Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (R170) explained

Mercedes-Benz SLK (R170)
Production:October 1995[1] – April 2004
Class:Sports car
Body Style:2-door roadster
Layout:Longitudinal front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Wheelbase:24001NaN1
Length:3995-
Width:17151NaN1
Height:1269-
Weight:1270-
Successor:Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (R171)
Sp:uk

The R170 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is the first generation of the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class range of compact luxury roadsters manufactured by Mercedes-Benz between 1995 and 2004,[2] using a shortened variant of the W202 Mercedes C-Class platform.

With over 300,000 manufactured, the first generation SLK was replaced by the Mercedes R171 SLK in 2004.[3]

The SLK nameplate derives from the roadster's design mission to be sportlich (sporty), leicht (light) and kurz (compact).[4]

Development and launch

The R170 Mercedes SLK is based on the SLK I Concept, presented during Spring of 1994 at the Turin Motor Show, and SLK II Concept, presented during Fall of 1994 at the Paris Motor Show, which is a two-seater roadster concept car that features a folding metal electro-hydraulic roof, dubbed 'vario-roof' by Mercedes, and takes 25 seconds to operate.[5] [6] A German design patent was filed on 30 September 1993, with the final production version of the SLK introduced at the Turin Motor Show on 22 April 1996.[7] [8]

The R170 SLK is based on the W202 C-Class platform, sharing many drivetrain and chassis components, as well as using a shortened version of the floor pan.[9] The wheelbase is also identical to the wheelbase of the 190SL and 300SL, at 24001NaN1.[10]

The platform of the R170 Mercedes SLK is also used by the Chrysler Crossfire, which shares 80% of its components with the car.[11] [12]

Equipment

Standard equipment includes power seats, power windows, power steering, dual-zone climate control, dimmable interior mirror, and alloy wheels. Safety features include front and side driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control.[13] Models could also be optioned with the AMG body design package, also sometimes called a "sport package" that features body colour side skirts, chromed tailpipes, 17-inch AMG alloy wheels on lower profile performance tires, and a sculpted front apron with black-mesh air intakes. Wider wheels were also available on SLK 230 Kompressor models. Other available options included a 5-speed "Touch Shift" 5G-Tronic automatic transmission, heated seats, xenon headlamps, a premium Bose sound system, a trunk-mounted 6-CD changer, 8-way power seats, and a manually telescoping steering wheel. Many of these options were standard on the SLK 32 AMG.[14]

Models

SLK 200 Kompressor

The SLK 200 Kompressor was exported and sold exclusively to Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, and Greece, and was only available with the Getrag five-speed manual transmission.[15] After the 2000 facelift, the SLK 200 Kompressor was introduced to the worldwide market.

Engines

ModelEnginePowerTorque0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)Years
SLK 200M111.946
2.0 L I4		1000NaN0
at 5,000 rpm		1900NaN0
at 3,700–4,500 rpm		9.3 s / 9.7 s1996–2000
SLK 200
Kompressor		M111.943
2.0 L I4 supercharged		1410NaN0
at 5,300 rpm		2700NaN0
at 2,500–4,800 rpm		7.7 s / 1996–2000
M111.958
2.0 L I4 supercharged		1200NaN0
at 5,300 rpm		2300NaN0
at 2,500–4,800 rpm		8.2 s / 8.5 s2000–2004
SLK 230
Kompressor		M111.973
2.3 L I4 supercharged		1420NaN0
at 5,300 rpm		2800NaN0
at 2,500–4,800 rpm		7.3 s / 7.4 s1996–2000
M111.983
2.3 L I4 supercharged		1450NaN0
at 5,500 rpm		2800NaN0
at 2,500 rpm		7.2 s / 7.3 s2000–2004
SLK 320M112.947
3.2 L V6		1600NaN0
at 5,700 rpm		3100NaN0
at 3,000–4,600 rpm		6.9 s / 6.9 s2000–2004
SLK 32 AMGM112.960
3.2 L V6 supercharged		2600NaN0
at 6,100 rpm		4500NaN0
at 4,400 rpm		/ 5.2 s2001–2004
*Acceleration times are for manual/automatic gearbox

SLK 32 AMG

The SLK 32 AMG was introduced in 2001, designed to rival the BMW M Roadster and Porsche Boxster S.[16] The car featured the same, though upgraded version of M112 engine as in the SLK 320, but has a helical twin-screw supercharger and water-to-air intercooler.[17]

The SLK 32 AMG introduced Mercedes' new SpeedShift 5G-Tronic (automatic) transmission, that allow for manual shifting of the gears, and faster automatic downshifts before overtaking.[18] There was no manual transmission option available for the SLK 32 AMG.

The SLK 32 AMG features a more angular steering wheel, AMG instrument dials, an updated front and rear bumper with larger air intakes, and larger brakes; from 3000NaN0, upgraded to 3340NaN0 in diameter.[19] SLK 32 production started from January 2001, to March 2004. A total of 4,333 were produced; 979 were sold in Germany, 2,056 were imported to the US, and 263 to the UK.[20]

Model year changes

1998

1999

2000 facelift

Production for facelift models began after February 2000. Major changes include:

2001

Production volumes

The following are production figures for the R170 SLK:[35] [36]

ModelTotal
SLK 20044,846
SLK 200 Kompressor67,802
SLK 230 Kompressor160,825
SLK 32033,416
SLK 32 AMG4,333
Total311,222

Awards

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SLK 200 / R 170 E 20, 1996 - 2000. 10 December 2023. mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com.
  2. Web site: Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster Review (1998 - 2004) Parkers. www.parkers.co.uk. en. 2018-05-04.
  3. News: Mercedes-Benz SLK350. Car and Driver. 2018-05-03. en.
  4. News: Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 Kompressor (R 170). 2017-06-30. mercedes-benz.com. 2018-05-03. en-US.
  5. Web site: 1994 Mercedes-Benz SLK I / SLK II. mercedesblog.com. 3 December 2023.
  6. Web site: SLK Concept Cars - a new vision for the modern roadster. carstyling.ru. 17 October 2014 . 18 July 2017.
  7. Web site: DPMAregister Designs - Registerauskunft zum Design. register.dpma.de. de. 2018-05-03.
  8. News: Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (1996 - 2004). Honest John. 2018-05-04. en-GB.
  9. Web site: Auto & Design - 98 - Reinterpretation of the roadster. https://web.archive.org/web/20080807013008/http://www.autodesignmagazine.com/articoli/es/098/a2.htm. dead. 2008-08-07. 2008-08-07. 2018-05-03.
  10. Book: Long, Brian. Mercedes-Benz SLK: – R170 series 1996-2004. 2014-11-28. Veloce Publishing Ltd. 9781845846510. en.
  11. News: 10 tarnished halo cars. fortune. 2018-05-03.
  12. News: Chrysler Please Revive The Crossfire, But Do It Right This Time. CarBuzz. 2018-05-03. en-us.
  13. Web site: Used 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class for sale - Pricing & Features Edmunds. Edmunds. en. 2018-05-04.
  14. News: Mercedes-Benz R 170 SLK 32 AMG. 2017-06-30. mercedes-benz.com. 2018-05-04. en-US.
  15. News: Mercedes-Benz R 170 SLK 200 Kompressor. 2017-06-30. mercedes-benz.com. 2018-05-04. en-US.
  16. News: Motor Trend: BMW M Roadster vs. Mercedes-Benz SLK32 AMG. 2002-10-22. Motor Trend. 2018-05-03. en-US.
  17. News: Mercedes-Benz SLK32 AMG. Car and Driver. 2018-05-03. en.
  18. Web site: 2002 BMW M Roadster vs. 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK32 AMG MotorWeek. www.motorweek.org. 2018-05-03.
  19. News: Mercedes-Benz AMG SLK32 - CAR magazine. 2007-06-28. CAR magazine. 2018-05-03. en-US.
  20. Book: Bass, Chris. Mercedes-Benz SLK: R170 series 1996-2004. 2015-11-13. Veloce Publishing Ltd. 9781845848088. en.
  21. Web site: 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class: What's New. 2002-04-15. cars.com. 2018-05-04.
  22. Web site: The C.A.R. Show Review Page; 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK 320. www.thecarshow.com. 2018-05-04.
  23. Web site: 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Roadster SLK32 AMG Supercharged Expert Ratings. NADAguides. 2018-05-04.
  24. Web site: Mercedes-Benz SLK Used Car Buying Guide Autocar. www.autocar.co.uk. en. 2018-05-04.
  25. Web site: The history: The original is now 20 years old marsMediaSite. marsMediaSite. en-EN. 2018-05-03.
  26. Web site: Mercedes Benz SLK Class Design and Technical Evolution Through the Years 1997 – 2011 with Market Value Analysis – Classic Mercedes Benz values, market trends, and sales info. www.slmarket.com. en-US. 2018-05-03.
  27. Web site: Best used Mercedes-Benz SLK review - 1996-2004 What Car?. What Car?. en. 2018-05-04.
  28. Web site: MBSLK - SLK & SLC Community - R170 Facelift. Community. MBSLK - SLK & SLC. www.mbslk.de. 2018-05-03.
  29. Web site: SLK R170 Face-Lift for Year 2000. 1999-11-20. oocities. 2018-05-03.
  30. Web site: Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster – A Home Run! SLK Model and Feature Changes Through the Years – Classic Mercedes Benz values, market trends, and sales info. www.slmarket.com. en-US. 2018-05-03.
  31. Web site: Mercedes Benz SLK Class Design and Technical Evolution Through the Years 1997 – 2011 with Market Value Analysis – Classic Mercedes Benz values, market trends, and sales info. www.slmarket.com. en-US. 2018-05-03.
  32. Web site: Mercedes-Benz SLK (1996-2004) used car review Car review RAC Drive. www.rac.co.uk. en. 2018-05-04.
  33. Web site: 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos. The Car Connection. en. 2018-05-03.
  34. News: 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320. Car and Driver. 2018-05-03. en.
  35. Web site: Production Numbers R170. www.slmarket.com. 18 July 2017.
  36. Web site: 20th anniversary of the SLC's predecessor - Open for driving pleasure: Mercedes-Benz SLK premiered in 1996 marsMediaSite. marsMediaSite. en-EN. 2018-05-03.
  37. News: 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK. Car and Driver. 2018-05-03. en.
  38. News: NACTOY Winners & Finalists - North American Car/Utility/Truck of the Year. North American Car and Truck of the Year. 2018-05-03. en-US.

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