Test drive Mercedes Benz Slk Class since 2011 Rogster
Only for two
If the statement that there is only one real Mercedes Benz car in the world, and all the rest are just means of transportation, it is true, then this car Mercedes Benz Slk. You will never find such a combination of dynamics and comfort, power and safety anywhere again. For eight years, this brand proves its leadership in the classroom. And just recently, the SLK 2004 model year appeared on the market.Eight years ago, in 1996, the first Mercedes-Benz Slk came from the factory's slipways in Stuttgart. The hopes of the leadership of the Daimlerchrysler concern were not only justified, but also surpassed all expectations. Already in the first year, about 55 thousand cars were produced, which turned out to be 50 % more than the planned. Almost immediately, SLK became a real cult car, which has a legitimate pride in the hearts of more than 300 thousand owners around the world. High aesthetics of sports design, extensive gamut of powerful engines, saturation with technological solutions that provide comfort and safety are the real standard in the production of relatives.
Aesthetics and comfort of modern design
Eight years after the appearance of the first SLK, the second generation of these Rogsters Mercedes Benz was presented to the automobile world. Serious changes have undergone the case and car interior. The sports character and power of the new SLK are visible at first sight. An elongated hood installed with a strong slope of the windshield, wide doors and short feed are characteristic signs of a typical relatives, which are even stronger in the new SLK. This is also emphasized by a 30 mm wheelbase, a longer (72 mm) body, a distinct arrow of the front and back parts and the rapid contours of a pointed silhouette, forming a kind of wedge in the lateral perspective. Thanks to a very short front and rear overhang, the gaze is concentrated on important elements of a sports car wheels. It is 16-inch rinks that clearly demonstrate in the late way the powerful and dynamic nature of the new SLK class. The six-cylinder SLK 350 is even stronger, since 17-inch wheels are seriously installed on it.
Wheel arches form a full voltage contrast with large smooth surfaces of the body sidewalls. Here formal peace reigns, here Mercedes designers show their skills, playing out lines and planes and reaching stylish effects.
The innovative folding tough top of the SLK, represented in 1996 and setting the vector of the development of cars of the market segment in question, was modernized and brought to technical perfection: it closes and opens in just 22 seconds, occupying even less space thanks to the rotary rear window. With an open top, the trunk volume is 208 liters by 63 liters more than that of the previous model. For the first time, the remote control of the folding roof was proposed under the order by means of a car key.
The completely updated salon has become even more refined thanks to a thorough selection of materials. The design concept is built in contrast between the silver color of the switches, keys, surfaces of decorative elements and the dark background of the front panel. The elegant design of the central part of the front panel in combination with the semi -oval upper ventilation grill creates that it is a continuation of the powerful bend of the hood that rushes into the cabin. The central console and tunnel pick it up and continue to the back wall of the passenger compartment. The combination, location and shape of devices, controls and ventilation grilles are aimed at approving the understanding that you are in the cabin of a purebred sports car. The designers reached the same effect in a combination of the appearance of the front panel and internal upholstery of the doors. Exquisite color schemes and tastefully selected materials create a feeling of not only sports, but also comfort, comfort. For a leather decoration of the cabin, six shades of color are offered to choose from, as well as twelve flowers of the Designo program, which give the cabin an individual style.
German engineers also paid due attention to comfort issues. Of course, it's nice when the wind hits the face, but you will not hold it off for a long time. Therefore, the angle of inclination of the windshield, the height and position of the seats were designed so that the main air flow passes above the heads of the driver and passenger. And when installing the Airscarf system, which supplies warm air from the holes in the headrest, the problem of colds when driving with an open roof completely disappears. In addition, the buyer can choose one of the three air conditioning systems. Due to the serious study of sound protection and a powerful standard speaker system with nine columns, passengers enjoy the unique quality of the sound of music even when moving with an open top. Additional comfort of the driver and passenger create enlarged dimensions of the body and passenger compartment. Unlike the previous model, the width at the height of the shoulders and the distance from the head to the roof are increased, that is, one of the most serious problems of sports cars is solved.
All the heights of safety
The new SLK-class implements the most promising technical solutions that German engineers constantly replenish the security concept called Real Life Safety.
Thanks to high-tech production methods, an increase in the share of high-strength steel alloys by more than 40 %, as well as many other constructive solutions, the new SLK class in terms of security significantly exceeds the predecessor. The specific body shape was created not only for beauty and originality, but also has excellent technical characteristics, for example, more than 19 % in the bend and 46 % in power of strength than that of the previous model. Long -term protection against corrosion is provided by a fully galvanized body. Plastic cladding of the bottom and lower part of the body protects against stones, moisture and dirt. Like all Mercedes cars, a thirty-year-old Mobilo-Life through corrosion warranty has been installed on the new SLK.
The rejection of the previously used system of optical reflectors has not only stylistic causes. Indeed, the new projection headlights occupy less space in the front of the car and prevent designers with a maximum of spaciousness for executive solutions, but a significant increase in light retention was also important. After all, projection technology provides wider and more uniform lighting of the roadway, a large range of headlights, and hence the safety of driving in the dark. Additionally, you can install bixenon and fog lights with an active lighting system on corners. In the rear flashlights and feet signals of the new SLK, a total of 32 LEDs (LED). Their light field covers the entire width of the posterior lamp, and when braking, the surface of the red flashes much brighter than when glowing the rear overall lights.
Passenger safety systems are valid taking into account the specific situation: in this model range, Mercedes Benz first installs adaptive pillows and seat belts, which are triggered in two -stage mode, depending on the strength of the collision. With a lateral blow, new lateral pillows are invalid to protect the head and chest. They are activated by a special sensor and if the electronics recorded the tipping of the car. Durable steel elements in front racks and massive safety arches behind the rear seats also provide additional safety when overturned.
A sensitive film in the passenger’s seat and a system for recognizing the availability of children's seats, specially designed by Mercedes Benz engineers, increase the effectiveness of security systems, reducing the level of accidental injuries.
Power and speed
Having set the task of surpassing the high standards of the previous model, Mercedes Benz engineers improved and partially developed such elements of the new SLK as the engine, gearbox and chassis, which led to a significant increase in the dynamics, controllability and comfort of the car.
Buyers are offered models equipped with one of three gasoline engines:
the latest four -cylinder with a volume of 1.8 liters and a capacity of 163 liters. with. with the Twinpulse system for SLK 200, the most economical in its class;
powerful and high -cost V6 with a volume of 3.5 liters and a capacity of 272 liters. with. at 6000 rpm for SLK 350;
the V8 AMG engine for the first time in this series of 5.5 l with a capacity of 360 liters. with. For SLK 55 AMG, accelerating it up to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
In all engines, many of the most modern innovative technologies have been used that significantly increase the efficiency of work, the efficiency and environmental friendliness of the car.
For example, on SLK 350 in combination with a seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic machine, the average fuel consumption is 10.1 liters per 100 km. This means that, despite the 25 %power growth, the SLK 350 has become almost three percent more economically than the previous six-cylinder SLK model with an automatic gearbox. In the entire lineup, fuel consumption ranges from 8.7 to 12 liters per 100 km, which demonstrates unprecedented efficiency for sports cars.
The choice of gearboxes is also impressive. After all, the dynamics of the machine and the pleasure received by the motorist from driving largely depend on this. Three types of boxes are offered for new models: six -speed mechanical and automatic in five and seven gears.
In the serially supplied in the SLK 200 and SLK 350, the mechanical box used a direct switching mechanism, which led to a faster and more clear change of gears. True, some inconvenience of the drivers familiar to such boxes can cause the transfer of the rear speed to the left and go, next to the first gear.
Particular attention should be paid to the world's first seven-speed automatic gearbox 7G-Tronic, regularly supplied in the SLK 55 AMG model. On SLK 350 it is installed additionally. This automatic transmission includes a number of technical innovations that provide faster acceleration, more powerful acceleration, more economical fuel consumption and higher transfers. In addition, the control of five- and seven-speed automatic machines can be duplicated by buttons on the steering wheel as an additional option.
Instead of the previous independent suspension on dual transverse levers and steering with a screw and a ball nut, an independent three -leaf suspension was installed on MacPherson racks and with rake steering control. This solution satisfies the requirements for increasing not only comfort, but also security. A high level of active non-hazard, dynamics and comfort is also given by an independent multi-link rear wheel suspension, increased wheelbase, electronic ESP stabilization system and emergency braking support system BreMS-SSSISTENT.
Depending on the model, the new SLK is equipped with 16-, 17- or 18-inch alloy disks, and if desired, you can additionally order special design tires that preserve the working properties in an emergency and allowing even after loss of pressure to move for 50 km at a speed of no more 80 km/h.
In addition to the technological perfection and dynamics of modern design, the highest level of comfort and safety, there is another important factor that allows Mercedes Benz SLK to confidently hold the leading bar. We are talking about ... emotionality. This is a car for those who are not alien to the romance of a high -speed flight over the asphalt together, when bright stars sparkle over their heads, and the wind fluid their hair freely. And there are a lot of such people in Russia. As a survey of Moscow dealers of Mercedes Benz showed, for the two salsa of the month, despite the exceeding 60 thousand euros, only one company sold more than 20 cars. What is not an indicator of popularity!
