SLK/SLC-Class (R172) [Official] Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

[bmer]

Well i think we can all agree on that this gen SLK has lost most of hairdresser image associated with this type of cars.The styling is just bolder this time.

Most? I don't think so. Some? Perhaps.

 

[Tarek]

Most? I don't think so. Some? Perhaps.

Different eyes..different tastes.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Some aspects look so right and others look so wrong. The front looks particularly ghastly. Will really have to see this one in the metal.

Very disappointed in MB given how beautiful the Z4 is.

 

[Ausslk55amg]

Weight

Any release on weight? I'm truly wondering if they were able to reduce it this generation despite all the extras.

I'm hoping so.

The economy figures support a huge loss of weight partnered by very efficient engines and start/stop, but on the other hand the acceleration figures are crap - the 350 goes 0-100 in 5.6s whereas the outgoing model did it in 5.5!

Jury's still out on that one - it was an interesting omission from the detailed stats on this thread...

JD
Sydney Australia

 

[bmwownage]

I think the whole design is a mess.
The front is simply the exact same thing from the CLS with a slightly different shape, then most of the curves etc. is very much the same as the current model. Obviously with this model, it is trying very hard to adopt the "old" / "traditional" MB sports car feel, being boxy, but it keeps stuff from the outgoing model, where lines were very rounded. Headlight looks old, the front is bad, no character, just a bland car.
Not much to say about the tail, ridiculous.
The current model looks much smarter/sharper/classier than this.
Just what's wrong with MB designs? they just try so hard to implement some "new" elements but they don't do it properly, or it's incomplete. The car looks kinda unfinished/in the works. And i think very soon this SLS grille will look dated.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

I think the whole design is a mess.

The design is so simply and basic. How is it a mess?

I could see if it had lines and cracks all over it like the Z4, but Benz keep this design very clean.

 

[Zafiro]

The design is so simply and basic. How is it a mess?

I could see if it had lines and cracks all over it like the Z4, but Benz keep this design very clean.

Nothing wrong with lines if its designed properly.

 

[Osnabrueck]

The proportions of certain elements on this car are sending us the wrong message. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt until I see it in person.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Nothing wrong with lines if its designed properly.

That surely isn't the case with the Z4. Only issue I could see someone having with the SLK is maybe the large grill and headlights. A maybe some folks wanted the bumper a little more sportier (the one without the AMG trim). Other than that, the car is flawless.

 

[Osnabrueck]

E85 Z4 - The greatest and most influential roadster design of its time.

Just sayin'.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

E85 Z4 - The greatest and most influential roadster design of its time.

What has it "influence"?

 

[martinbo]

What has it "influence"?

The new SLK to a large extent...

 

[dalab]

The design of "flame surfacing" interlocking convex concave lines were taken by 90% of brands including Audi, mercedes benz, toyota mazda hyundai, the 3american etc etc, inthe most of their models so far, look the edges on the sides down into the audi - mercedes and the others, the Z4 was criticism but all copied it, the car ahead of its time frame and set the course.

 

[bum-man]

The new SLK to a large extent...

Ehh? The SLK still retains it's wedge shape. I see inspiration from the previous R170 and R171, and if anything the previous SLKs inspired the Z4s design with it's folding hardtop.

 

[Osnabrueck]

Ehh? The SLK still retains it's wedge shape. I see inspiration from the previous R170 and R171, and if anything the previous SLKs inspired the Z4s design with it's folding hardtop.

That's kinda idiotic coming from you Bum-Man - a folding hardtop is a luxury amenity, not a design element.

But I will endorse your first point - The SLK's design owes nothing to the Z4 and everything to the preceding SLKs and the SLS.

My point about the influence of the Z4 was regarding car design in general.

 

[Zafiro]

Ehh? The SLK still retains it's wedge shape. I see inspiration from the previous R170 and R171, and if anything the previous SLKs inspired the Z4s design with it's folding hardtop.

LoL yeah and the centerline on the hood is influenced by the Z4

 

[bum-man]

^No not really, take an aerial view of the R171 and the hood will have similar lines...

And sorry Osna, disagree with you there. You can't convince me that the Z4 would have the same visual impact (top up obviously) with a canvas top. Just like I couldn't understand the E85s design until they finally made a coupe version of it, then everything finally made sense.

 

[Zafiro]

^No not really, take an aerial view of the R171 and the hood will have similar lines...

I did and it doesn't look the same. So if you going to use the hardtop excuse I'll continue using the hood excuse. So dont try to argue against me

 

[Ausslk55amg]

Placed my order

Hey guys,

Just placed my order for one of the first R172 SLK55AMG's to hit Oz.

I want it finished off by the AMG Performance Studio so expect delivery in early '12.

I really love the interior - and will work with AMG in person to build on what I see as one of the best interiors I've ever seen and turn it into my idea of the best interior I've ever seen.

With this car I think that's possible.

Regarding exterior colour - time will tell but happy to go custom on that too.

In the video red looks good but not that good, and the champagne light brown is cute and fresh but a bit too light (may look mad with the AMG kit though).

Best I've seen is a smoke-silver with the AMG kit on MB's interactive Comand website.

Any ideas re: exterior colours guys and girls?

What about a light metallic red/burgundy?

Or a gunmetal grey?

This is one car that will prob not work in white..

JD
Sydney Australia

 

[K-A]

It looks OK to me, but I'm not big on, nor do I really pay attention to the SLK's so much.

The SLS look is being done wrongly by them, I don't know why, but I feel that way. After the SL, the SLS will have lost a lot of its prestige. I almost feel like the SLS is a "sacrifice" model for M-B, as in they created it simply to get some buzz, and widen the brands premium cache, then by trickling down every design element from it, they can market their more plebeian cars as "SLS this, SLS that". Smart actually, because in reality, if these parts are being used in the cheaper models, they're appropriate on the cheaper cars, therefore you're overpaying in the SLS.

Something about that grille I feel will look old fast, I dunno why either. I haven't even seen the current "CLS" new-style grille in person really, and I'm already experiencing a "been there, done that" type of thing. I think the W212 and W221, and to a lesser extent, W204 are M-B's best front ends right now.

on the SLK, I think the design plays out well, and yeah it's obvious that they threw in things like the fender vents to spice up what otherwise looks very familiar. The rear looks good, but something about those Taillights can be done more elegantly. The shape is good, but the clunky red/white could have been done better maybe.

Oh, and I think the Z4 is a mess, so I think I like this design more. More simple, stealthy, and classic looking.

Interior wise, again, the SLS thing is cool, but it forces me to see the SLS as having an "SLK interior". Here it looks cool because it looks old-school M-B (which I LOVE), but it also look a little cheap and unrefined in some ways....

.... And THIS LOOKS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE!!!! What were they thinking??