Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a compact executive roadster, produced by Mercedes-Benz. It was released in 1996 and was built at the Mercedes plant in Bremen, Germany, until the end of production in 2020.

Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class
Overview
Manufacturer	Daimler-Benz (1995–1998) DaimlerChrysler (1998–2007) Daimler AG (2007–2020)
Production	1996–2020
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car (S) Compact grand tourer
Body style	2-door roadster
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive

The former name "SLK" was derived from sportlich (sporty), leicht (lightweight), and kurz (short).^[1] With the release of the facelift R172 in 2016, the SLK-Class was renamed to SLC-Class in accordance with the revised nomenclature adopted by Mercedes. Under this scheme, roadsters use the base name "SL", followed by the model's placement in Mercedes-Benz hierarchy, the letter "C", being the roadster equivalent to the C-Class.^[2][3]

First generation (R170; 1995–2004)

Main article: Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (R170)

R170 SLK-Class

The R170 Mercedes SLK was the first generation compact roadster produced by Mercedes-Benz, from 1995 to 2004.^[4][5] It was designed from late 1991 under Bruno Sacco, with a final design being completed in early 1993 and approved by the board, with a German design patent filed on September 30, 1993.^[6] The production SLK-Class was introduced at the Turin Motor Show on 22 April 1996, appearing as a modern incarnation of the 1950s Mercedes-Benz 190SL, by returning to four cylinders and with an identical 94-inch (2,400 mm) wheelbase.^[7] A facelift was introduced to all models in 2000, featuring an updated design and updated engines.^[8]

Second generation (R171; 2004–2010)

Main article: Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (R171)

R171 SLK-Class

The R171 SLK was unveiled at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. It features increased use of high-strength steel,^[9] and improvements to the car's torsional strength and aerodynamic efficiency.^[9] Models feature a more compact, revised roof mechanism that is operated in 22 seconds (previously 25 seconds), resulting in an increase in boot capacity by 63 liters (2.2 cu ft).^[9] The R171 also introduced the Airscarf system that integrates neck-level heating system into the headrests of the car.^[9] The front-end design of the car was inspired by the noses found in Formula One cars.^[9] It was facelifted in 2008 and featured new engines and minor exterior design changes.^[10]

Third generation (R172; 2011–2020)

Main article: Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (R172)

R172 SLK-Class

Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class Front (left)

The R172 SLK was released in 2011.^[11] It was available with a range of inline-four, V6, and V8, diesel and petrol engines, and introduced an electronically operated window tint shade for the sunroof, called Magic Sky Control. A facelift was released for vehicles produced from March 2016, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the SLK-Class.^[12] The model range was also renamed to SLC-Class to conform to the new Mercedes nomenclature, and introduced new engines and a revised design. In 2020, Mercedes-Benz released a Final Edition to commemorate the end of the car's production run.^[13]

Sales figures

The following are the sales figures for the SLK-Class since 2001:^[14]

Year	EU sales	US sales
2001	27,734	11,268[15]
2002	19,039	7,784
2003	14,629	6,023[16]
2004	38,417	7,360
2005	36,823	11,278[17]
2006	27,128	10,410
2007	20,834	7,270[18]
2008	18,529	4,941
2009	10,805	2,566[19]
2010	8,779	1,980
2011	17,729	3,220[20]
2012	17,731	4,595[20]
2013	12,594	4,757[21]
2014	11,114	4,737[21]
2015	10,369	4,182
2016	8,909	3,397
2017	8,421	2,860
2018		1,993
2019		1,840