Mercedes-Benz SLK Is 30 Years Old

Thirty years after its premiere at the Turin Motor Show in April 1996, the Mercedes-Benz SLK (R 170) remains one of the most emotional models in the brand’s history.

The compact sports car, which carries the description “Sportlich, Leicht, Kurz” (Sporty, Light, Short) in its name, still attracts attention today with its innovative steel vario-roof structure, attractive design and driving pleasure.

By the end of production in 2004, a total of 311,222 copies were made in the SLK 200, SLK 200 Kompressor, SLK 230 Kompressor, SLK 320 and SLK 32 AMG versions. Immediately after its presentation, the model won numerous international awards, including the German “Goldenes Lenkrad”, the Italian award “L’automobile più bella del mondo” and the American “Car of the Year” for 1997.

The roof that changes everything

One of the key technical attractions of the SLK is the electro-hydraulic vario-roof, which folds neatly into the trunk in just 25 seconds, turning the coupé into a roadster. The roof provides exceptional weather protection, reduces wind noise and passes through automatic car washes without damage, making the SLK a true car for all seasons.

The best-selling model in the series was the SLK 230 Kompressor, whose four-cylinder engine with a mechanical supercharger develops 142 kW (193 hp), accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 231 km/h. The car weighs only 1,260 kilograms and is almost half a meter shorter than its big brother, the SL model (R 129).

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