A few minutes behind the wheel makes it clear that the SLK's biggest asset is a nearly inexhaustable supply of driving pleasure. The S in the model name denotes Sport, and deservedly so. The fun comes from much more than simple straight-line speed, though the SLK's claimed 0-60 mph time of 7.4 seconds and 143-mph top speed aren't exactly unimpressive. The key word in assessing the car's fun quotient is balance. At right around 3000 pounds, the SLK isn't exactly a lightweight--even though the L in SLK stands for Licht (light)--but it steers, stops, and goes around corners with far less coaxing than its heavier SL cousins. The all-independent suspension is tuned for flat cornering and precise handling, and delivers exactly that, while also providing a ride that won't rattle your teeth.
Driver and passneger will be as relaxed at the end of an all-day drive as they were at its beginning and, if there were a few twists and turns along the way, the driver will likely have an ear-to-ear grin. Brakes (ABS-equipped), steering and electronic traction control all perform flawlessly.
The third component in the model designation is K, meaning Kompressor (supercharger in English). Without it, the car wouldn't be nearly as much fun to drive. The mechanical supercharger forces air into a 2.3-liter twincam 16-valve four-cylinder engine, the same engine, sans supercharging, used in M-B's C-Class sedans. A variety of high-tech features work with the blower to make the engine both powerful and responsive. Peak power--191 hp--is impressive, but the key to this engine's willingness to play is a wide band of peak torque, available from 2500 to 4800 rpm.
Behind the engine is a five-speed automatic transmission that features adaptive" electronics that monitor driving style and tailor the shift time and speed to suit. In enthusiastic driving mode, for example, it will shift at the engine's peak power, and will not upshift when the car is slowed for a corner. In more sedate use, it changes gears with remarkable smoothness.
Perfection? Not quite. While the muted whine of the supercharger will be music to some, the exhaust note has a slightly agricultural quality to it. We also found a little more engine vibration than we'd like at cruising speeds, and the absence of a manual transmission isn't consistent with a real sports car image. Mercedes offers a very crisp five-speed manual on European SLK models, but elected not to certify it for the U.S. market."
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