2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

The redesigned 155-mph Mercedes-Benz SLK two-seater is a big improvement over the first-generation, slightly smaller SLK, which arrived in 1997 as a "cute'' two-seater, which folks lined up to buy.

The SLK wasn't cheap, but had a marginal, supercharged 185-horsepower four-cylinder engine that sounded coarse. A retractable metal hard top was its strongest feature, along with the Mercedes nameplate.

The SLK was the first new Mercedes two-seater in a long time, but was no thing of beauty with its slab sides. It initially was sold in America only with an automatic transmission that shifted indecisively. Offered in Europe was a manual gearbox, which I found made the car lots more fun to drive at its media preview in Italy.

Mercedes sold SLKs to 68,233 Americans from 1997 through the first half of 2004 and to more than 300,000 people around the world. Most went to folks who didn't know or care much about genuine sports cars.

Mercedes improved the SLK by doing such things as adding a manual transmission in 1999 and a costly $4,135 sports package that slightly improved its appearance. The 2001 model got a V-6, and the four-cylinder version's price was slashed from $41,000 to $38,900 because of increased competition.

Most car buffs still opted for SLK rivals such as the BMW Z3 and Z4, Porsche Boxster and Honda S2000. The SLK was considered more of a small "boulevard rambler'' than anything else.

The top 2004 SLK is modified by Mercedes' AMG high-performance arm and features a 349-horsepower V-6, but it's pricey at $55,450 for a car with a flabby chassis and old basic design. Even the entry supercharged four-cylinder SLK has only 192 horsepower and costs nearly $40,000.

The sports car market has turned to high performance cars in the past few years, and Mercedes saw that the SLK needed a better body, interior, engine, transmission, suspension, brakes and interior -- the works.

That's exactly what Mercedes has given the new $45,500 SLK350.

The styling is much improved. There's an arrow-shaped nose, long hood, steeply raked windshield and a grille that resembles that of the ferocious $450,000 Mercedes SLR McLaren coupe with flip-up doors. The tapered, wedge-shaped silhouette also makes the car look a lot more racier.

The SLK350 gets part of its designation from its 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower engine with variable valve timing for quicker throttle response. It's the first dual-overhead-camshaft, 24-valve SLK aluminum six-cylinder with four valves per cylinder for an SLK.

Mercedes long has used a single overhead camshaft engine and three valves per cylinder for better fuel economy, but the new engine design provides much-demanded additonal power. It's part of a new high-tech Mercedes engine family and delivers maximum torque at only 1,500 rpm, which means many rival cars easily can be beaten off the line.

An SLK55 AMG version of the new SLK with a 5.4-liter, 355-horsepower V-8 arrives later for hard-core auto buffs, but it'll cost much more than the standard SLK and will be a limited-volume model.

The standard SLK350 is plenty fast. It does 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds with its much improved six-speed manual gearbox and in 5.5 seconds with its new $1,390 seven-speed automatic transmission, which replaces a five-speed unit.

Fuel economy is an estimated 18 mpg in the city and 25 on highways with the manual and 19 and 25 with the automatic.

Recirculating-ball steering has been replaced by a superior rack-and-pinion setup, which provides quick steering with a reassuring amount of power assist at higher speeds. The control-arm front suspension has been replaced by a cheaper strut-type design, although handling is sharp. Standard are a traction control sytem and Mercedes' Electronic Stability Program that can help prevent slides and skids.

The ride is generally good, but the short 95.7-inch wheelbase causes it to occasionally become a little jerky. The huge, perforated and ventilated disc brakes are powerful, but the pedal has a soft feel that takes getting used to.

The new SLK is far more rigidly built than its predecessor for better roadabililty. The seriously weak chassis is gone.

Safety features include knee air bags and head-thorax air bags that are said to help provide good head and neck protection.

The 3,231-pound SLK350 weighs a little more than the 3,055-pound 2004 model and is a bit larger. It's got a slightly longer wheelbase and is about three inches longer and wider -- and about an inch taller. Occupants thus have a little more breathing room, although there's still isn't much cockpit room to spare. Storage areas are small.

The redesigned interior has silver switches and trim elements that contrast against a darker dashboard, which has large chronometer-style gauges. The sculpted dash deftly blends into the door panels.

Large outside door handles are easily gripped for quick entry, but inside handles are small and entering or leaving the low-slung car calls for above-average effort. Also, long doors make it hard to get in and out in tight parking spots.

The back-lit gauges are easy to read during the day and seats are supportive. However, sound system and climate controls are small and the sun visors are tiny, although they have lighted vanity mirrors. Seat belts call for an awkward reach to fasten.

The automatic retractable hardtop allows a quiet interior and is cleverly designed. It goes up and down more quickly (22 seconds) at the touch of a button.

The new folded roof consumes less trunk space. As with the retractable hard top of the larger $88,000-plus Mercedes SL-Class two-seater, the rear window of the new SLK top pivots to match the curvature of the top, providing nearly three more cubic feet of trunk room.

However, there still isn't much cargo room with the top up or down; it's best to stick to a few pieces of soft luggage on trips. The trunk has a low, wide opening. But, curiously, the inside of my test SLK350's trunk lid had no covering to hide its rough, unfinished look.

Located in the seatbacks is an optional new technology that can extend the open-air driving season into cooler months: A neck-level heating system blows warm air from head restraints of the driver and passenger, alowing them to cruise comfortably with the hardtop open. The system automatically compensates for changes in air temperature and vehicle speed.

The hood glides open on twin struts, but you can't see the new engine because it has a big, plastic cover. At least fluid-filler areas are easily reached.

Mercedes expects to sell 10,000 SLK350 models annually in America. That shouldn't be hard, considering it annually sold about the same number of the inferior first-generation SLKs.

2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350

PRICE
$45,500

LIKES
Nicely redesigned. Improved styling. Better engine. Quick steering. Sharp handling.

DISLIKES
Long doors. Cramped trunk. Rather soft brake pedal. Small controls. Tiny sun visors.