SLK-Class (R171) Official SLK Facelift Info+Photos

[Merc1]

Mercedes has given its SLK a spruce-up just in time for Christmas. Blink and you most certainly will miss it – but the company claims there are 650 modified parts on its renowned roadster, which gets freshened looks inside and out, and fettled engines to take it into 2008.

Anoraks will spot the facelifted two-seater by its reshaped bumper and front air dam, and the large three-pointed star is given more prominence on the SLK’s snout. At the rear, a faux diffuser is grafted onto the car’s behind, alongside trapezoidal tailpipes and smoked, AMG-style rear lights.

Bigger door mirrors sprout from the flanks – now illuminated with arrow-shaped indicator repeaters, and new designs of alloy wheel evolve the look originally penned by Brit designer Steve Mattin, now design chief at Volvo.

New engines

The four-strong engine line-up will continue, led by the SLK55 V8. The three smaller engines are all revised for lower consumption and emissions: the SLK200 Kompressor (up 21bhp to 182bhp), SLK 280 (unchanged at ) and SLK350 (up 33bhp to 301bhp).

Also new is a variable ratio steering system called Direct-Steer. It’s optional on the three base models and standard on the AMG, and is wholly mechanical, meaning a much more direct ratio when just 5deg of lock is applied for quicker responses. Merc claims the turns lock to lock has reduced by a quarter as a result.

Changes inside include a new instrument cluster and three-spoke steering wheel design. Merc’s latest telematics system has been shoehorned in, letting owners use Bluetooth and operate their iPod remotely through the usual stereo controls.

The revised SLK goes on sale in Britain in April 2008. Pricing will be announced in the new year. Despite being the priciest car in its segment, the SLK remains a strong seller – Merc has flogged nearly half a million since its debut in 1997, nearly a tenth of those in the UK.


Mercedes SLK facelift


M

 

[cawimmer430]

The AMG car looks great, but the standard SLK looks ok except for the front bumper. I mean on this photograph for example, the white color looks great, but then you have this big "black gap" inbetween which makes it look "unfinished". I can't stand it.

 

[Merc1]

Yeah that doesn't looks so good in White. I'm sure it will look better IRL.

M

 

[Alwing]

Posted them before (page3)! jesmb.de is going to block their pictures for other sites!

Oh I haven't seen that, my bad.
It seems indeed that jesmb doesn't allow hotlinking anymore, now I can't see the scans either. It was probably stored in cache memory when I posted it and was able to view it.
Danke!

 

[cawimmer430]

IMO this looks much better. A quick photoshop.

 

[Bruce]

Ahh, I really don't like what they've done with the front bumper.

 

[Centurion]

I guess I'm the only one who likesthe new bumper.

 

[DaSilva]

I like it...

HAHAH - NOT


Ops.. Wait*

Well

a whatever!

I don't care how this thing looks as long as the girly driver with long hair and amazing legs is dam'n sexy and gives me a flying kiss and a blink with her eye while passing me on the road - Standard SLK


AMG - Mercedes is trying to get the old man away!
Haha, let the female's take over.

 

[PHYBENZ]

I like the new bumper, actually thing it works quite well. Saw an SLK today and the bumper made it look a little dated. I think this will def freshen it up.

 

[GBOY]

The bumper is new and different from anything out there.
What's not to like. This baby benz has always been sexy.

 

[Tarek]

I'm really wondering like everyone else why they didn't introduce the DI engines with the FL,maybe they are saving it for C's FL? we'll stick with the current engines but up the hp a bit to well over 300hp and then with to C's FL drop the new engines to keep sales goin,purely marketing decision!

 

[PHYBENZ]

I did just notice they put new window switches on the doors. You pull and push not the push up and push down old ones.

 

[bmer]

Not bad at all. I like the interior updates and especially the new steering wheel.

306hp, same HP as 335i...

Almost exactly the same. 335i has 225 kW(/400 Nm) and the new SLK 350 has 224 kW(/360 Nm). So there is a 1 kW (or 1 hp) difference in the officially stated power figures if you want to be precise.

 

[Sunny]

IMO this looks much better. A quick photoshop.

Yeah looks much better. MB stop doing the stupid fake F1 shit. On a lighter note... may be they did get the idea for the nose job from the Ferrari spy docs. lol

 

[Sunny]

Yeah looks much better. MB stop doing the stupid fake F1 shit. On a lighter note... may be they did get the idea for the nose job from the Ferrari spy docs. lol

Hmmm, may be someone at MB does have a sense of humor...

 

[7saen]

Yeah looks much better. MB stop doing the stupid fake F1 shit. On a lighter note... may be they did get the idea for the nose job from the Ferrari spy docs. lol

*cough* Vision SLR *cough*



BTW I like the facelift very much.. looks very fresh and daring from MB

 

[Merc1]

Oh ok, now I see where they got it from. I wonder if this means the next SLK will look like the AMG sports car being developed now?

M

 

[Monster]

The improved V6 has an engine cover similar to the Brabus engine cover design.
http://imageshack.us

 

[LaArtist]

^wow that looks migthy

 

[Merc1]

Ok, AutoWeek is reporting a nice round 300hp for the U.S. market:

Mercedes-Benz will reveal this facelifted 2009 model SLK at the North American International Auto Show, but the biggest change comes under the skin of the SLK350.

The SLK350's 3.5-liter V6 gets an overhaul that includes a higher compression ratio, modified valve train, redesigned inlet manifold and a higher, 7200-rpm redline. The result is a 32-hp jump in power to 300 hp and a slight torque increase to 265 lb-ft. Power figures for the base SLK300 (3.0-liter, 228-hp V6) and high-performance SLK55 AMG (5.5-liter, 355-hp V8) remain the same.


The exterior makeover of the convertible hardtop roadster is subtle: New bumpers, larger exterior mirrors with LED indicators and darkened taillight lenses differentiate it from the existing model. Inside is a new multifunction steering wheel, revised instruments and upgrades to the audio and telematics systems, including an iPod interface in the glovebox.

An AMG sport package with steering-column-mounted shift paddles is optional on SLK300 and 350, featuring blip throttle on downshift.

The 2009 SLK goes on sale in late April.


SLK Makeover - AutoWeek Magazine


M