The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a compact executive roadster, produced by Mercedes-Benz. It was released in 1996 and was built at the Mercedes plant in Bremen, Germany, until the end of production in 2020.
| Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class | |
|---|---|
_–_Frontansicht,_3._Juli_2011,_Essen.jpg) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Production | 1996–2020 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car (S) Compact grand tourer |
| Body style | 2-door roadster |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
The former name "SLK" was derived from sportlich (sporty), leicht (lightweight), and kurz (short).[1] With the release of the facelift R172 in 2016, the SLK-Class was renamed to SLC-Class in accordance with the revised nomenclature adopted by Mercedes. Under this scheme, roadsters use the base name "SL", followed by the model's placement in Mercedes-Benz hierarchy, the letter "C", being the roadster equivalent to the C-Class.[2][3]
First generation (R170; 1995–2004)
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The R170 Mercedes SLK was the first generation compact roadster produced by Mercedes-Benz, from 1995 to 2004.[4][5] It was designed from late 1991 under Bruno Sacco, with a final design being completed in early 1993 and approved by the board, with a German design patent filed on September 30, 1993.[6] The production SLK-Class was introduced at the Turin Motor Show on 22 April 1996, appearing as a modern incarnation of the 1950s Mercedes-Benz 190SL, by returning to four cylinders and with an identical 94-inch (2,400 mm) wheelbase.[7] A facelift was introduced to all models in 2000, featuring an updated design and updated engines.[8]
Second generation (R171; 2004–2010)
_front_20100402.jpg)
The R171 SLK was unveiled at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. It features increased use of high-strength steel,[9] and improvements to the car's torsional strength and aerodynamic efficiency.[9] Models feature a more compact, revised roof mechanism that is operated in 22 seconds (previously 25 seconds), resulting in an increase in boot capacity by 63 liters (2.2 cu ft).[9] The R171 also introduced the Airscarf system that integrates neck-level heating system into the headrests of the car.[9] The front-end design of the car was inspired by the noses found in Formula One cars.[9] It was facelifted in 2008 and featured new engines and minor exterior design changes.[10]
Third generation (R172; 2011–2020)
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The R172 SLK was released in 2011.[11] It was available with a range of inline-four, V6, and V8, diesel and petrol engines, and introduced an electronically operated window tint shade for the sunroof, called Magic Sky Control. A facelift was released for vehicles produced from March 2016, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the SLK-Class.[12] The model range was also renamed to SLC-Class to conform to the new Mercedes nomenclature, and introduced new engines and a revised design. In 2020, Mercedes-Benz released a Final Edition to commemorate the end of the car's production run.[13]
Sales figures
The following are the sales figures for the SLK-Class since 2001:[14]
| Year | EU sales | US sales |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 27,734 | 11,268[15] |
| 2002 | 19,039 | 7,784 |
| 2003 | 14,629 | 6,023[16] |
| 2004 | 38,417 | 7,360 |
| 2005 | 36,823 | 11,278[17] |
| 2006 | 27,128 | 10,410 |
| 2007 | 20,834 | 7,270[18] |
| 2008 | 18,529 | 4,941 |
| 2009 | 10,805 | 2,566[19] |
| 2010 | 8,779 | 1,980 |
| 2011 | 17,729 | 3,220[20] |
| 2012 | 17,731 | 4,595[20] |
| 2013 | 12,594 | 4,757[21] |
| 2014 | 11,114 | 4,737[21] |
| 2015 | 10,369 | 4,182 |
| 2016 | 8,909 | 3,397 |
| 2017 | 8,421 | 2,860 |
| 2018 | 1,993 | |
| 2019 | 1,840 |
References
External links
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