Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Mercedes-Benz introduced a light an unusual roadster in 1996, which it named SLK, and the three letters stood for Sport Leicht Kurz (Sport, light, and short).
Its main rival, BMW, already had a sporty roadster on the market since 1995, and its sales were good. Mercedes-Benz waited a little bit more to uncover the SLK due to technical challenges such as the so-called Vario-Roof. But the wait totally worth it. The SLK used most of its underpinnings from the first-generation C-Class (W202), which was already proven and reliable.
It was a surprising car coming from Mercedes-Benz. It showed a long hood, which was about a third of the car's length, racked and thick A-pillars, and a coupe shape when the car was closed. It resembled the former Pagoda models. At the back, the carmaker installed a trunk system that helped the retractable hard-top completely disappear behind the cabin in 25 seconds.
Inside, Mercedes installed two seats only, separated by a center console with a small armrest. Behind the sport bucket seats, the carmaker installed a pair of roll-over protective bars covered in leather. The instrument cluster sported three dials where the speedometer took the center stage flanked by a tachometer on the right and the fuel and coolant temperature gauges on the left.
Under the hood, Mercedes installed a range of three inline-four, naturally aspirated or supercharged engines producing between 136 hp and 190 hp. The base engine was paired with a five-speed manual, while the latter two were available with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic.
ENGINE SPECS - 200 5MT RWD (136 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1998 cm3 |
Power: | 100 KW @ 5500 RPM 136 HP @ 5500 RPM 134 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 140 lb-ft @ 3700 RPM 190 Nm @ 3700 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 14 gallons (53.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 129 mph (208 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.3 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 205/60 HR15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 157.9 in (4011 mm) |
Width: | 67.4 in (1712 mm) |
Height: | 49.6 in (1260 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.6/57.9 in (1,488/1,471 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 5.1 cuFT (144 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2579.4 lbs (1170 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3373 lbs (1530 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 18.2 mpg US (12.9 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 34 mpg US (6.9 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 25.8 mpg US (9.1 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 217 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 200 Kompressor 5MT RWD (192 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1998 cm3 |
Power: | 141 KW @ 5300 RPM 192 HP @ 5300 RPM 189 BHP @ 5300 RPM |
Torque: | 184 lb-ft @ 2800 RPM 250 Nm @ 2800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 14 gallons (53.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 147 mph (237 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 7.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 225/50VR16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 157.9 in (4011 mm) |
Width: | 67.4 in (1712 mm) |
Height: | 49.6 in (1260 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.6/57.9 in (1,488/1,471 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 5.1 cuFT (144 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3009.8 lbs (1365 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3583.1 lbs (1625 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 230 Kompressor 5MT RWD (193 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2295 cm3 |
Power: | 142 KW @ 5500 RPM 193 HP @ 5500 RPM 190 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 207 lb-ft @ 2500-5000 RPM 280 Nm @ 2500-5000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 14 gallons (53.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 149 mph (240 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 7.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 225/50VR16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 157.9 in (4011 mm) |
Width: | 67.4 in (1712 mm) |
Height: | 49.6 in (1260 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.6/57.9 in (1,488/1,471 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 5.1 cuFT (144 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3053.9 lbs (1385 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3627.2 lbs (1645 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 16.6 mpg US (14.2 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 33.6 mpg US (7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 24.2 mpg US (9.7 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 220 g/km |