Mercedes SLK 55 AMG price revealed

For £54,950 OTR, the exceedingly lovely new Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG can be yours. Stop and pause for a moment to look at the pictures and admire the divine proportions, the long bonnet and short tail, that have become a staple part of every Merc with the SL name. It's the most powerful SLK yet to roll out of Stuttgart with a 421bhp, 5.5-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine. It hits 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. There's also 396lb-ft of torque on offer.

It may be created by the performance car part of the Merc business but for a car that is designed to thrill, it's relatively clean. Of course, we're not talking Prius-like saintliness here but the AMG Cylinder Management System has lowered emissions by 30% to 195g/km, combined fuel economy is now at 33.6mpg and there's a stop-start function too. This means no emissions when you're stationary in traffic.

Speaking of thrills, the seven-speed automatic transmission drives the rear wheels - but it also gives you the option of changing gears yourself. Thank goodness for that. There are also three modes to choose from, depending on what you're getting up to on the road. C is for Controlled Efficiency, S is for Sport and M is for Manual. The sports suspension adds to the fun with Torque Vectoring Brake and the AMG Direct-Steer system. This makes it agile on bends while maintaining grip - and keeping it comfortable for the passengers. It's fun minus the lumbago...

If you want to spend an extra £4,105, there's the option of the AMG Performance Package with revised suspension and brakes with a rear diff lock, or the AMG Driver's Package at £2,755 which raises the top speed and includes attendance at an AMG Power and Passion driver event.

But if that's out of the price range, the standard specs are pretty classy - AMG body styling with exclusive front and rear aprons and side skirts, high-performance internally ventilated and perforated disc brakes, sports suspension, Nappa leather upholstery, 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Light System, multi-media system, DAB digital radio and advanced safety features include PRE-SAFE, NECK-PRO, ATTENTION ASSIST and HEADLAMP ASSIST (they like their capital letters in Stuttgart).

www.mercedes-benz.co.uk














By Georgia Lewis

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