2004 Mercedes SLK-Class: First Look

Mercedes range of small roadsters, the SLK-Class, were not what you'd term inspiring - they looked okay from certain angles, but failed to deliver when the price of admission was taken into account.

And beyond being small, cute, and moderately fun-to-drive, a similarly-priced entry-level Porsche Boxster put its countrymen to shame.

Only when tuned by German automotive maestros AMG was the SLK-Class worth investigating, but at more than $154,000, it was beyond the reach of many.

Seeing the error of their ways, most likely through flagging sales, Mercedes has unveiled its second generation SLK-Class at the 2004 Detroit Motor Show, and you can now say goodbye to the pre-millennium SLKs of yore.

The revised and reshaped models now offer enough shove to put creases in even the most carefully ironed lederhosen and items such as the new 7-speed automatic transmission and the "Airscarf" heating system add intrigue.

The 2004 model SLK-Class is a much more complete range of vehicles too, offering a broad range of powertrains. There's 120kW supercharged fours, quick-spinning sixes and license voiding 265kW V8s.

From the top-shelf SLK 55 AMG, to the entry-level SLK 200 Kompressor, there's a roadster to suit everyone, but beyond a few new powertrains and badging, the most obvious change for 2004 is the sheet metal.

While the outgoing SLK wasn't exactly an ugly duckling - perhaps this was its biggest drawcard - the '04 SLK makes Audi and BMW convertibles look dull in comparison.

The new look is, without a doubt, one of Mercedes best yet, and it comes as no surprise that the marque went out of its way to emulate specific aspects of the SLR - the F1-esque nosepiece in particular.

From the front, the new Merc is much sleeker than its predecessor, with racier, more compact headlight clusters, packing the now obligatory xenon globes.

The long bonnet remains, which helps create that traditional roadster image, while a stretched wheelbase (longer by 30mm), twin exhaust pipes and elegant 16, 17 and 18-inch alloy wheels contribute to its sporty demeanour.

A fairly compact roadster by and large, the vehicle's flanks still manage to convey a good sense of athleticism and even a hint of aggression, and though the rear end is unmistakably Mercedes, it's not as dynamic or exciting as the front end, imparting a touch of 206 CC even.

Mercedes didn't skimp on interior renovations, as the cockpit has been completely redesigned and substantially upgraded with what the German car maker calls "... a careful choice of materials." Sure beats haphazard selections.

The design concept is characterised by switches, pushbuttons and decorative elements with silver-coloured surfaces, creating a sharp contrast with the black surfaces of the instrument panel.

For those who wince at clashing colours, fret not, as the optional leather upholstery can be tailored to various colours as well.

The metal vario-roof mechanism has also been rejigged for faster operation (22 seconds from top down to top up), and can be activated via the key fob as an option.

Mercedes new Airscarf heating system should please drivers who suffer from stiff neck and shoulders after prolonged roof-down driving as well.

Simply put, it's a neck-level heating system that delivers warmth to the head, neck and shoulders via vents in the seats headrests. Mercedes reckons this innovation extends top-down driving to the full calendar year.

The stylishly shaped body of the new SLK affords the Merc impressive aerodynamics as well: no other roadster in this class matches its drag co-efficient value of 0.32.

In addition to the new 7-speed automatic transmission (available on all but the 4-cylinder models), which is claimed to reduce 0-100km/h times over the old 5-coggers, the new SLK-Class can be equipped with cornering headlights that swivel to illuminate around corners, but of most import is the new powerplant range.

The supercharged 2.0-litre engine will be continuing its service for the SLK, incorporating what Merc types call Twinpulse.

This system combines a range of technologies, such as a compressor, balancer shafts, charge-air cooling, variable camshaft adjustment and 4-valve technology to increase torque and reduce fuel consumption.

It manages 120kW @ a low-ish 5300rpm, largely thanks to the forced induction and a low compression ratio of 9.5:1. Peak torque of 230Nm for the four-banger isn't too bad either, which is sustained between 2500 - 4800rpm.

Next in line is the V6 mill, but Mercedes' tried-and-tested 3.2-litre 160kW V6 seen in the first generation SLK-Class has been ditched in favour of the marque's new 3.5-litre V6, which manages to squeeze out a healthy 200kW of power and is a close match, at least on paper, to the engine found in Nissan's 350Z Roadster.

With variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust valves, the naturally aspirated bent six makes 350Nm of torque @ 2400 rpm, and this figure remains constant across a wide rev band, extending up to 5000rpm.

Considering how low the torque curve peaks, one can only imagine at the prospects of an AMG-fettled version, though such an engine has not yet been mooted.

Both this and the blown 2.0-litre engine come standard with 6-speed manual transmissions, with 7- and 5-speed automatics as options respectively.

The engine AMG chose to equip its bespoke SLK with is the 5.5-litre V8. While the superceded (and supercharged) SLK 32 AMG was no slouch, dispatching the 0-100km/h dash in just 5.2 seconds, the new SLK 55 AMG takes that figure down to 4.9 seconds - and it's only available with the 7-speed auto transmission.

With 265kW of power and 510Nm of torque, the sportiest SLK in the range is more than a little bit feisty, and will give traditional rivals such as BMW's Z4 and Porsche's Boxster a good kick in the pants. On top of this revitalised engine range, the SLK benefits from more powerful disc brakes and redesigned suspension rigs front and rear, which, in addition to its wider footprint, should translate to a more involving drive.

Mercedes new SLK-Class is a breath of fresh air in the luxury roadster market segment, with a suave new look, a modern range of engines and a couple of snappy innovations just for good measure. The 2004 model two-seater will launch in Europe in March 2004 and will be in Australian showrooms by mid-September of the same year.