If you are in the market for a small roadster with a big personality, Mercedes-Benz has just released your next car. In a press release dated December 15th, the replacement for the aging SLK has been announced: the Mercedes-Benz SLC – the reference to the capital of Utah being a complete coincidence.
Fans of three-pedal driving now have another reason to lament, as a manual transmission will not be available. The only gearbox offered is a new version of their 9-speed auto coupled to two new engines. For the SLC300, a 1.9-liter four cylinder offers 241 hp, and 273 lb-ft of torque available at just 1,300 rpm. Having that much torque arriving so early will make for a fun ride, but the real treat is coming from Mercedes-AMG.
Their new SLC43 packs a 3.0-liter V6 with twin turbochargers. Horsepower is rated at 362 with torque at 384 lb-ft. Not too long ago, building a short wheelbase two-seat roadster with almost 400 hp would seem unthinkable because the car would be uncontrollable. Thanks to incredible engine and stability systems, the SLC is a wise choice for safety.
If the climate doesn’t allow for top-down motoring, Magic Sky Control is borrowed from SL. This electro chromatic glass in the hard top isn’t exactly magic, nor does it control the sky but it sounds better than dimmable roof panel.
The market for small luxury roadsters is heating up. Fiat’s new 124 and Buick’s Cascada might be viable contenders, so stay tuned to Autofluence for more big updates on small cars.
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(Source: Daimler-Benz)