MERE MORTALS WHO WISH TO LIVE OUT THEIR F1 FANTASIES HAVE TWO CHOICES: vegetate in front of the PlayStation, or go out and drive a Mercedes-Benz SLK. Just this year, the SLK was transformed from a charming little car with a folding metal roof to an angry, arrow-shaped roadster with, well, a folding metal roof. The big Mercedes three-point in the middle of its face is flanked by winglets and is embedded in a triangular-shaped nose straight out of Kimi Raikkonen’s weekend car.
Under that hood lurks a 3.5 liter V6, capable of 272 hp at 6000 rpm. The engine fires up with a throaty growl and settles into a nearly-silent idle. 24 valves and four camshafts with variable timing allow the six to generate 350 Nm of torque from just 2400 rpm all the way to 5000 rpm. Big numbers, allowing the SLK to establish a smaller one: 5.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.
A stubby metal gearlever controls the 7-GTRONIC seven-speed automatic gearbox. An ultra-low first gear assures quick getaways at the green light, the SLK 350 building up speed quickly, with no letup in the acceleration. The 7-GTRONIC deals out shifts like the God of Gamblers himself: quick, crisp, and precise. The V6 roars as the tach spins past 6000 rpm, the engine just bounces off the limiter, and the gearbox eagerly engages the next higher gear. Because of the close spacing of the gears, the revs drop just slightly, keeping the engine in the meaty part of its torque band. That translates to a firm push into your seat as the speed climbs into the triple digits.
The 7-GTRONIC is just as happy to go down the shift map, and it’s capable of directly downshifting to an appropriate gear rather than just one at a time. From seventh gear to fifth, from fifth to third, or as many as four gears down. The long-travel throttle helps the computer decide just how much acceleration you’re demanding. Press it to the carpet and there’s even a bump stop, which then gives way when you step on it further. Use this for the absolute maximum effect.
Putting all that power and 1465 kg of roadster on the pavement are wide 225/45 front and 245/40 rear tires on 17-inch wheels. The standard sports suspension provides a firm but still compliant ride. Immense stopping power is provided by the cross-drilled front, and solid rear disc brakes; they can be seen through the SLK’s five-spoke wheels, nearly filling the entire wheel diameter.
Then there’s the crowd-drawing, traffic-stopping, lady passenger-pleasing vario-roof. The folding metal hardtop unfurls from the trunk to seal the cabin as tightly as any coupe’s, in a quick 22 seconds. Top up or down, the SLK looks spectacular from any angle.
The SLK 200 delivered that stunning new shape and acceptable acceleration, and the 350 finally fulfills the promise of the swoopy bodywork and unflappable chassis. In testing for the Car of the Year Philippines, the SLK was best in acceleration and braking across all categories. The SLK’s transformation to true sports car is complete.
By Jason Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang
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