1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Review (continued)
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Walkaround

Even without the three-pointed star, it would be difficult to mistake the SLK for anything but a Mercedes-Benz. It is short but sleek, with a chunky, purposeful look. Nice touches include the faired-in aerodynamic headlights, steeply raked windshield, large rear light clusters, and bumpers tucked tightly against the body. Seven-spoke aluminum alloy wheels-carrying different-size tires front and rear-fill the wheel openings, contributing to the SLK's purposeful appearance.

But the SLK's most obvious and unusual exterior feature is its power-operated hardtop. It is standard equipment and, being integrated into the car, eliminates the need for a soft top. Five hydraulic cylinders fed from a trunk-mounted pump raise and lower the lid when the driver operates a single switch. When the top is being lowered, side windows retract, latches on the windshield header are released, the trunk lid is raised backward, the roof folds into two halves and slides into its bay, and the trunk lid closes. Naturally, raising the top involves the same steps in reverse. It's a clever piece of engineering. What makes it more impressive is the fact that there is still some usable trunk space when the top is lowered-not much, but still about as much as a Mazda Miata offers when its top is up.

Although there are a couple of engine choices in Europe, the SLK is offered in the U.S. as a single model, fully equipped, with a mere handful of options listed. Among them are a five-speed automatic transmission ($900), heated seats ($595), metallic paint ($600) and a CD changer/portable phone combo ($1595). A new $3990 Sport Package was introduced for 1999 that includes stylish front and rear fascias, side sills and a more assertive wheel/tire package.

Interior Features

Climb inside the SLK and suddenly it's 1955 again. Mercedes-Benz interior stylists have unabashedly opted for a retro look to the cozy cockpit. The three circular instruments-one a speedometer, one a tachometer, and the other a combination fuel level/coolant temperature dial-have chrome rings around ivory faces with black numerals and red needles. Shiny accents are applied in numerous places, and a two-tone effect combines black dashboard top, door panels, seat sides, glove box lid and center console with contrasting trim in the buyer's choice of red, blue, dark gray or light gray.

But there is nothing old-fashioned about the SLK's safety features. Beyond dual front and side airbags, Mercedes has developed separate rollover bars behind driver and passenger. A circuit has been added to the airbag system that detects a child's seat mounted in the passenger side and disables the dash-mounted bag in front of it.

The seats, too, are modern as can be. No vintage sports car ever had such comfortable and supportive seats. And no open car of the past protected its occupants from the wind as well the SLK's mesh wind deflector, which fits over the rollover bars.

All controls are located in clusters for easy use. Air conditioning and a fine Bose six-speaker sound system are standard. The entire interior is finished off to the high quality level you'd expect to find in a Mercedes-Benz.