Mercedes Benz SLK 200 boasts versatile functions

Mercedes Benz ‘The new SLK 200’

By Park Si-soo

The Korea Times named the new SLK 200 convertible from Mercedes Benz as the best brand of foreign car for 2012.

The sporty sedan, priced at 66.7 million won ($62,000), has surprised the domestic market with outstanding sales of 551 from January to November, nearly twice the number of the second best-selling foreign convertible sedan during the same period.

Mercedes said the milestone sales record was possible thanks to the model’s attractive design, high quality features and superb driving performance. Officials said the new SLK 200 is designed to meet all the driving tastes of passengers – powerful, wild, dynamic, sporty, comfortable and eco-friendly.

In true two-seater sports car fashion, the model has a long contoured bonnet with a short back end. When viewed straight on, its front side is shaped like a big-mouthed whale shark, which means it appears to struggle against strong air resistance when accelerating. But the model's fuel efficiency proves that such worries are useless. The new SLK 200 runs 11.6 kilometers on one liter of gasoline.

Its powerful 184 horse power engine makes it possible for the vehicle to go from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in under seven seconds. Plus it’s capable of giving a stable performance without any trouble at speeds of up to 237 kilometers per hour.

Possessing such features, the new SLK 200 can be considered a two-faced monster, soft and gentle at lower speeds but capable of turning wild and aggressive.

Getting inside is a completely new experience, thanks to the drastically improved quality of the interior and seats that are comfortable and spacious.

Noise from the engine is completely blocked when the doors and windows are shut so that passengers can enjoy traveling without any interruption from outside.

While the interior is adorned with stylish metal decorations and ambient lighting, the seats are covered with solar-reflective leather, creating an atmosphere that is a balanced blend of classic quality and sporty excitement.

The new SLK 200 is equipped with a variety of state-of-the-art technology for passenger safety, one of which is an Intelligent Lighting System that helps secure proper visibility during nighttime driving.