Mercedes-Benz sports cars have long had
a knack for accelerating performance into a
new era. The iconic 1954 300 SL Gullwing,
for example, introduced fuel injection to the
driving world. The engines powering today’s
SLK-Class thrust this heritage of innovation
into tomorrow, harnessing their advanced
technology to create more power and torque
using less fuel, and leaving fewer emissions.
Their high-pressure Direct Injection and rapid-
multispark ignition systems can fine-tune
themselves with millisecond speed — in fact,
several times during the single stroke of a
piston. Both the intercooled, turbocharged
1.8-liter 4-cylinder in the SLK 250 and the
3.5-liter V-6 in the SLK 350 are equal parts
thrilling and thrifty, eager to reach for the
redline at your command, yet respectful of
the blue sky they welcome into the cockpit.
A short-throw 6-speed manual gearbox is one
of the many standard delights of the SLK 250.
Yet opting for the driver-adaptive 7-speed
automatic — standard on the SLK 350 — takes
nothing away from its exuberance. In addition
to continually adapting to your driving style, it
lets you select from Sport, ECO and Manual
modes, while shift paddles on the steering
wheel put gear changes at your fingertips.
New programming lets you exercise full
manual control even in Sport or ECO mode,
just by using the paddles. Automatic shifting
resumes a few seconds after you let go, but
if you’re in mid-curve, it’ll wait until you exit.
The precise power steering adapts its level of
effort to your driving speed, while its Direct-
steer system varies the steering ratio to how
far you’ve turned the wheel. The net result is
an ideal match for any driving situation — with
quicker response in corners, crisp on-center
feel, and inspiring straight-line stability when
traveling at higher speeds. It even makes low-
speed maneuvers like parking easier to enjoy.
The sport-tuned 4-wheel multilink suspension
is exactingly calibrated to take advantage of
the rigid body with an optimal balance of pure
sports-car handling and composed comfort.
All of the SLK wheel setups — whether it’s the
standard 17" alloys on the SLK 250 or any
of the 18" designs
3
that are standard on the
SLK 350 or optional on both — are staggered in
width. The wider rear tires transfer power to
the pavement more effectively, while the front
tires are sized for fluent steering feedback.
Makes the most
of every millisecond.
Germany’s favorite pastime isn’t baseball, it’s driving. Whether all-out
on the Autobahn, romancing the Black Forest, or lapping the legendary
Nürburgring, the SLK is engineered to pass every test of time.
Summary of Contents for SLK 350
Page 1: ...SLK CLASS 2014...
