Mercedes-Benz SLK200 2008 News

Fuel prices and economic uncertainty have not stopped Mercedes-Benz from rolling out a new set of sports stars at the top of its line-up. It has just tweaked the droptop SLK and SL, as well as the four-door CLS coupe, as it applies showroom pressure on BMW, Audi and Lexus rivals.The changes are mainly minor, although the latest SL looks far more aggressive in the nose (and is also $4000 to $8000 more expensive) but Benz is looking closely at the potential for turbodiesel power in the trio.According to president and CEO, Wolfgang Schrempp, the company has shown off such engines in Europe and these are now being evaluated for Australia. The company already delivers more than 20 per cent of its Australian vehicles with turbodiesels.In 2005 it unveiled an SLK 320 CDI tri-turbo concept at the Geneva Motor Show with 213kW and 630Nm and economy of 7.5 litres per 100km. At the same show it displayed a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 diesel SL that could charge to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.In Europe, Mercedes also sells a CLS 320 CDI with a 165kW/540Nm V6 turbodiesel that delivers 7.6 to 8.1 litres per 100km.The newcomers arrive at a time when the luxury car business is tightening, but Mercedes-Benz Australia managing director Horst vonSanden remains bullish. He hopes the Federal Government will give some ground on the planned hike in the luxury car tax but admits it isn't easy.“There's no denying it's giving us some grief,” he says. But von Sanden, like Schrempp, is looking to turbodiesels to give Benz an edge.“We're very happy with our turbodiesel line-up, from the BClass upwards,” he says.Later this year it will introduce a 2.0-litre turbodiesel A180CDI that uses as little as 5.0 litres per 100km. The engine is already fitted to the BClass. For the time being though, the company is focused on the new petrol-engined trio.The three-model SLK range kicks off at $86,780 for the 1.8-litre SLK200 Kompressor, $112,380 for the 3.5-litre V6 SLK 350 and $164,900 for the 5.5-litre V8 SLK 55 AMG.A new six-speed manual transmission is now available in the SLK200K and Mercedes expects the take-up to be about 25per cent with the SLK 350 being the volume seller.Visually, the SLK gains a modest nip and tuck, with four different frontal treatments, tail-lights and improved interior trim.Five distinct SL models are now available. They start at $223,000 for the 232kW/360Nm V6SL 350, which rises to $468,000 for the 450kW/1000Nm V12 SL65 AMG.The three-model CLS range starts at $143,900 for the 200kW/350Nm V6 CLS 350, $182,400 for the 285kW/530Nm V8 CLS 500 and $257,800 for the 378kW/630NmV8 CLS 63 AMG.The three updates are planned to give a worthwhile sales improvement, as last year Mercedes-Benz Australia sold 570 SLKs, 501 CLSs and 104 SLs. 

A rare manual Mercedes will open the batting when the updated SLK range hits Australia this year.The German luxury brand is almost an auto-only operation, but that will change with the introduction of a six-speed manual gearbox for the 2008 SLK.The two-seater sports car has just had a face-lift and the mid-life update and upgrade involve more than 650 individual alterations, including the gearbox.“It has always been available, but the reality is that very few people have chosen the manual. We'll see how it goes,” Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says.“We will be looking at the specification of the cars we bring to Australia. We will look at the value and also give people a wider choice. Currently we have four models, none of which is manual.”The most obvious changes to the SLK, like every facelift, are around the nose and tail, but the car also gets a fresher cabin with a new instrument cluster and the three-spoke steering wheel first seen in the new C-Class sedan.Benz claims significant fuel economy and emission improvements to all three engines, from the 1.8-litre supercharged four to the 3.5-litre V6.The SLK has been around since 1997 and, even though sales have taken an expected slide over the past 12 months, Benz believes it will bounce back.“It is time for a freshen,” McCarthy says. “It freshens a car that has actually sold really well for us. It's not a poor seller by any stretch and SLK 350 is very strong."“It is a normal mid-life update. But, appearance-wise, there are some significant changes, particularly from the front, where it's more aggressive.”The new look means a new nose, bigger mirrors, a diffuser under the tail, trapezoidal exhaust pipes and a new range of alloy wheels.Inside, the electronics have been upgraded and iPod integration is part of the package.For Australia, the SLK 200 will get an upgraded engine with 135kW, up by 15kW, and the V6 in the SLK 350 picks up 24kW and 10Nm, taking it to 224kW and 360Nm with a claimed fuel economy improvement of about 10 per cent.The SLK now comes with Benz's direct steering system, which varies the assistance, depending on road speed, through a new steering rack.The first supplies of the updated SLK are expected late in the second quarter of this year, possibly June, and the company is predicting a significant lift in sales.“We expect we will do significantly better volume with it. The changes refine a concept that, dare I say it, we invented,” McCarthy says.“Yes, SLK sales are down by about 15 per cent, but we expected that. We did 522 cars by the end of November and the overwhelming majority of those were the 350. With other models in the range we are looking to sell a lot more cars in the coming year.” Just a tweakThe Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG has had only minimal changes for 2008. The headlamps have a dark tint and there is a new front apron. LED globes are used in the turn-indicator repeaters, and there are larger rear-view mirrors and a new steering system with variable servo assistance.AMG says the car's seven-speed automatic has been lightly tweaked for quicker shifts and there is a new design of 18-inch alloy wheels.“The 55 has not really changed. It is mostly appearance items,” Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says.But there is better value once cars arrive, despite a price that is unlikely to change from today's $164,474.From 40-50 SLK 55 AMGs will be delivered in Australia this year.