Abu Dhabi Week gets behind the wheel of the new SLK roadster

The Mercedes’ SLK has always been a pretty little thing. Maybe a little bit too pretty for the more masculine motoring enthusiast, earning it the slightly unflattering label of a “hairdressers’ car”. In fact, it would probably be fair to say that the first SLK was known more for its revolutionary folding hardtop than for its dynamic abilities.

But with the Middle East launch of the new model earlier this year, the German company is looking to change people’s perceptions.

Taking styling cues from the awesome SLS AMG – harder lines, more aggressive styling and of course the large 3-pointed star on the grille – the test car we’ve been given by the Emirates Motor Company (an entry-level SLK 200) certainly looks the part.

From the outside, the SLK’s long contoured bonnet shares an uncanny family resemblance with the SL. What’s more, the proportion of headlights to the grille have been modelled on the original 190 SL, so it looks great. Photos really don’t do this car justice, but there’s no doubt it’s a head-turner. The car’s designers have also moved its side mirrors from the corners of its doors down further along to give it a more aerodynamic shape and help it look like it’s moving even when it's standing still.

Move inside the car and the SLK continues to impress. Sitting in the snug cockpit, you are met with brushed aluminium switches and vents, and leather on every surface that isn’t metal or a colour screen. The cabin has a reassuringly Teutonic solidity, which leaves you thoroughly convinced of the Mercedes’ premium status.

Of course, no modern Mercedes would be complete without a raft of safety kit and this third generation SLK doesn’t disappoint.

Inheriting technology from more expensive cars such as the S-Class and CLS, the usual stability control systems have been enhanced with the (in some cases optional) inclusion of automatic braking assist, lane departure warning and auto dipping headlights.

So, we’ve been seduced by the looks and the interior but is it just a case of style over substance? Fortunately, after just ten minutes behind the wheel, we discover that it’s also a serious proposition on the move.

Having two cylinders less than the more powerful V6 in the SLK 350, we were worried that our car might feel sluggish but the 1.8 litre turbocharged unit is extremely responsive, pulls strongly from low down in the rev range and even has a satisfyingly rorty exhaust note. Mercedes says it will hit 100kph in just over seven seconds, but it feels quicker than that. It's also got a claimed top speed of 237kph, but we’ll just have to take their word for that.

The ride is equally impressive and even after an hour and a half blast along the Sheikh Zayed Road to Dubai, we feel surprisingly refreshed. The chassis is taut, the ride is smooth and the steering is responsive – this is definitely a car you could use for the daily commute.

But the SLK is also fun to drive. Later in the evening, as the temperature and humidity drops, we take the car out for a spin over Yas Island and decide that it would be rude not to at least try it with the top down.

Cars with folding metal roofs like the SLK aren’t exactly new, but the baby Merc introduced us to the concept and, for us, still leads the way. The all-new ‘vario-roof’ is constructed from a magnesium frame (saving 6kg as a result) and is now much quieter, two seconds faster to operate (20 seconds to open/close) and allows for an additional 35 litres of boot space. The whole ultra-complex electronic and hydraulic party trick is a joy to watch, and quite a feat of engineering and packaging.

Impressively, ride quality remains pretty much unaffected by lowering the roof. There’s very little buffeting from the wind, no scuttle shake and the steering remains responsive and well weighted. All that really changes is that the smile on our faces gets a little bit wider.

With prices starting from about AED 185,000 it’s not exactly cheap but then you get what you pay for, and the little Mercedes just exudes quality.

There’s little doubt that this latest incarnation of the SLK is the best yet. The car’s styling strikes just the right balance between elegance and a hint of performance, while mechanically it’s rock-solid, enjoyable and refined in equal measure – we were particularly impressed by the enthusiastic and punchy four-cylinder engine.

It might not be for serious enthusiasts, but it’s easy to see the attraction. Do we like it? You bet!

For more information, visit www.emc.mercedes-benz.com or call 02 444 3171. Emirates Motor Company is the authorised general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and is the flagship company of the Al Fahim Group.

Jon Muller

The stats:

• Two-door hard-top coupe/cabriolet
• Rear-wheel drive
• Seven-speed 7G-TRONIC
• PLUS transmission
• 1.8-litre four-cylinder
• turbo-charged engine
• 184bhp at 5,250rpm
• 270Nm of torque at 1,800rpm
• 0-100kmh in 7.3 seconds
• Top speed 237kmh