The R170 SLK
The Mercedes-Benz R170 SLK arrived in January, 1997 as one of the industry’s most anticipated sports cars. That year, journalists named it North American Car of Year. The SLK was so successful that Mercedes-Benz had to double production to meet demand.
This is a thoroughly modern vehicle. The SLK’s wedge shape is a timeless design, that’s unmistakably a Mercedes-Benz. It has a folding metal roof and was introduced at a time when competing convertibles had cloth tops. To lower the top, a console-mounted button is pressed. No latches, no handles, and no wrestling with dirty canvas. Just a tap of the button and in 25 seconds, the SLK transforms from a coupe to an open air roadster.
The SLK received a facelift for the 2001 model year. Among the visual changes were new front and rear aprons, sculpted rocker panels, turn signal repeaters in side mirrors, body-color door handles, and two-color taillight glass (red/clear). All V6-powered SLK320 models received a then-new 5-spoke wheel design (7×16-inches in front, 8×16-inches in the rear), a unique air dam, metal plate door sills, power seats, telescoping steering column, wood interior trim with a combination leather/wood steering wheel and shift knob. Underneath, they received a new rear stabilizer bar, a larger fuel tank and a new trunk lid opening mechanism.
The interiors were upgraded as well. The seats were more ergonomically-designed, there was a new steering wheel, machined aluminum trim was used (in place of carbon fiber on SLK230), a Touch Shift gear indicator was added to the instrument panel, a new shift lever was used, a newly designed overhead console was added, the door panels were redesigned and had a more SL-like appearance, and a chromed hand brake button was used.
Three engines are available in the R170 SLK model line. The SLK230 has a supercharged and intercooled, 2.3-liter DOHC four. The four cylinder delivers an impressive 192 hp and 200 lbs.-ft. of torque. What’s even more remarkable is how it’s 200 lbs-ft of torque is available from 2,500 to 4,800 rpm. The second power plant is the 3.2-liter, 215 horsepower V6 of the SLK320. The standard transmission for both of these models was a close-ratio, six-speed manual. A five-speed automatic was also available.
At the top of the R170 food chain is the SLK32 AMG. This model is stuffed with a supercharged, intercooled V-6 that produces three-hundred and forty-nine horsepower. That much power in the SLK results in four point eight second zero-to-sixty sprints, and a top speed that has to be electronically limited to one hundred and fifty-five miles per hour. Backing this engine is an AMG SpeedShift equipped five-speed automatic. The SLK32 suspension has AMG specific spring rates, shock valving and stabilizer bars. This model also comes with the more powerful AMG braking package. Inside, the SLK32 is furnished with sport seats finished in two-tone Nappa leather upholstery. These seats feature integrated headrests and aggressive side bolsters. The SLK32 interior has matching two-tone leather trim on the door panels, steering wheel and gear lever. They have AMG specific instrumentation and dark bird’s eye maple wood trim.
All the equipment expected of a Mercedes-Benz is available in each of the three models; the ESP Stability Program, Tele Aid telematics, Touch Shift, heated power seats, telescoping steering column, Xenons with headlight washers, ASR traction control, Brake Assist, rain sensing wipers, etc.
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Technical Data
| Model | SLK230 Kompressor | SLK320 | SLK32 AMG |
| Vehicle type | Two-seat coupe/roadster with powered-operated retractable hardtop | ||
| Engine | In-line four-cylinder, Roots-type intercooled supercharger | 90-degree V6 | 90-degree V6, screw-type intercooled supercharger |
| Engine material | 90-degree iron block/aluminum head | aluminum | |
| Valvetrain | Chain-driven double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, electronically controlled variable intake valve timing control | Chain-driven single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank, two intake valves and one exhaust valve per cylinder | |
| Valve arrangement | 4-valves per cylinder | 3-valve technology with two intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder | |
| Displacement (cu. in./cc) | 140 / 2,295 | 195 / 3,199 | |
| Bore (in./mm) | 3.58 / 90.9 | 3.54 / 89.9 | |
| Stroke (in./mm) | 3.48 / 88.4 | 3.31 / 84.0 | |
| Compression ratio | 9.0:1 | 10.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Horsepower @ rpm | 192 / 5,500 | 215 @ 5,700 | 349 @ 6,10 0 |
| Torque (lb-ft.) @ rpm | 200 @ 2,500-4,800 | 221 @ 3,000-4,600 | 332 @ 3,000-4,600 |
| Intake system | Roots-type supercharger with intercooler | Electronic throttle control, two-stage resonance intake manifold | Screw-type supercharger with intercooler, electronic throttle control, two-stage resonance intake manifold |
| Engine management | SIM 4 sequential fuel injection | ME 2.8 engine control with phase-shifted twin spark ignition, two coils and spark plugs per cylinder, integrated sequential multi-point fuel injection | |
| Max. engine speed (rpm) | 6,200 | 6,000 | |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual (std. on SLK230 and SLK320) |
Five-speed electronically controlled automatic with driver-adaptive shift logic, Touch Shift selectable manual control (optional on SLK230 and SLK320) | AMG SpeedShift five-speed electronically controlled automatic with driver-adaptive shift logic, Touch Shift manual control, actrive braking downshift, optimum gear function performance modes |
| Gear ratios | |||
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 R R2 “winter” mode |
4.46:1 2.62:1 1.72:1 1.25:1 1.00:1 0.84:1 4.06:1 — |
3.95:1 2.42:1 1.50:1 1.00:1 0.83:1 3.15:1 |
3.59:1 2.19:1 1.41:1 1.00:1 0.83:1 3.15:1 |
| Final drive | 3.27:1 | 3.07:1 | |
| Stability control | Electronic Stability Programming (ESP) integrating single brake application and throttle intervention for yaw control, plus ignition and throttle intervention for wheelspin control | ||
| Suspension | Four-wheel independent | ||
| Front | Double wishbone (upper and lower control arms), coil springs, gas-charged shocks, stabilizer bar | ||
| Rear | Five-link, coil springs, gas-charged shocks, stabilizer bar, anti-lift and anti-squat geometry | ||
| Steering | Recirculating ball, hydraulic power assist | ||
| Overall ratio | 15.53:1 | ||
| Turns, lock-to-lock | 3.1 | ||
| Turning circle | 32.9 feet / 10.03 meters | ||
| Front Wheels | 7.0×16-in.,7-spoke (7.5×17-in. AMG 5-spoke w/Sport Pkg.) |
7.0×16-in., 5-spoke (7.5×17-in. AMG 5-spoke w/Sport Pkg.) |
7.5×17-in., 10-spoke |
| Rear wheels ( | 8.0×16-in., 7-spoke (8.5×17-in. AMG 5-spoke w/Sport Pkg.) |
8.0×16-in., 5-spoke (8.5×17-in. AMG 5-spoke w/Sport Pkg.) |
8.5×17-in., 10-spoke |
| Front tires | 205/55R16 V (225/45ZR17 w/Sport Pkg.) |
205/55R16 V (225/45ZR17 w/Sport Pkg.) |
225/45ZR17 |
| Rear tires | 225/50R16 V (245/40ZR17 w/Sport Pkg.) |
225/50R16 V (245/40ZR17 w/Sport Pkg.) |
245/40ZR17 |
| Brakes | Hydraulic power assisted 4-wheel discs with 4-channel ABS anti-lock; Brake Assist System | ||
| Front disc diameter (in./mm; type) | 11.3 / 287; vented | 11.8 / 300; vented | 13.0 / 332; vented |
| Rear disc diameter (in./mm; type) | 10.9 / 278; solid | 10.9 / 278; solid | 11.8 / 300; vented |
| Front disc thickness (in./mm) | 0.98 / 25 | 1.1 / 28 | 1.26 / 32 |
| Rear disc thickness (in./mm) | 0.35 / 9 | 0.35 / 9 | 0.87 / 22 |
| Exterior dimensions (in./mm) | |||
| Wheelbase | 94.5 / 2,400 | ||
| Length | 157.9 / 4,010 | ||
| Width (without mirrors) | 67.5 / 1,715 | ||
| Height | 50.4 / 1,279 | ||
| Front track | 58.6 / 1,488 | ||
| Rear track | 58.5 / 1,485 | ||
| Curb weight | 3,055 (man.), 3,110 (auto.) | 3,099 (man.), 3,154 (auto.) | 3,220 |
| Aerodynamic drag (Cd) | 0.35 with the top up | ||
| Interior dimensions (in./mm) | |||
| Head room | 37.4 / 950 | ||
| Leg room | 42.7 / 1,084 | ||
| Shoulder room | 51.7 / 1,313 | ||
| Capacities | |||
| Cabin volume (cu. ft.) | 43.8 | ||
| Fuel tank (gallons) | 15.9 | ||
| Performance | |||
| 0-60 (seconds) manual automatic |
6.9 7.0 |
6.6 6.6 |
– 4.8 |
| Top Speed MPH | 130 – electronically limited | 155 – electronically limited | |
| Fuel economy (city/hwy) manual automatic |
20/29 23/30 |
18/27 21/27 |
– 18/24 |