2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC
Mercedes-Benz has refreshed and renamed
its SLK roadster to SLC, completing the German firm’s naming overhaul. Presented
ahead of a world premiere at next month’s 2016 Detroit Motor Show, the SLC
gains a subtly revised appearance, a tweaked folding hardtop, and new engines,
including an entry-level 1.6-liter turbo and a range topping turbocharged V6
for the AMG model.
This smallest roadster
model gets a nose job with an altered, diamond radiator grille, new bumper and
revised headlamps optionally available with Merc’s LED Intelligent Light
System. At the back, the facelifted model gains a re-profiled bumper with
integrated tailpipes and fresh graphics for the lights.
Inside, Mercedes added a new perforated
sports steering wheel, a revised instrument binnacle, an updated version of
their COMAND Online infotainment system with new features and a larger 4.1-inch
screen, plus fresh trims and leather appointments.
Revisions were made to the SLC’s
electrohydraulic roof that can now be opened or closed at speeds of up to
40 km/h while it also gains an automatic boot separator in conjunction
with the optional extra vario-roof or KEYLESS-GO.
One of the headline features of the
updated roadster is the new SLC 43 AMG performance flagship that replaces the
outgoing SLK 55 AMG’s naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 gasoline unit with a new
3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. Surprisingly, it loses 54 hp over the V8 at 362 hp, but gains 19 Nm of peak torque at 520 Nm on tap
from 2,000 all the way up to 4,200 rpm.
Whereas the SLK 55 AMG used a
seven-speed automatic, the SLC 43 AMG employs Merc’s latest nine-speed
9G-Tronic automatic with Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, Eco and Individual driving
modes. Still, it’s 0.1 seconds slower to the 100 km/h mark over the SLK
55 AMG at 4.7 seconds, while top speed is once again limited to 250 km/h.
On the other hand, fuel economy is improved by around 0.6 l/100 km over its
predecessor at 7.8 l/100km (30.2 mpg US or 36.2 mpg UK) combined on the
European cycle.
Besides the standard sports suspension,
the SLC 45 AMG can be had with the optional AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension
with adjustable damping. On the other end of the spectrum,
Mercedes is introducing a new entry-level model for certain markets, the SLC
180 fitted with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four gasoline mill rated at 154 hp) that can hit 100 km/h in 7.9 sec.
In Europe, the SLC’s range will also
include the SLC 200 with a 181 hp 2.0-liter turbo petrol, the SLC 300 with a 242 hp 2.0-liter turbo petrol and the SLC 250d with a 201 hp 2.0-liter diesel. The SLC 180 and SLC 200 are fitted with a 6-speed manual
transmission, while the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission is available for these
models as an option and fitted as standard in the SLC 250 d, SLC 300 and SLC
43.
North America will only get the SLC 300
with the 2.0L turbo four and the SLC 43 AMG with a twin-turbo V6, both
exclusively equipped with the 9sp auto. Sales will start in Spring of 2016.