Germancar1

Following SLK Facelift

Following on the tail of the new facelifted Mercedes-Benz SLK Facelift is the AMG fine-tuned SLK 55 AMG. To (almost) everybody's satisfaction, the F1-styled nose has stayed. Deliveries will start March 2008 and will cost approximately 70,000 Euro.

Besides the exterior refinements (new front apron, dark-tinted headlamps are included in the AMG body package) the SLK 55 AMG will feature for the first time Mercedes' new direct steering with variable servo assistance, making the two seater's steering even more responsive. The new direct steering system is based on the previous speed-sensitive power steering. The new system increases the steering angle, resulting in less steering wheel revolutions, 2.16 turns, from lock-to-lock (- 25 %). Also, the gearbox is upgraded to the latest AMG SpeedShift 7G-Tronic (sorry, still no manual!) with even faster gearchanges.

The 5.5 liter V8 produces 265 kW/360 hp and develops 510 newton metres of torque and can boast a 4.9 second 0 – 100 km/h time, hitting the 200 km/h mark should take no longer than 17.5 seconds and has a top speed (electronically limited) of 250 km/h while the speedometer is maxed at 320 km/h.

Read on for further details.


Press Release

Fine-tuning and even more agility for the AMG eight-cylinder roadster

The SLK 55 AMG is now even more dynamic: a new front apron and dark-tinted headlamps give this unique eight-cylinder roadster an even more athletic look even at a standstill. The handling dynamics of the SLK 55 AMG have also been sharpened. For the first time the car features the new direct steering with variable servo assistance, which makes the 265 kW/360 hp two-seater even more agile and responsive. The SLK 55 AMG is also the only car in its class to feature a V8 engine, while the improved AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC transmission now offers even faster gearchanges.

The appearance of the sporty roadster now reinforces the car’s claim to special status even more emphatically. The redesigned front apron with a more pronounced arrow-shape, the modified Mercedes star, enlarged air dams and a black-painted transverse fin on the lower section ensure a distinctly masculine aura. Large, round foglamps with chrome surrounds are now positioned further outwards, enhancing the impression of width. The hot air from the integral engine oil cooler is vented via side outlets in the front apron. The specific AMG bodystyling also includes AMG side skirts, the muscular AMG rear apron with a black insert and the AMG spoiler lip.

New features also include dark-tinted projection-beam headlamps and larger exterior mirrors for better rearward visibility. LED indicator repeaters in an arrow design ensure more safety. Even more striking than before are the new 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in a multi-spoke design. Painted in titanium grey and with a high-sheen star, these provide interesting contrasts when viewed from the side. With a width of 7.5 and 8.5 inches respectively, the AMG light-alloy wheels are fitted with size 225/40 (front) and 245/35 (rear) tyres. New, high-sheen 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in a twin-spoke design are also available in the same sizes on request. Outstanding deceleration values are ensured by the AMG high-performance braking system with internally ventilated brake discs all-round. The front brakes have perforated discs of size 345 x 30 mm; 300 x 22 mm discs are fitted at the rear.
Newly developed direct steering with variable servo assistance

The all-new direct steering system with variable servo assistance makes for first-class handling dynamics, and makes the SLK 55 AMG even more agile. A key component of this direct steering is the newly designed steering rack. This allows a ratio spread from 15.8:1 to 11.5:1 – which the driver experiences as more responsiveness at around five degrees or more from the centred position. Variable servo assistance makes the roadster particularly agile and lively on winding roads, as the driver has less to do than before – only 2.16 turns of the wheel are required from lock to lock. This also produces considerable comfort advantages when manoeuvring at slow speeds.

The driver of the SLK 55 AMG also benefits from this outstanding controllability during high-speed manoeuvres such as the VDA lane-change test, as his hands no longer need to be repositioned on the wheel. The AMG Roadster also sets standards when it comes to straight-line stability at high speed – this is where the less direct steering configuration in the centred position has a positive effect. This is supported by the already familiar speed-sensitive servo function: the servo assistance decreases as the speed increases, which improves both handling and driving safety.
AMG eight-cylinder engine for superior performance

The striking bonnet with its characteristic longitudinal fins conceals the 5.5-litre AMG eight-cylinder engine, which has an output of 265 kW/360 hp and develops 510 newton metres of torque – figures which remain unrivalled in this segment. Enormous torque, immediate responsiveness and the typical AMG V8 sound characterise the driving experience, together with outstanding performance: the two-seater accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds, reaches the 200 km/h mark in 17.5 seconds and has a top speed (electronically limited) of 250 km/h. Power is transferred by the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC transmission with steering wheel gearshift paddles, which now ensures even greater agility: gearchanges in the "S" (Sport) and "M" (Manual) driving modes are around ten percent faster than before. This is not only thanks to the new components in the seven-speed automatic transmission, but also to the new engine and transmission management, which also ensures that the gearshifts are smoother.
Functional interior with new AMG instrument cluster

In the functional and sporty interior of the SLK 55 AMG, the new AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel with its three-spoke design gives a visual hint of the direct steering feature. The grip area is specially shaped and lined with perforated leather, while the vertical spoke is embellished by a silver-coloured insert. Two aluminium AMG shift paddles allow manual gear selection.

The AMG instrument cluster with a 320 km/h speedometer scale, silver/red needles and AMG lettering also has a new look, and the new graphics ensure that vehicle speed and rpm are even more easily legible. In "M" mode, the AMG main menu is able to display the currently selected gear including an upshift recommendation, as well as the engine oil temperature, the battery voltage or the RACETIMER. The AMG sports seats with their special upholstery layout feature pronounced side bolsters for improved lateral support when cornering at speed; Alcantara inserts in the shoulder areas improve this lateral support even further. Fine nappa leather upholstery is part of the standard appointments of the SLK 55 AMG. It is available in a choice of four attractive colours, with a stylish combination of black/gullwing red as a new entrant to the range.
Performance package for the driver with racing ambitions

The AMG performance package is available for the SLK 55 AMG on request. This package developed by the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO incorporates even higher-performance components. The result is an ultra-exciting driving experience for sports car enthusiasts who sometimes like to put their AMG model through its paces on the racetrack.

The AMG p erformance package for the SLK 55 AMG consists of:

* AMG high-performance braking system with internally ventilated and perforated composite brake discs, size 360 x 32 mm, with six-piston fixed callipers at the front
* Internally ventilated and perforated brake discs, size 330 x 26 mm, with four-piston fixed callipers at the rear
* 18-inch AMG multi-piece light-alloy wheels in a twin-spoke design, size 7.5 x 18 with tyre size 225/40 R 18 (front) and size 8.5 x 18 with tyre size 245/35 R 18 (rear)
* AMG performance suspension
* AMG performance steering wheel with smaller diameter, flattened lower section and silver-coloured aluminium shift paddles
* AMG carbon-fibre trim in the interior

With the exception of the AMG high-performance composite braking system, all the components of the AMG performance package can also be ordered individually.

Interested customers can order the SLK 55 AMG now; the purchase price is 69,049.75 Euro (incl. 19 % VAT). The market launch will commence in March 2008.


Official: Mercedes SLK 55 AMG Facelift


I really like it. The only thing, I wanted the 400hp from the Black Series!!!

M

Acez

nothing much, i expected more.

dsb

Nice steering wheel. I wonder what it will look like with the 030 option. Also, are the 030 wheels the same as MY07?

MJ50

has some black series touches here and there...
like the steering wheel...

midget fidger

This looks a lot nicer than the facelift on the regular SLKs. Those bumpers and blacked out grill part are really nice! I like how the little gills on the front bumper don't stick out as much as on the current SLK55. Check out the new mirrors.

Too bad I just got new bumpers a few months ago because these will probably be the same price

AUSSLK55AMG

Um - I don't know about you guys - but I think this is all a bit of a let-down.

In one way it's sensational - there is no real change to the hardware our cars are made of. The same engine, brakes, suspension, tyres, (and almost entirely) transmission, and so on. In short - aside from a weird looking front bumper, darker wheels, quicker steering, and a zany steering wheel that would look more appropriate in a customised Mazda RX-8 there's basically nothing new.

I'm delighted!!

No need to stress about an SLK63 boys! I had a feeling there wouldn't be one. Our car is a lovely dynamic package - and the fact that Mercedes-AMG haven't changed the important bits proves that the marketplace agrees.

If there was a call to fix something - it would have happened!

The styling cues on the newcomer will take a bit of a while to adjust to. I don't think I will want any of them on my car - which I reckon is as close to the best shape Benz have ever made on a production car - and almost certainly was how the R171 was conceived (SLK200/280/350 lack so much as to look toylike in comparison).

The current multispokes are a winner BECAUSE they are bright silver - and here they are making them that brake-dust colour like the SL65 and the new M3! Doesn't make sense to me...s'pose you don't have to clean them...

The new wing mirrors look like they're issued by Starfleet Command and look a bit like a high-tech version of Prince Charles' ears...

:-)

I have thought about it for a while and can't see any difference in the rear apron - despite being told it's changed. If I can't see it having owned an '06 SLK55 for 2 years now - it remains to be seen if Joe Public can.

And getting down to it - the nose looks a bit odd really. The non-SLK55AMG optional 'AMG' chin spoiler for the '09 model 200/280/350's (with the lower cross-bar in body-colour) looks better I reckon. Although the blacked out bit will certainly stand out from a distance and make for easier identification by bored 12-year-olds.

I'd probably say if this was the way the nose of the '55 looked in 2006 I would have had a long think about whether I wanted a car that looked like that. It's a bit techno-scary in the way the C63 is - lots of straight lines and gaping grille areas that threaten to eat you if you don't get out of the way. A bit Transformer-ish.

Kind of like the current shape isn't.

What do you guys reckon?

Cheers,

AUSSLK55AMG

Sydney Australia

2MANYCARS

Glad to know my new SLK will look even more striking.

GBlansten

Center stack controls and the smaller screen look like a downgrade.

KIRA

lol is actually not a navi, if it has nav the screen would be bigger

but anyway it got a color screen for a non-navi car!

anyway

why no HP or 0-60 time improvement??

Shinigami

Because the engine and gearing hasn't changed. I guess they're happy with the engine the way it is.

Shinigami

That's the mini nav, not the COMAND unit. And it's not sporting the high-end climater control unit either in these shots.

Shinigami

Overall, I think this looks quite nice, nothing that would make me swap my current car for the facelift model tho'...

I'm interested to see that they've added battery voltage meter to the menus. In the current version, I can only see if it I go into the service menus while the engine is turned off...

F_Porsche

That's because it is the German version. You won't even get a standard CD radio here without paying for it.

GBlansten

Well, that makes more sense. Thanks.