14 Jan 08
The two-seater roadster gets more powerful, yet more economical, engines, revisions to its styling, an overhauled interior and new options, including voice-controlled telecoms kit and Direct Steer power steering. Around 650 new parts are fitted, apparently...
The restyling includes a new front bumper with different air dam, and tweaks around the large Mercedes star badge; the rear end gains a diffuser-type lower section, trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes and darkened taillights, and there are larger rear-view mirrors with LED repeater indicators. It's all been sharpened up and most of the wheel designs are new as well; the SLK 55 AMG gains a new front apron with black-painted cross strut and side air outlets, and darkened headlamp lenses.
New features inside include a three-spoke steering wheel and revised instrument panel, higher-quality materials and equipment including hands-free Bluetooth phone kit, iPod input and optional voice controls for the telematics. A Harmon Kardon Logic7 audio system is optional.
Two engines have been heavily modified: the supercharged four-cylinder in the SLK 200 Kompressor and the six-cylinder V6 in the SLK 350. Power from the V6 has been upped to 305bhp, with higher engine speeds possible and a higher compression ratio, new intake manifold and modified valve train engineered; it is fitted with the 7G-Tronic automatic transmission or six-speed manual gearbox. Fuel consumption from this engine has been lowered to 30.7mpg, and carbon dioxide emissions reduced to a still-high 219g/km (auto) or 227g/km (manual).
The SLK 200K's engine now develops 184bhp and fuel consumption is improved to 36.7mpg; carbon dioxide output is 182g/km. Improvements to the SLK 280 give 30.4mpg (manual) or 31mpg (auto) and 220/216g/km; the 360bhp, 5.5 V8-engined SLK 55 AMG continues relatively unchanged.
Six-speed manual transmission is standard in all models except the SLK 55 AMG, which gets the 7G-Tronic gearbox; options include a five-speed auto for the SLK 200 K and, in the SLK 280 and 350, 7G-Tronic with steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles.
The SLK 55 AMG also has the new Direct Steer system as standard (an option with the other models). Similar in principle to BMW's Active Steering, it gives variable power assistance and steering ratio according to driver demand, speed and road curves: like the earlier speed-sensitive power steering, it's a purely mechanical system rather than electronic steer-by-wire.
Check out the rest of our Tokyo Motor Show coverage
