Mercedes-Benz SLK350 News

If auto engineers had their way then every car would have its bonnet welded shut at the end of the production line. They don't want us to meddle. In fact, Mercedes-Benz once built a concept sports car - it was called the Vision SLA and nicknamed the ‘sneaker’ - that didn't have a bonnet.It eventually morphed into the cute little SLK roadster but grew a bonnet before it went into production. It was probably for the mechanics - or technicians, as most carmakers prefer to call them in 2012. After all, when did you last open the bonnet on your car? “The day I took delivery. I wanted to see the engine. That was enough,” laughs one Carsguide mate.But think about it. There are lots of very complicated and costly bits and pieces under the bonnet, yet we mostly ignore them unless there is a red warning light or some sort of nasty noise. We're spoiled. And rotten. In recent years I've heard plenty of stories about people who have ignored the early warning signs and been hit by a nasty repair bill.One was a leaky radiator that meant an engine replacement and another was an oil leak that turned into a fire that burned the car to the road. They are extreme cases, but every day there are people who fail to recognise the early signs of a bad battery or an oil leak or a fan belt on the way out. And don't get me started on flat tyres.I blame it on the death of the old-style service station. These days, most of us get our fuel from a donut shop that has some pumps out the front. There is no-one to check the tyres, clean the windows or lift the bonnet for a quick dip of the oil and a check on the battery leads.I remember this ritual very well, since my first after-school job was pumping petrol at Bruno Rossi's Caltex station. There were good tips if you got the windows squeaky clean and added some water to the radiator.Now I admit that I've become lazy and spoiled by cars that typically run from 10-15,000 kilometres between service calls - instead of demanding a survival pack with spare oil, fuses, belts and a toolkit in the boot. “Some people think that servicing a car is putting petrol into it,” says another of my mates, Jerry. But it's not, and totally ignoring a car for 10,000 kilometres is just asking for trouble. Even the engineers have recognised that cars need a bit of TLC, which is why all the important bits - like the dipstick for the engine oil - now have bright yellow tabs to make them easier to find in the engine room. So, why not lift the bonnet sometime. You might get a surprise, one way or another. 

Kids aren’t usually a factor in Car of the Year judging.  But child friendliness rates highly with women buying cars – and with women judging cars.The countdown has been kicked off to decide the Women’s World Car of the Year, and the kid factor is one the judges pay a lot of attention to.“Statistics show that women drive children in cars significantly more often than men – and that means women need to take that into account, both when buying and as judges of cars,” WCOTY president Sandy Myhre said from New Zealand.“Any woman who has grappled constantly with child seats and belts and children considers those things when looking at buying a car.  Men might too but the fact is, women drive children in cars more than men.“Women would not consider that aspect in a Porsche 911 more than a bloke. The point is, it can be considered in these awards - and that is one of the points of difference in these awards.”Myhre points out that significant research into buying habits show that in addition to buying for themselves, women have a major influence in household purchase decisions for big ticket items.Ford Australia, for example, says their research shows that women are behind the majority of purchases of the Territory SUV – either as single women buying one, or in influencing the joint decision with their partner. “A report from Mattingly & Associates in Australia concluded, in part, that businesses that didn't understand this influence would be hard-pressed to stay in business.  That report was aptly called 'When I've Made Up Our Minds',” Myhre says.However, the kid factor is just one of the criteria by which the 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year will be judged.There are four categories in the Women's World Car of the Year – Family Car, Luxury Car, Sports Car and Economy Car. Points are allocated to each of ten criteria: driveability, engineering, comfort, child friendliness, style, interior, storage, dashboard efficiency, carbon footprint and colour range.The 20 judges from eleven countries have submitted their own personal short list and more than 300 cars were suggested. These individual choices were then whittled down to form a master list of 32 in terms of popularity. Judges will now allocate points for these cars from a criteria list.The announcement of the winning cars in each category and the supreme winner will be made before the end of March. The supreme award trophy and category certificates will be presented to the car companies concerned at the Mondial de l’Automobile 2012 – the Paris Motor Show – in September. The supreme trophy will this year be made in The Netherlands. Category-winner certificates will be designed at Peartree Studios in Colerne, UK.The first winner of the Women's World Car of the Year was the Jaguar XF in 2010 and the trophy made in South Africa was presented at the Jaguar boutique showroom in Knightsbridge, London. In 2011 there was a dead-heat between the Citroen DS3 and the BMW 5 Series. The two trophies made in India were presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011. 

We haven't even seen the all-new Mercedes-Benz SLK in Australia, but already the go-faster crew at AMG in Germany are working on their flagship. The next SLK 55 should be here around the middle of next year with AMG's latest 5.5-litre V8 under the bonnet and a bunch of other upgrades to the suspension, brakes, tyres and wheels.Carparazzi caught the car outside a McDonalds restaurant, proving that even AMG engineers have to eat, during track tests in Germany. The obvious keys to an AMG upgrade are all visible in the picture, from the cross-drilled brake discs and bigger wheels to a four-pipe exhaust system. Now we're waiting for news of a Black Series workover on the SLK . . .

The CLK is already dead, although the last handful are still lurking in Australian showrooms, and development work on its other new droptops will not produce a result until sometime in 2010.The born-again Gullwing sports car is coming this year, most likely at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but the E-Class convertible which takes over from the CLK is a zero-ten proposition.But there is something else, with the upcoming replacement for the SLK caught during testing last week in Europe.The third-generation SLK, caught as usual by Carparazzi, is still running in heavy disguise but there are some clear pointers to the car that will be on the road in Australia in 2011.The folding metal roof continues and the grille and headlamps are more upright and squared-off than the current SLK.The car loses the F1-inspired droopy nose first seen on the McLaren- Mercedes SLR for a smoother look that's more in line with the latest E- Class sedan.Other styling tweaks expected for the new model are daytime LED running lamps, the new-style Mercedes doorhandles and larger external mirrors 'standing' on the door instead of being mounted ahead of the side window.

As Porsche prepares its luxury Panamera, and Aston Martin worries over its four-door Rapide, Mercedes-Benz is certain of success with its upcoming Gullwing.It knows the combination of the retro-futuristic Gullwing name and body, and a 320km/h mechanical package from its go-faster AMG division, will mean certain success for the fastest car to carry its badge.The Gullwing has been an open secret for more than a year, with camouflaged test cars running around Europe and logging laps at the Nurburgring, but now company executives are talking openly about the car.Benz's safety chief, Ulrich Mellinghoff, talks now about crashing testing carbon fibre body parts for the Gullwing and the head of AMG, Volker Mornhinweg, is dropping hints about the engine for the car."The crashing testing is more like a convertible. There is no energy path through the roof," says Mellinghoff.He also admits the nature of carbon fibre, expected to used for the majority of the car, means there will be aluminium crash panels at each end to absorb impact forces."With carbon fibre you cannot see if there is any internal damage. It can look perfect, but crumbles if you bump it."The biggest question of all for the Gullwing is the engine, with Mornhinweg talking enthusiastically about everything from a new V6 - which is being developed for the baby A and B-Class cars - to the existing 6.2-litre V8 and the V12 used in the SL 'Black Series' with twin turbochargers.But his biggest hint is that something new - perhaps a new-age 5.5- litre V8 - could do the job."We are working hard on something we launch in 2010. It will be a new engine," he says."I think later this year we will have more to say."But he lays false trails everywhere, talking about a range of powerplants."We work very hard on our current 6.2-litre engine. There are a lot of new technologies," he says."Direct injection with piezo control . . . to make combustion in a perfect way. We also have some opportunity to put the turbocharger on some engines."For the smaller cars we have decided on an engine, but I don't want to talk. It's a very interesting thing, we have outstanding performance but we can reduce the fuel consumption."Getting away from the mechanics and safety, the Gullwing is expected to have a paddle-shift gear system, LED running lights in the top of the headlamp cluster and giant metallic disc brakes.It is intended to completely out-strip the McLaren-Mercedes SLR, a joint venture between Benz and its Formula One partner which has never hit its original sales targets, including production of as many as 6000 cars a year with a price-tag in the $500,000 range.The Gullwing is widely predicted to star for Mercedes at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year, although its debut could be pushed back to Geneva in 2011 if the company decides its is inappropriate to make a huge splash during the worldwide economic downturn. 

The new-age Mercedes Gullwing will be the fastest car in the history of the three-pointed star and should be previewed early in 2009, perhaps even at the Geneva Motor Show in March, for sales from 2010.It gets its name from the scissor-style lift-up doors used on a similar road rocket, the Mercedes SL which hit the road in 1954, and is expected to have the same styling and performance impact as the original.Mercedes has decided to build the born-again Gullwing as it splits its road-car future from its Formula One partner, McLaren, despite the British team's reputation for creating high-performance halo cars.It will be pushing much harder with the AMG sub-brand which has been a global hit, including Australia where sales set a per-capita world record, and will become the new flagship for both Benz and AMG.McLaren has its own supercar in final development for a preview in 2009 but it is the Gullwing which is creating the most interest in Mercedes' future-car programs.The car has been testing for more than a year and looks to be a long-nose two-door coupe which is likely to have the first in a new generation of AMG turbocharged V8 engines. It should easily crack 300km/h and have a Ferrari-style 0-100km/h sprint time.The Gullwing is an open secret in the Mercedes-Benz world, where plans call for a production run of up to 5000 cars during a 5-10 year model life.This is a massive contrast to the SLR, which has never sold to the expectations of either Mercedes or McLaren and came with a $1 million-plus pricetag.The final SLR model was unveiled at the Paris show a fortnight ago with a roadster open-topped body and the 722 performance package created to pay hommage to the SLR which won the Mille Miglia road race in Italy in 1955 wearing the 722 number to reflect its 7.22am start time.Details of the new Gullwing are still being protected by Mercedes, but it is expected to have a race-style monocoque body built from a combination of aluminium and carbon fibre.The engine choice is not confirmed, as AMG is moving to turbos but the Gullwing could stay with an updated version of the current 6.2-litre V8 - called the 6.3 by Benz - but the company's powerplant chief Dr Leopold Mikulic says it will have more than 400 kiloWatts of power. 

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.  

Never mind the sunburn — from $35,000 to nearly $300,000,open cars are being lined up for eager buyers.The flood of new models is heating up the rivalry between traditional fabric-roofed convertibles and a new breed with foldaway hardtops.Holden, Volvo and VW will make the switch from their soft-tops to solid roofs as replacement models arrive.Mitsubishi is joining the trend, with an open-air version of its Colt hatchback due next month. The Italian-made cabriolet, expected to cost $35,000, will have a retractable hard roof.And Mazda is having an each-way bet. Its traditional canvas-topped MX-5 — billed as the world's best-selling roadster — has been joined by a folding hardtop version, called the roadster coupe.The $47,660 "coupe", costing $2930 more than the basic model, has a composite plastic roof that folds away in 12 seconds, claimed by Mazda to be the fastest in its class.MX-5 program manager Takao Kijima said he expected traditional enthusiasts to prefer the soft-top original."Even so, there are many potential customers who . . . have hesitated because of concerns about security and comfort."Mazda expects 60 per cent of MX-5 buyers in Australia to take the hardtop.The latest fabric-roofed models to arrive are the Audi A4 (from $83,000) and the Chrysler PT Cruiser cabriolet (from $36,000).On the way late this year is the Alfa Romeo Spider, based on the Italian marque's new Brera coupe, expected to be $70,000-plus.The soft-top ranks will be further boosted in December when Mini introduces a new cabriolet version, called the Chilli, from $41,100.And Sweden's Saab is marking 20 years of convertible production by releasing a $68,400 anniversary model.Holden dealers say the present Astra soft-top — now $39,990, a $6000 price cut — is to be replaced by a radically different TwinTop, so named because of its two-piece solid folding roof. It is expected to be unveiled late next month, and be on sale for summer.Mercedes-Benz already has both fabric-roofed (CLK) and hard-top (SLK, SL) convertibles.In the extra-pricey league, Audi says it will introduce a high-performance version of the A4, the $187,500 RS4, in January.Only 25 V8-powered cars will be imported from Germany, and the company says it has 15 orders already.Its rival, BMW, is to introduce an M6 convertible with a 10-cylinder engine, expected to cost about $290,000 and arrive before Christmas.Safety-minded Volvo has a second-generation C70 convertible on the way, introducing a three-piece steel roof in place of the previous model's fabric top. The five-cylinder model will be priced from $69,950.Early next year, VW is to release the Eos, a larger hardtop model replacing the fabric-roofed Golf convertible. The VW is likely to be the first convertible to have a diesel engine as an option.FAST FACTSMitsubishi Colt Cabriolet-Turbocharged 1.5-litre MIVEC engine.-110kW (150hp) @ 6000rpm and 210Nm of torque @ 3500rpm.-18-inch alloy wheels.Audi A4 Cabriolet-1.8T with 120 kW and 225 Nm.-new 3.2 FSI petrol direct injection V6 is also now available with 188 kW and 330 Nm.-$83,400 and $107,800 for the 4-cylinder and V6 models respectively.PT Cruiser Cabrio-power-folding soft retractable roof, which can be raised or lowered in just 10 seconds.-normally-aspirated 2.4-litre petrol engine.-105 KW at 5, 200 rpm and 214 Nm of torque @ 4,000 rpm.-16" alloy wheels.-$35,890Alfa Romeo Spider-3.2 JTS V6 and 2.2 JTS.-twin phaser continuous variator for control of the intake and exhaust valves.-191kW and 136kW.-Q4 permanent AWD.-0-100 km/hr in 7 seconds.-18” sport or multispoke.-$70,000-plusMini Chilli-1.6 litre, 4 cylinder/16 V.-85 kW (115 hp) at 6000 rpm.-150 Nm at 4500 rpm.-0-100 km/hr: 9.1 s.-top speed: 200 km/h.-$41,100Saab limited edition 20th Anniversary-turbocharged 2.0 L.-110 kW and a powerful 240 Nm of torque.-five-speed automatic transmission.-17-inch alloy wheels.-$68,400Astra Twintop-petrol and diesel.-77 to 147kW (105 to 200hp), with the top-of-the-line 2.0-litre turbo motor reaching a top speed of over 230 km/h.-two-piece electro-hydraulic retractable steel roof.-likely to be named 'Astra Convertible' in Australia.Mercedes CLK-5.5-litre V8 engine powering the CLK 500 (peak torque of 530 Nm).-0-100 km/h takes just 5.2 seconds.-top speed is 220 km/h (electronically limited).-CLK 63 AMG uses AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine and produces 354 kW of power and a peak torque 630 Nm.-CLK 200 KOMPRESSOR: $99,400-CLK 280: $109,100-CLK 350: $134,100-CLK 500: $163,100-CLK 63 AMG: $213,100SLK SL class-285 kW and 530Nm.-V8 engine in the SL 500.-0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.-six-cylinder engine in the SL 350 is another new unit, with 200-kW V6, and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds.-SL 600 has a V12 biturbo engine, with output of 380 kW and torque of 830Nm. Accelerates 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.SL 350: $214,900SL 500: $299,900SL 600: $374,900SL 55 AMG: $374,900SL 65 AMG: $457,900Audi RS4-4.2 FSI V8 engine-V8 engine with an output of 309 kW and peak torque of 430 Nm at 5,500 rpm.-electro-hydraulic hood can be opened entirely automatically in 21 seconds and can be operated up to speeds of 30 km/h.-$187,500BMW M6-5.0-litre V10.-373 kW, 507 bhp, 520Nm.-0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with the standing-start kilometre completed in 22.9 seconds.-top speed limited electronically to 250 km/h.Volvo C70LE-2.4 (125kW), 170hp, 230Nm.-5-cylinder petrol.-0-100km: 10s (auto).-Max speed: 215km/hr (auto).-$69,950.00-T5-5-cylinder turbo charged petrol.-162kW, 220 hp, 320Nm.-0-100km/hr: 8s (auto).-Max speed: 235 km/hr (auto).-$79,950.00-VW Eos-two engines are available: a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder motor putting out 200 horsepower and a 3.2L VR6 motor that makes 250 horsepower.-200hp 2.0T FSI or a 250hp 3.2l VR6 FSI (according to current data for the US market).-five-section roof structure with glass/sliding/tilting roof integrated as standard

It is definitely one of the better looking sports cars on the market boasting a tasteful blend of styling cues from Benz classics with plenty of cyber in the mix.This is the second generation SLK and it retains the same formula as the first 1996 model.The hallmark metal Vario-roof remains but is a better design and operates faster than before.The new SLK also has a sharper sporty edge to it with more performance, finely honed handling, increased safety and more luxury.The chassis comprises a significant amount of hi- tensile steel and the design delivers a rigid platform.Three models will be available; the SLK200 Kompressor and SLK350 initially and an SLK55 AMG next year. They are priced at $86,900, $112,900 and "TBA" respectively but six speed manual transmission, offered as a "delete option" reduces the price by more than $3000.The three cars have supercharged four cylinder, 3.5-litre V6 and 5.5-litre V8 engines in ascending order.Power outputs are 120kW, 200kW and 265kW.Mercedes-Benz Australia has been allocated 350 SLKs in the initial shipment all of which are accounted for but supply will free-up next year.It is impossible to adequately convey what it's like to drive a car such as this in print. You need to feel it from the seat of your pants which is exactly what I did last weekend during couple of fine days in a run of cold, early September days.I drove the SLK200 Kompressor in 5-speed automatic and six speed manual and also the SLK350 in 7-G Tronic automatic transmission.The 350 is a sensational thing to drive with the ability to spring from 0-100kmh in about 5.5 seconds. Power comes from a new, naturally aspirated, DOHC, 24 valve V6 that will filter through the Benz range in time. It is an excellent engine, better again than the previous V6 in this capacity from Benz.And with the 7-speed auto hooked up behind, strong performance is always on tap.I can see no reason for wanting a six speed manual with this 7-speed auto available. It allows the driver to have full control of the car just like a manual and also offers sequential shift mode in a side to side action of the gearstick. Nor can I see the need in for the 55AMG model. How much performance can you possibly need or want than that delivered by the SLK350?Even the SLK200 is a treat to drive, quickish, neat, comfortable and responsive.Interior styling is a reflection of the technical exterior and is attractive and functional. The seats are firm, too firm for some, and there is adequate room inside though tall drivers might be happier with more legroom.A small boot space is provided because that's where the roof folds. It's enough for one medium suitcase, two smaller ones or a bunch of soft luggage. Roof deployment takes a scant 22 seconds and being metal, it gives the SLK two characters, – sports car with the roof off, sports coupe with the roof for a slightly more sophisticated feel.Benz equips SLK with plenty of features but also offers an extensive list of options.Airscarf, an innovative head warming system built into the headrests, costs an extra $1350.The two engines I tested return better fuel economy than their predecessors as well as delivering up to 25 per cent more power.On a day to day driving basis, any of these cars would be easy to live with. They can be as tame as a kitten and as wild as a leopard. Access is easy, all have climate control air conditioning and premium sound systems. Then of course is the extra security and safety of the metal roof.