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Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY (R 172) – Frontansicht (2), 11. März 2011, Teneriffa.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Daimler-Benz
Also called Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class (from 2016)
Production 1996–present
Body and chassis
Class Sport compact / Roadster
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door roadster
Layout FR layout
Related Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
Chronology
Predecessor Mercedes-Benz 190SL
R170
1st Mercedes-Benz SLK.jpg
Overview
Production 1996–2004
Assembly Bremen, Germany
East London, South Africa
Designer Murat Gunak, Michael Mauer (1993)
Body and chassis
Platform Mercedes-Benz R170
Related Chrysler Crossfire
Mercedes-Benz R129
Mercedes-Benz W202
Mercedes-Benz C208
Powertrain
Engine 2.0 L I4
2.3 L I4 S/C
2.0 L I4 S/C
3.2 L V6
Transmission

5-speed automatic
5-speed manual

6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 94.5 in (2,400 mm)
Length 1996–2000: 157.3 in (3,995 mm)
2001–04: 157.9 in (4,011 mm)
Width 67.5 in (1,714 mm)
Height 1996–2000: 50.7 in (1,288 mm)
2001–04: 50.4 in (1,280 mm)
Curb weight 3,036 lb (1,377 kg)
R171
Mercedes-Benz R171 front 20080801.jpg
Overview
Production 2004–2010
Assembly Bremen, Germany
Body and chassis
Platform Mercedes-Benz R171
Powertrain
Engine 1.8 L I4
3.0 L V6
3.5 L V6
5.4 L V8
Transmission 5-speed (SLK 200)
7-speed automatic
6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 95.7 in (2,431 mm)
Length 4,087 mm (160.9 in)
AMG: 4,093 mm (161.1 in)
2009–2011: 161.5 in (4,102 mm)
2009–present AMG: 161.4 in (4,100 mm)
Width 1,788 mm (70.4 in)
1,793 mm (70.6 in)
Height 1,298 mm (51.1 in)
2004–08 AMG: 1,270 mm (50.0 in)
2009–2011 AMG: 50.7 in (1,288 mm)
Curb weight 1,495 kg (3,296 lb)
Mercedes-Benz R172
Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY Sport-Paket AMG (R 172) – Frontansicht, 1. April 2011, Velbert.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Daimler AG
Production 2011–present
Assembly Bremen, Germany
Body and chassis
Class Sports car, Roadster
Body style 2-door retractable hardtop
Platform Mercedes-Benz R172
Powertrain
Engine 1.8 L I4
2.0 L I4
2.1 L I4 diesel
3.5 L V6
5.5 L V8
Transmission 9-speed automatic
7-speed automatic
6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 95.7 in (2,431 mm)
Length 4,134 mm (162.8 in)
AMG: 4,146 mm (163.2 in)
Width 1,810 mm (71.3 in)
1,817 mm (71.5 in)
Height 1,301 mm (51.2 in)AMG: 1,300 mm (51.2 in)
Curb weight 1,435 kg (3,164 lb)

The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a compact luxury roadster manufactured by Daimler-Benz in three generations; R170 launched in 1996, the R171 in 2004 and R172 in 2011.

Mercedes presented the SLK II concept car at the 1994 Paris Motor Show, showing off the "vario-roof". The car went on sale two years later in Europe, and in 1997 in the US. The SLK is built in Bremen, Germany.

The designation "SLK" derives from the company's design mission to create a roadster that was at once sporty, light and short—in German: sportlich (sporty), leicht (light) und kurz (short).

For the 2017 model year (late 2016), with the release of the third generation R172 facelift, the SLK-Class will be renamed to Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class in accordance with the revised nomenclature adopted by the brand. Under this scheme, roadsters use the base name "SL", followed by the model's placement in Mercedes-Benz hierarchy. The "SL" is for Sportlich Leicht (German for "Sport Light") and alludes to the long-running SL-Class. This is followed by the letter "C"—the SLC being the roadster equivalent to the C-Class.

Daimler-Benz wanted to market a new retractable hardtop system they called the "Vario-Roof". first shown on the SLK II concept car at the 1994 Paris Motor Show. The car went on sale two years later in Europe, and in 1997 in the US. The Vario-Roof is a hard roof that can fold down into the car by means of an electrohydraulic system, thus transforming the car from coupé to cabriolet.

As one of the first modern retractable hardtop convertibles, the SLK joined others of this era including the 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder, the Peugeot 306 Cabriolet, the Lexus SC, the Pontiac G6, and the Chrysler Sebring.


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