Autoblog

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG will seriously tatter your toupee [w/video]

Michael Harley — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

The smallest roadster in the automaker's lineup is all-new for 2012, and hardly in need of more power, but that hasn't stopped Mercedes-Benz from shoehorning its AMG-tuned 5.5-liter V8 under the hood. The naturally-aspirated M152 engine, featuring direct injection, is rated at 415 horsepower at 6,800 rpm with 398 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm. The standard gearbox is AMG's Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic automatic with three electronic modes. Rev-matching on downshifts is also standard. According to Benz, the two-seat SLK55 AMG will launch itself to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

As expected, the range-topping SLK arrives with AMG sports suspension with Direct-Steer system, Torque Vectoring Brakes and three-stage ESP. The AMG high-performance braking system includes four-piston front calipers and drilled rotors at each corner.

In addition to the standard upscale SLK equipment, including a power-operated retractable hard top with available Magic Sky Control sunroof panel, the AMG is visually differentiated by its SLS AMG-inspired bodywork and aerodynamics package. The cabin also gets the full AMG treatment, with unique cosmetics and upholstery designed to match the performance.

The 2012 SLK55 AMG won't arrive in U.S. showrooms until early 2012, but we say get your deposit in early. Pull up a chair, get comfortable, and watch (and hear) the SLK55 AMG in motion in the video after the jump.

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG will seriously tatter your toupee [w/video]

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG will seriously tatter your toupee [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shamelessly retro Mercedes SLK-based HMC Hidalgo looks better than expected

Zach Bowman — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Design/Style

HMC Hidalgo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Now here's a pleasant surprise. The designers at Helvetic Motor Company have officially pulled back the sheets on their Hidalgo, and we have to say that while we were expecting the worst, this Swiss Miss is actually pretty sharp. When a builder announces their intention to reskin a perfectly amiable vehicle like the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG, that typically means bad-news bears. But the Hidalgo seemingly manages to blend heaping helpings of Bugatti Atlantic-era styling with the benefit of the Silver Arrow's considerable running gear. Power from the 5.5-liter V8 has been kept to the stock 355 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, enough to make this an interesting alternative to today's contemporary BMW-powered Morgans.

If you're thinking the car looks like something you'd like to get your hands on, you should probably be on the phone with HMC right now. The company is apparently only planning on building six examples per year at most, each one with a price tag of $410,000 at today's current conversion rates. Hey, we never said nostalgia was cheap.

Gallery: HMC Hidalgo

[Source: Autoblog.nl]

Shamelessly retro Mercedes SLK-based HMC Hidalgo looks better than expected originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Väth V58 turns up the wick on Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG to the tune of 565 HP

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz

Väth V58 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG is already a fierce little roadster, what with its 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 cranking out 355 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. But for those who want something a bit more bonkers, the folks at Väth have just the solution, by way of the V58 - an SLK55-based beastie that produces - get ready - 565 hp and 568 lb-ft, gains of 210 and 192, respectively. Holy moly.

How does such a thing come to life? Väth starts by upping the Merc's engine displacement to 5.8 liters and adding things like a new compressor, new pistons, high-grade steel catalysts, a sport air filter and much more. In addition to these mechanical tweaks, the engine's electronics have been re-calibrated, and the end result is an SLK that will max out at 193 mph. To manage all of that added power, a new set of high-performance brakes have been added up front. Vath also offers a locking differential and a new fuel cooler as optional upgrades.

Other exterior changes include hot new 19-inch wheels and a custom suspension that can be lowered anywhere from 20 to 65 millimeters, depending on user specification. An aerodynamic package is also on hand, featuring a front lip and rear diffuser made of carbon fiber. Inside, Väth has added the usual decorative touches to the climate control system, ashtray, shift gate, shift knob, door coatings and seat adjustment controls.

Naturally, all of this extra kit comes at substantial cost, and for all of the upgrades that we've listed, you'll need to shell out €55,512 (that's just over $75,900 based on current exchange rates). For that price, you could buy two SLK55s and tie them together, but there's no doubt that the Väth creation would provide buckets and buckets of fun. Hit the jump for the full details in Väth's press release and check out our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Vath V58

[Source: Väth]

Continue reading Väth V58 turns up the wick on Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG to the tune of 565 HP

Väth V58 turns up the wick on Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG to the tune of 565 HP originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG

Dan Roth — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Convertible, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, AMG

2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG - Click above for high-res image gallery

It sits there, all tension and sinew, ready to pounce on lesser cars. Start it up and it barks with a clear V8 voice that thumps off the neighbor's house, setting them discreetly peeking from behind their lace curtains. This is an SLK? Oh yeah. No longer a blocky Benz with dwarfism, the SLK55 AMG ripples with muscle and delivers speed like a spin kick to the temple. A bad-ass Mercedes, indeed.

Gallery: Review: Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

Continue reading Review: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG

Review: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brabus turns up the heat on the new Mercedes-Benz SLK

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Convertible, Coupe, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Brabus-tuned M-B SLK.

Brabus hasn't wasted any time tuning the new Mercedes-Benz SLK, and is bringing its normal blend of aero mods and engine tweaks to those unable to keep their new SLK stock for long. Brabus opted to yank out the SLK 55 AMG's 5.5-liter V8 and fitted its own 6.1-liter mill that cranks out 445 hp and 468 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is routed through a seven-speed automatic gearbox and down to Brabus' own LSD. Zero-to-60 times drop to 4.3-seconds, while six-piston aluminum calipers clamp 355 mm slotted discs up front and four-piston calipers with 300 mm rotors in the rear end the party before things get out of hand.

Naturally, some new rollers are part of the equation, with optional 17-, 18- or 19-inch wheels tucked into the fenders with a 30 mm drop provided by new Brabus sports springs. The visual mods are wrapped up with a wind tunnel-tested front spoiler, rear apron and trunk lid wing, while four chrome exhaust tips hint at the SLK's new found power.

All the details are available in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLK by Brabus

Continue reading Brabus turns up the heat on the new Mercedes-Benz SLK

Brabus turns up the heat on the new Mercedes-Benz SLK originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

John Neff — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:33:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz

click above for more images of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

We brought you a single pic of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG on Christmas Day, but Merc has released everything it's got on the über roadster and it looks like what we reported then was correct. The car doesn't receive nearly as thorough a refreshening as its slower siblings, but does get smoked headlamps and a different chin treatment, opting for the single blacked-out lower air intake rather than the F1-inspired split front apron on lesser SLK models. Out back the faux diffuser and dual quadrezoidal (we just made up that word) tailpipes are gone, replaced by a set of dual oval pipes flanking what looks like a skid plate of some sort.

Performance-wise the SLK 55 AMG carries over largely unchanged, which means you'll still find AMG's 5.5L V8 underhood producing 360 hp and 376 ft-lbs. of torque. The AMG Speedshift 7G-TRONIC transmission returns, as well. New this year is the SLK's direct steering system with variable servo assistance, which reduces the amount of turns needed to go from lock to lock and makes turning an easier effort on the driver. Also new are a set of 18-inch AMG twin-spoke wheels, on top of which the car can accelerate to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds. Remember when that was supercar territory ten years ago? Now it can be had in a cut little roadster from Mercedes-Benz.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Gallery: 2009 SLK 55 AMG

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK

Continue reading Pics Aplenty: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

Pics Aplenty: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes tuner Kleemann drops GTK Concept

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:38:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Tuners, Coupe, Mercedes-Benz

click above pic to view more images of the Kleeman GTK Concept

Well-known Mercedes tuner Kleemann has released the first official rendering of its own car, an in-house production called the Kleemann GTK. The carbon fiber skin is wrapped around an SLK body, and the design language is "based on the unique Kleemann design code of elegance and simplicity acknowledging the Nordic design traditions of simple and organic shapes." That apparently means a Reventon (again with the Reventon) snout, a Castagna Aznom front fender treatment, and sharper SLK lines from the A-pillar back.

The GTK is actually based on the SLK 55, and gets a Kleemann Kompressor system, 20-inch Kleeman wheels and 8-piston Kleemann brakes in front and 4-piston out back. That "kompressor" means the little roadster puts 540 HP and 516 lb-ft through its 7-speed auto box. Twenty-inch Kleeman rims ride rubber slivers called Toyo T1-R tires designed specifically for the car. According to Kleemann, it gets to six-oh in 3.7 seconds and runs up to 180+ MPH. Kleemann isn't going to do mass production, so for those of you with the means (lots), place your call now.

[Source: Kleemann]

Gallery: Kleemann GTK Concept

Continue reading Mercedes tuner Kleemann drops GTK Concept

Mercedes tuner Kleemann drops GTK Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMG offers new performance packages for CLS, SLK, and SL

Alex Nunez — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Europe, Mercedes-Benz

Click image to enlarge

Who does AMG think it is? BRABUS?

Mercedes' in-house tuning arm is upping the ante on three of its delectable, monstrously-powered passenger cars by offering optional performance packages that further enhance their dynamics.

The lucky recipients of the AMG Performance Studio's additional love are the CLS 63, SLK 55, and SL 55 -- three cars we'd gladly welcome into the Autoblog garage in their stock forms. Just the thought of even better versions makes us feel all warm and fuzzy. The full list of modifications made to each car is detailed after the jump, but suffice to say that no matter which one you choose, expect suspension, brake, wheel/tire, and appearance upgrades that make the cars even more well-rounded and provide a stronger street presence than stock AMG machines.

Pricing for the upgrades is set at 8,236 € for the CLS, 5,220 € for the SLK, and 11,948 € for the SL. If you're already paying the premium for an AMG ride, why not just go all the way and take the performance package, too? You know you want to.

(Pics, press release after the jump)

[Source:DaimlerChrysler]

Continue reading AMG offers new performance packages for CLS, SLK, and SL

AMG offers new performance packages for CLS, SLK, and SL originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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