SLK glows with AMG magic

You should find it easy to warm to the SLK’s agility and ability to churn out generous helping of driving pleasure and open-air fun.

The new 250 SLK is what the market has been wanting for some time - a better performing four cylinder to take up position between the 200 SLK and its bigger brother V6 350 SLK. The new 250 SLK is the perfect gap-filler when it comes to price and performance with a price tag of R635,811 compared to the 200 SLK's R579,238 and the 350 SLK's R763,673.

The new 250 SLK comes standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission (7-G TRONIC PLUS) which is an optional extra on the 200 SLK. Although slightly thirstier and a tad more emissions-naughty than the 200, the 250 is quicker off the mark for the 0-100km/h dash (6.6 seconds compared to 7.3 seconds) and with a top speed of 243km/h it is also 6km/h faster.

Fun in the Sun

All three the new models benefit from BlueEFFIENCY technology and the two four-cylinder models are powered by a 1.7-litre four-cylinder engine which is a direct injection turbocharged light-weight unit that produces 150kW and 310Nm.

The big daddy 350 SLK is pushed along quite enthusiastically by a 3.5-litre 225kW engine which has enough oomph to produce a zero to 100km/h dash in just 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h. Mercedes says it is also the most economical V6 in this segment.

The latest SLK has morphed into a refined sports car.

During a media introduction at the Kyalami race track I did quite a few laps in all three SLK versions and again warmed to the SLK's agility and ability to churn out generous helping of driving pleasure and open-air fun.

It is the kind of sports car that you can throw around with gay abandon. It is surprisingly tolerant of wrong lines, late braking, and over-zealous acceleration out of corners and it will certainly take a lot to unsettle it.

You'll turn heads, that's for sure

Not being an out-and-out wild track racer the SLK is also particularly at home in traffic and on motorways, in spite of the healthy growl it produces when prodded quite hard from the traffic lights. It is also quite a poser now with its eye-catching AMG finery which is a standard offering on all three models.

The new 250 SLK comes standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The glitzy AMG kit package includes a more aggressive front end, prominent side skirts, a cheekier bum, menacing front headlamps with dark surrounds and dark-tinted rear lights. The living quarters, too, benefit form colour-coded stitching, red seat belts, leather steering wheel cover, shift paddles, red and black AMG floor matting with red stitching and the famed AMG logo.

However, the real AMG "extras" are stiffened, lowered sports suspension, 18-inch alloys, and perforated, large brake discs. To this you can add about 20 outstanding bits of standard kit that include adaptive brake lights, neck-pro head restraints, a 5.8-inch colour screen, an intelligent light system, daytime running lamps, aluminium roll-over bars, brushed aluminium trim and sun-reflecting leather for cooler seats in the African sunshine and more.

Feel like a few extras?

If you have as thick wallet and want even more goodies there are numerous optional extras to choose from, varying from COMAND online, a dynamic handling package, a panoramic vario-roof with switchable transparency and Hammon Kardon surround sound. I piloted a new 250 SLK to Pretoria and from there to OR Tambo and the car was wall-to-wall with nine optional extras which added R86,150 to its standard costs!

But hey, cowboys don't cry, and if you have wallet thick enough to become the owner of one of the new SLK's, then a whack more to personalise your car should be no big deal. Either way, whether you are happy with the standard kit or want to zoot it up further, the SLK is guaranteed to draw attention and provide big helpings of driving pleasure.

If you can afford the car, you'll probably like to add some of many extras to the tab.

click to enlarge

Now finally the time has also come to put to bed the snide nickname of SLGay used by the wrong-way-round-cap brigade and the experts propping up bars when they refer to the SLK. The latest SLK is most certainly no longer just an open-air poser preferred by interior decorators, hairdressers, female estate agents and retired baldies. It has morphed into a refined sports car and a pleasurable driver's car which excels in the company of competitors such as Nissan 370Z, Audi TT, BMW Z4, and even the Porsche Boxter.

At the introduction of the new SLKs, I also got a chance to drive a few of the really hot AMG firebrands in the Mercedes stable including the achingly beautiful mean machine with the gull wing doors, regarded by some as the ultimate every-day super sports car - the 6.2-litre SLS which has to be one of the ultimates in brutish looks and open-top driving.

Try the SLS for some serious fun

Many of you will have seen the car because an SLS AMG is the official Safety Car in Formula One, with German racing ace Bernd Mayländer (with whom I have had the pleasure of driving with on a race track) at the wheel.

Elegant.

On the challenging Kyalami track the SLS thundered around at speeds I have never before clocked down the main straight, down the mine shaft hill, or around any of the hooks. It holds its lines through the corners beautifully and it is lightning quick to respond if you prod it into line with a dab of throttle or a quick flick of the steering wheel, always thundering out its wild enthusiasm for more. For such a big car it is amazingly agile and generously forgiving when you overcook it.

There is only one way to describe it - one helluva super sports car, quite capable of ruffling the feathers of a Ferrari California, Aston Martin Vanquish and Audi R8 V10 for the SLS is a motoring gem if ever there was one, even if it costs an eye-watering R2.84m!

Although clearly not in the same class as this halo model, the new spruced up SLK is quite worthy of keeping company with the SLS because they share much of the brand's very special DNA, charisma and magnetic appeal.

Technical Data Report SLK 200 manual and auto
Technical Data Report SLK 250
Technical Data Report SLK 350

Mercedes 2013 SLK Roadster Presentation HD Film

Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class review - CarBuyer

Mercedes-Benz SLK : Car Review

Car and Driver: Tested : 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT