Mercedes-Benz SLK320 - 2000

At begin of the 1990s, after the advent in their -seater grand-tourer R129 SL and the Mazda MX-five, Daimler-Benz got down to create a brand new compact roadster, slotted beneathneath the SL. By past due 1991 below Bruno Sacco, the primary layout sketches had been drawn and twelve 1:five scale fashions being constructed withinside the first 1/2 of of 1992.By the center of the yr, 5 of them had been proposed once more in full-scale. In early 1993, the very last layout become decided on and authorised with the aid of using the board, with the German layout patent being filed on September 30, 1993. On April 22, 1996, the brand new manufacturing SLK-Class, primarily based totally at the R170 platform become delivered on the Turin Motor Show. SLK 230 Kompressor release version have become a competitor to the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3. It become powered with the aid of using a 193 hp 2.three L supercharged straight-four engine and a desire of automated transmission or five-velocity guide transmission. The SLK become a cutting-edge incarnation of the Nineteen Fifties Mercedes-Benz 190SL with the aid of using returning to 4 cylinders and a 94-inch (2,four hundred mm) wheelbase. Worldwide income hit 55,000, over double the complete nine-yr manufacturing of 190SLs, and among 1996 and 2004, over 311,000 SLKs had been sold. The first actual U.S.-marketplace R170 Mercedes SLK become finished on November 1, 1996 and went on sale in January 1997 for the 1998 version yr. The ultimate become finished on April 7, 2004.

The roof layout, advertised because the Vario-Roof, includes a folding metallic difficult pinnacle divided in 1/2 of alongside a transverse axis. Both halves are related with the aid of using a kinematic mechanism that is locked securely while the roof is closed. At the contact of a button at the centre console, a hydraulic machine with 5 cylinders controls the absolutely automated folding procedure wherein the boot lid is likewise incorporated. It opens with the aid of using tipping to the rear in order that the 2 roof halves have enough motion to pivot backwards because the roof opens; the roof sections then function themselves on pinnacle of every different and fold into the boot. If the roof is to be closed, the equal series of moves is achieved in opposite order.

The hydraulic machine stows the roof withinside the higher segment of the boot. A plastic curler blind separates the roof from the baggage area beneathneath, a place with a capability of one hundred forty five litres withinside the first-era SLK. With the roof closed, the weight extent accelerated to 348 litres (12.three cu ft). Two constant roll-over bars at the back of the seats labored with the A-pillars to shape an incorporated machine supplying a excessive diploma of roll-over protection.

The metallic roof gives introduced protection, that is commonly observed in a coupe, however with the power of a convertible on the equal time.In 1997, improvement on updates to the R170 commenced and with the aid of using early 1998, layout paintings on an up to date SLK become finished and patented on February 2, 1998. In February 2000, the SLK acquired a facelift which blanketed new the front and rear bumper designs, body-colored aspect skirts and the advent of recent wing mirrors incorporating indicators. The variety become elevated to consist of a brand new entry-stage version SLK two hundred Kompressor and a brand new V6 withinside the SLK 320. Technical enhancements blanketed the addition of Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a brand new 6-velocity guide transmission. A stabilizer bar become introduced to the rear and the the front one become reinforced. A three.46:1 axle become introduced for the guide shift SLK, and the gasoline tank grew from 12 to fourteen gallons.

In 2001 a brand new AMG version become introduced, with a 349 hp (260 kW) supercharged model of the three.2 L V6. This SLK 32 AMG become the maximum effective R170 SLK, and become an immediate rival of the BMW M Roadster and Porsche Boxster S. It become most effective presented with the newly engineered 5-gear "SpeedShift" and boasted 35% faster automated shifts. All engines had been hand constructed with the aid of using AMG with the aid of using an character engineer.

The SLK32 AMG's engine has spark plugs in step with cylinder for optimum combustion and become equipped with an intercooled Lysholm-kind twin-screw supercharger. Brakes have become 13.15 in (334 mm) diameter, upgraded from the same old 11.eight in (three hundred mm) items. AMG manufacturing ran among Aug 2000 and March 2004. Only four,333 had been constructed in total, of which 979 had been retained for Germany, 2,056 exported to the USA, and 263 to the UK.

In July 2004 a unique version become released previous to the alternative with the brand new R171 SLK in 2005. The R170 lived on because the Chrysler Crossfire till 2008, sharing large factors of the SLK along with engines and interiors.

R170 variety summary

Not all fashions had been exported to all markets.

• SLK two hundred (1996-2000) - 2.zero L (1998 cc) 136 bhp (one zero one kW; 138 PS) I4
• SLK two hundred Kompressor (1996-2000) - 2.zero L (1998 cc) 192 bhp (143 kW; 195 PS) I4 supercharged engine, zero-60 mph in 6.nine seconds, pinnacle velocity of 240 km/h (148 mph).
  
• SLK two hundred Kompressor (2000-2004) - 2.zero L (1998 cc) 163 bhp (122 kW; a hundred sixty five PS) I4 supercharged engine, zero-60 mph in 7.four seconds, pinnacle velocity of 223 km/h (138 mph).
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  SLK 230 Kompressor (1996-2000) - 2.three L (2295 cc) 193 bhp (one hundred forty four kW; 196 PS) I4 supercharged engine
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  SLK 230 Kompressor (2000-2004) - 2.three L (2295 cc) 197 bhp (147 kW; two hundred PS) I4 supercharged engine, zero-60 mph in 6.nine seconds, pinnacle velocity of 240 km/h (148 mph).
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• SLK 320 (2000-2004) - three.2 L (3199 cc) 218 bhp (163 kW; 221 PS) V6 engine, zero-60 mph in 6.five seconds, pinnacle velocity of 245 km/h (152 mph).
• SLK 32 AMG (2001-2004) - three.2 L (3199 cc) 349 bhp (260 kW; 354 PS) V6 engine, zero-sixty two mph in four.four seconds.