predictably disappeared. It actually rattled folks within multiple companies. I don't get the good stuff as a result except over low quality video chat.

Was it maybe think a poster Wolfgang

 

[Dopebouy]

What if Mercedes tries the X-Class again? But done right this time.

Think about this:
- Body-On-Frame chassis 3 Locking diff (From the Gwagon)
- GLE/GLS Interior.
- iDamping Air Suspension + Rear Steering
- OM654,OM656 EVO, M256 EVO Engine Choices.
- Make it F150 sized
- Sell it for GLE pricing

Share your opinions

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

What if Mercedes tries the X-Class again? But done right this time.

Think about this:
- Body-On-Frame chassis 3 Locking diff (From the Gwagon)
- GLE/GLS Interior.
- iDamping Air Suspension + Rear Steering
- OM654,OM656 EVO, M256 EVO Engine Choices.
- Make it F150 sized
- Sell it for GLE pricing

Share your opinions

I mean they kind of already did this...

 

[Merc1]

No pickup. Focus on perfecting their already vast lineup. Quality and reliability need to be addressed before spending billions to develop a pickup. Simply put, make what you got better first.

M

 

[Uygar]

Sorry, that looks dumb as hell.

 

[Serpens]

Was it maybe think a poster Wolfgang

No, carmaker1

 

[Swissbob]

The SLK 32 AMG is a gorgeous car. It reminds me of a junior R201 SL 55 AMG

This was a pocket rocket.

But the later 55s are more sought after, because of the V8.