Mercedes can’t seem to keep its future sports cars under wraps. Not only have we seen a lot of spy shots and new info on the future SLS (formerly SLC), but now we’ve got one of the smaller, more afforadable future SLK.
When the new SLK hits the market in 2012, it will likely get a design updated to look more like the latest Mercedes family line. This should include a flatter grille like the one from the SL, and LED lights will be integrated into the lower half of the front bumper.
Some of the biggest news may be in the engine bay where Mercedes may offer an oil burner for the hardtop convertible. If given the green light, the likely candidate would be the 2.2-liter diesel unit already in service in the E-Class and C250. The engine produces 202 hp and 368b ft of torque, which could give this SLK a 0 to 60 mph time of about six seconds.
No word yet if the U.S. will be included in the new diesel SLK, but considering North America’s fear of diesel and love of power, we may just keep the 3.0-liter 224 hp gas engine for the base model.
Mercedes revealed today at the Geneva Motor Show the special edition SLK 2LOOK, a model offered in either black or white colors. The special edition can be ordered with immediate effect in the engine variants SLK 200 KOMPRESSOR, SLK 300 and SLK 350 Sports Engine and adds an extra cost of 2100 euro. It will be limited to to 300 vehicles worldwide.
The SLK 2LOOK Edition is painted in either obsidian black metallic or the special finish designo mystic white and features 18 inch 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, discreet emblems on the wings.
The same contrasting black-and-white color scheme continues in the interior: sports seats in nappa leather – with the seat center panels in white and the contoured bolsters in black, the doors and center armrest are also in a contrasting black-and-white scheme.
Press release after the jump.
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Often times in their quest to transform a production car from stock, tuning companies end up overdoing it and produce cars that are just expensively ugly. There are times however when an example or two come away from a tuner without the appearance of trying too hard. One such example is the Väth V58K, an extreme interpretation of the Mercedes Benz SLK 55 AMG.
The German tuners deemed the 5.4-liter naturally aspirated engine found in the SLK 55 AMG to be insufficient for their needs. So they increased displacement to 5.8-liters and added a supercharger raising power from 360hp (269kW) to 560hp (421kW) and raising torque from 377lb-ft (510Nm) to 569lb-ft (770Nm). All this added power is enough to enable the car to sprint from 0-60 MPH (0-100km/h) in around 4 seconds. Only one second behind the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, and down from the 4.9 seconds that it takes the stock SLK 55 AMG. The car is now capable of achieving a maximum speed of 186mph (300km/h) an improvement over the electronically limited 155 MPH that comes from the factory.
Mercedes may be going smaller with the gullwing. We’ve already seen plenty of spy shots and renderings of the upcoming SLC, but now we’re hearing rumors about a smaller SLK-sized gullwing sports car. But this little flyer has a twist, it will be a gas/electric hybrid.
So what would prompt Mercedes to make a smaller gullwing car? Could it be the initial buzz about the SLC that would make it want to have a more affordable vertical-door car? Actually no. The gullwing design allows the car to have a higher door line (like on the original 300 SL) so that it can hide some of the batteries for the green technology. This will help keep some weighty items in the middle of the car and less likely to effect handling.
An ideal set up for this car would include the 3.5-liter V6, which currently makes 305 hp in the SLK, combined with an F1 racing style KERS regenerative braking system. This car could have the ability to yield around 40 mpg and also provide real competition to the Porsche Cayman S and Audi TT RS.
An inside source at Mercedes has told Automotive news that the next generation SLK will be fitted with an optional diesel engine. It will have the same 2.2L four-cylinder turbo diesel engine found in the current C250 CDI. The power plant is rated at 204hp with 369lb-ft of torque. In the C-Class sedan returns fuel-economy of 54.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 138g/km.
The new diesel is "perfect" for the SLK, the source told Automotive News. Output is high, it runs smoothly, and it’s appropriately fuel-efficient for the times, he said. At the other end of the spectrum, the AMG model is expected to pick up the hand-built 6.2L V8 engine found in the C63.
