The R170 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is the first generation of the

Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a Compact executive car, compact executive roadster (automobile), 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 2 ...

range of compact luxury

roadsters __NOTOC__ Roadster may refer to: Transportation * Roadster (automobile), an open, two-seat, often sporty car ** Roadster utility, an automobile with an open-topped roadster body and a rear cargo bed * Roadster (bicycle), a utilitarian bicycle, t ...

manufactured by

Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to simply as Mercedes and occasionally as Benz, is a German automotive brand that was founded in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz Group, established in 2019) is based in Stuttgart, ...

between 1995 and 2004, using a shortened variant of the W202 Mercedes C-Class platform. With over 300,000 manufactured, the first generation SLK was replaced by the Mercedes R171 SLK in 2004. The SLK nameplate derives from the roadster's design mission to be ''sportlich'' (sporty), ''leicht'' (light) and ''kurz'' (compact).

Development and launch

The R170 Mercedes SLK is based on the SLK I Concept, presented during Spring of 1994 at the

Turin Motor Show The Turin Motor Show () is an auto show held annually in Turin, Italy. The first official show took place between 21 and 24 April 1900, at the Castle of Valentino, becoming a permanent fixture in Turin from 1938 having shared it with Milan and Ro ...

, and SLK II Concept, presented during Fall of 1994 at the

Paris Motor Show The Paris Motor Show () is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently takes place in Paris expo Porte de V ...

, which is a two-seater roadster concept car that features a folding metal electro-hydraulic roof, dubbed 'vario-roof' by Mercedes, and takes 25 seconds to operate. A German design patent was filed on 30 September 1993, with the final production version of the SLK introduced at the

on 22 April 1996. The R170 SLK is based on the W202 C-Class platform, sharing many drivetrain and chassis components, as well as using a shortened version of the floor pan. The wheelbase is also identical to the wheelbase of the 190SL and 300SL, at . The platform of the R170 Mercedes SLK is also used by the

Chrysler Crossfire The Chrysler Crossfire is a sports car marketed by Chrysler and manufactured by Karmann of Germany for the 2004 through 2008 model years. Developed during the period when Chrysler and Mercedes Benz had merged, known as Daimler Chrysler, the ...

, which shares 80% of its components with the car.

Equipment

Standard equipment includes power seats, power windows,

power steering Power steering is a system for reducing a driver's effort to turn a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, by using a power source to assist steering. Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver can ...

, dual-zone

climate control Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC ) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. H ...

, dimmable interior mirror, and alloy wheels. Safety features include front and side driver and passenger

airbags An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate in milliseconds during a collision and then deflate afterwards. It consists of an airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. ...

anti-lock brakes An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a safety anti- skid braking system used on aircraft and on land vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. ABS operates by preventing the wheels from locking up during braking, thereby maintai ...

, and

electronic stability control Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a car handling, vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of Tract ...

. Models could also be optioned with the AMG body design package, also sometimes called a "sport package" that features body colour side skirts, chromed tailpipes, 17-inch AMG alloy wheels on lower profile performance tires, and a sculpted front apron with black-mesh air intakes. Wider wheels were also available on SLK 230 Kompressor models. Other available options included a 5-speed "Touch Shift" 5G-Tronic automatic transmission, heated seats, xenon headlamps, a premium Bose sound system, a trunk-mounted 6-CD changer, 8-way power seats, and a manually telescoping steering wheel. Many of these options were standard on the SLK 32 AMG. 1st Mercedes-Benz SLK

Models

SLK 200 Kompressor

The SLK 200 Kompressor was exported and sold exclusively to Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, and Greece, and was only available with the

Getrag Getrag (), stylized as GETRAG, was a major supplier of transmission systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the ''Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik ...

five-speed

manual transmission A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canadian English, Canada, British English, the United Kingdom and American English, the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed ...

. After the 2000

facelift A facelift, technically known as a rhytidectomy (from the Ancient Greek () 'wrinkle', and () 'excision', the surgical removal of wrinkles), is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure intended to give a more youthful facial appearance. There are ...

, the SLK 200 Kompressor was introduced to the worldwide market.

Engines

''*Acceleration times are for manual/automatic gearbox''

SLK 32 AMG

The SLK 32 AMG was introduced in 2001, designed to rival the

BMW M Roadster Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, trading as BMW Group (commonly abbreviated to BMW (), sometimes anglicised as Bavarian Motor Works), is a German multinational manufacturer of vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The ...

and Porsche Boxster S. The car featured the same, though upgraded version of M112 engine as in the SLK 320, but has a helical twin-screw

supercharger In an internal combustion engine, a supercharger compresses the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to produce more power for a given displacement (engine), displacement. It is a form of forced induction that is mechanically ...

and water-to-air intercooler. The SLK 32 AMG introduced Mercedes' new ''SpeedShift'' 5G-Tronic (automatic) transmission, that allow for manual shifting of the gears, and faster automatic downshifts before overtaking. There was no manual transmission option available for the SLK 32 AMG. The SLK 32 AMG features a more angular steering wheel, AMG instrument dials, an updated front and rear bumper with larger air intakes, and larger brakes; from , upgraded to in diameter. SLK 32 production started from January 2001, to March 2004. A total of 4,333 were produced; 979 were sold in Germany, 2,056 were imported to the US, and 263 to the UK.

Model year changes

1998

* Passenger airbag will now automatically deactivate if Mercedes-branded child seat is fitted

1999

* Storage net, automatic-dimming rear view mirrors, and vehicle motion sensing alarm added * Introduction of Manual transmission and AMG Sport package options, which included Sport aero body kit, 17" staggered AMG wheels, HD sway bars, and performance exhaust

2000 facelift

Production for facelift models began after February 2000. Major changes include: * Exterior design changes including: redesigned front and rear bumpers, a redesigned silver grille and taillights, body-colour painted side-skirts and door handles, integrated indicators in wing mirrors, and stainless steel trim in the exhaust * Interior design changes including: a restyled steering wheel and transmission shifter, and more supportive sports seats * Naturally-aspirated SLK 200 discontinued, SLK 230 Kompressor engine updated, SLK 320 introduced, and SLK 200 Kompressor now introduced for worldwide market *

Electronic stability control Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a car handling, vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of Tract ...

upgraded * The fuel tank volume was increased from to

2001

* Six-speed manual transmission introduced, replacing the existing five-speed manual transmission * SLK 32 AMG high performance variant introduced

Safety

Production volumes

The following are production figures for the R170 SLK:

Awards

* The R170 Mercedes SLK was on

Car and Driver ''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine first published in 1955. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased it from its prior owner Hachette Fi ...

's Ten Best list for 1997. * Named ‘

North American Car of the Year The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year are a set of automotive awards announced at a news conference each January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury consists of no more than 60 automotive journalist ...

’ for 1997.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * *

External links

{{Mercedes-Benz vehicles

R170 R17 or R-17 may refer to: Vessels * , an aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy * , also HMS ''Valentine'' (R17), a destroyer of the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Navy * , a submarine of the United States Navy Other uses * R17 (New York ...

2000s cars Cars introduced in 1996 Cars discontinued in 2004 Roadsters