harmanjit_kaur
Waheguru Waheguru
The 2012 SLK roadster may be Mercedes-Benz’s latest and greatest convertible offering, but the automaker believes the new offering is firmly rooted in the company’s legacy of building supreme drop-top machines.
Mercedes started building small roadsters with the 1955 190 SL. Conceived as a compliment to the legendary 300 SL Gullwing, the 190 SL was the brainchild of importer Max Hoffman. Hoffman was not an official Daimler-Benz employee, but as Benz’s main U.S. importer, he had enough clout to influence product development decisions. With his persuasion, the elegant and affordable sports car was designed in just five months, and featured a 105-horsepower, 1.9-liter four-cylinder. It was a hit (especially amongst celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly), and nearly 25,000 cars were built between 1955 and 1963.
Although a number of SLs followed in subsequent years, it appears Mercedes-Benz doesn’t regard any of those models as true successors to the 190 SL’s throne. Instead, the automaker seems to draw a direct correlation between the 190 SL and the first-generation SLK, which was shown as a design study at the 1994 Turin Motor Show. Although the concept was more spartan and raw than the actual production car, the theme of a small, intimate two-seat roadster capable of delivering a fun, dynamic, and luxurious experience was carried over into the production car. History shows that recipe proved successful, which explains why Mercedes-Benz isn’t straying far outside the box for the new 2012 model.
The rejuvenated 2012 SLK is expected to arrive stateside in early summer, just in time for American customers to enjoy prime drop-top-driving season. First off the gate will be the SLK350, which is fitted with a 302-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 and a seven-speed automatic. Beginning in early 2012, however, the 350 will be joined by the SLK250 — Benz’s first four-cylinder, two-passenger roadster in several years. Power is provided by a 201-horsepower, turbocharged 1.8-liter I-4, and channeled through either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic transmission. Both models will be offered with Mercedes’ new Magic Sky Control roof, which allows occupants to transform the folding panoramic glass roof from opaque to transparent at the touch of a button.
Definitive pricing has yet to be announced, but look for those figures to arrive shortly before the SLK does this summer.
Source: Mercedes Benz USA
