Mercedes-Benz Roadster is 55 years

Since 17 January 2011, the new Mercedes-Benz SLK can be ordered. He is a new, exciting design, provide for a roadster unusually high level of comfort and exquisite technique and lots of open-air driving fun. Thus, the agile sports car is already on the third generation of a successful history that began in 1994 with a show car.

In fact, the pedigree of the SLK goes even further back - to the 190 SL from 1955 back. When the SLK appeared in 1996 as a production car, he founded a new market segment that has since increased by leaps and bounds. With its steel vario-roof that transforms the roadster in a few seconds to weatherproof coupé, the roadster was and is the model for many open-top cars.

To date, sold well over half a million SLK Roadster. As a direct ancestor of the 190 SL may be considered that its existence is largely due to the persistence of Maximilian Edwin Hoffman. The enterprising Americans with roots in Austria, the imported since 1946 European motor vehicles in the U.S.

and had proved it an infallible instinct and a great instinct urged, in 1953 the directors of Daimler-Benz, in addition to the 300 SL yet affordable sports car for the American market to build. As an elegant sports cars from renowned home with an exciting design, but a small price was the 190 SL charm the Americans.

Delivery of the 190 SL was a roadster with soft top and as a coupe with removable hard top, with or without hood. The 190 SL was constructed until 1963. In April 1994 roadster could then make friends in Turin for the first time a picture of how Mercedes-Benz introduced a compact roadster.

The study SLK it marked by compact size and eye-catching highlights. Short overhangs of the bow and stern, and a pronounced wedge shape embodied the fun of active driving. And the two in the direction of running "power domes on the hood featured a tribute to the granddaddy of all SL from the 1950 year were the SLK study provided a clear view on a lot of shiny metal.

Only 20 percent of the interior were covered. In the high-tech cockpit dominated by bold shapes and precious materials. In 1996 the series launch of the new SLK held at the Turin Motor Show. Particular attention aroused the fully retractable steel vario-roof that makes the SLK to drive all year without any ifs and buts.

disappeared, it means an intelligent electro-hydraulic press of a button in just 25 seconds in the boot completely and released to heaven. The athletic talent of the SLK winged two engine options - a four-cylinder with two liters of displacement and 100 kW / 136 hp and a mechanically supercharged 2.3-liter engine, also with four cylinders and 142 kW / 193 PS.

In spring 2000, also received the two-liter engine a mechanical compressor and brought to 120 kW / 163 hp to the rear axle. The engine range was complemented later by two six-cylinder versions of the SLK 320 with 160 kW / 218 PS and 260 kW / 354 hp SLK 32 AMG. In spring 2004 the second generation of the SLK was launched.

With powerful engines, newly developed chassis, direct steering and precise six-speed manual offered the second generation of the SLK a more agile driving experience. As a world first, Mercedes-Benz, the head space heating AIRSCARF. It produces pressure hot air flowing from the head restraints.

So you could in the SLK even in cold temperatures drive open and enjoy the open-air experience of the roadster all year. Compared to the predecessor of the Vario roof, the roof mechanism is changed. The rear window now rotates in the frame so that the curvature of the rear window shows when folded up.

This enabled the boot capacity can be increased. In 2008, the SLK is a comprehensive model of care. Among the most important visual changes included a redesigned front and rear sections as well as a carefully modified interior with a new instrument cluster and three-spoke sport steering wheel.

This trend now followed by the new SLK, which was launched in January 2011. Partly as a result of new engines with the ECO start / stop function, the Roadster again consumed considerably less fuel.

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