Despite being the most powerful SLK of all time, the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG R172 hasn't received the amount of love its predecessors did.
Some say this is owed to the not-exactly-sexy front styling, while others think that its bigger brother, the SL Roadster, is so good you might as well skip the SLK and raise more money for the top dog.
What no one thinks or says out loud is how awesome its engine is, especially since it's currently the only AMG with a bespoke engine that isn't shared with any other model in the lineup.
Internally coded M152, the 5.5-liter V8 is in essence the naturally-aspirated version of the M157 from its bigger brothers.
Using tricks like cylinder deactivation, it manages to be the most fuel efficient V8 on the planet, while also delivering a healthy 421 hp and 540 Nm (398 lb ft) of torque, or more than enough to make it hit 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standing start in just 4.6 seconds.
Despite all that, the most distinguishable feature of the M152 remains its engine, which you can hear in the following video, shot near and on the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
What no one thinks or says out loud is how awesome its engine is, especially since it's currently the only AMG with a bespoke engine that isn't shared with any other model in the lineup.
Internally coded M152, the 5.5-liter V8 is in essence the naturally-aspirated version of the M157 from its bigger brothers.
Using tricks like cylinder deactivation, it manages to be the most fuel efficient V8 on the planet, while also delivering a healthy 421 hp and 540 Nm (398 lb ft) of torque, or more than enough to make it hit 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standing start in just 4.6 seconds.
Despite all that, the most distinguishable feature of the M152 remains its engine, which you can hear in the following video, shot near and on the Nurburgring Nordschleife.