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2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Preview
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| Page 4: Interior |
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Optional bi-xenon headlights can track around corners to provide better illumination, and the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK can be equipped with a navigation system and 380-watt surround sound with eleven speakers. An available Thermatronic automatic climate control system includes solar and pollution sensors. Inside the new 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK, silver-colored interior switchgear contrasts nicely with the black instrument panel, and buyers have no less than six interior leather colors from which to choose (four on the SLK 55 AMG). Outside, the SLK's long hood, short deck and wedge profile provide immediate resemblance to its forebear in terms of proportion, but the styling details are all new. The tapered front takes cues from both the SL-Class and the SLR McLaren, while the rounded rump resembles an Audi TT from certain angles. Softly bulging wheel wells and the emerging Mercedes curved-arc beltline help the SLK to look muscular and quick. To our eyes, it's more appealing that the somewhat disjointed BMW Z4 but still not as taut and lean as the Honda S2000. Today's Mercedes-Benz SLK was never taken seriously as a sports car, even in supercharged AMG format. Perhaps this new Benz roadster, with its stout V6 and V8 engines, revised hardware and sleeker look, will provide the goods to go head-to-head with the BMW Z4, Honda S2000 and Porsche Boxster.
Photos courtesy of DaimlerChrysler
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About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
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