The upcoming 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK has been leaked on the web courtesy of a somewhat creepy French promo video that shows us in-depth details of the new CC.
It’s quite a long video that begins with the car beckoning its owner in a somewhat come-hither fashion, before he has a near-smash on a forest road at night, heads into the city to check out a couple of its fairer-looking denizens, and then goes for a roof-down blast in the desert – all the while being goaded by a rather suggestive female voice that personifies the car. Yes, very weird…
As iffy as it sounds, the video does disclose quite a few details regarding the new car, as well as giving us a good look at its styling. As has long been suggested, the new SLK possesses quite a few styling cues lifted from the SLS AMG. The prominent, rectangular grille and long bonnet with dual strakes are dead giveaways, while a glimpse in the cabin reveals pod-like air vents, ambient lighting and a facia layout similar to that of the Gullwing.
The video also reveals that the new SLK line-up will feature Mercedes’ newly-developed six-cylinder engines. The new engines will place more of an emphasis on torque and fuel economy than outright power, although the power outputs will also improve marginally.
The new engine line-up kicks off with a normally-aspirated 3,5-litre V6 featuring a narrower angle block than the current crop of six-cylinder units. The layout of the new 60-degree unit will hopefully go some way to addressing the harshness often exhibited by the 90-degree units currently in use, and its new piezo-electric injectors will also improve the combustion formula. Combined with engine start/stop, Mercedes-Benz claims an improvement in fuel consumption of up to 24 percent. The company’s 7 G-tronic automatic transmission will feature across the new SLK line-up.
Among the other features earmarked for this model are:
• Distronic Plus radar-assisted braking module
• Intelligent headlamps with adaptive beams
• Dynamic handling package with sports suspension
• AirScarf seat ventilation and new individual AirGuide wind buffer screens
• Sun-reflective leather seats
• Comand online with internet connectivity
• Panoramic vario-roof with “Magic Sky Control” – a system that adjusts the opacity of the glass roof panel.
We can expect to see the new SLK on our market by the third quarter of 2011.
