The SLK imitates the Mercedes McLaren SLR road car, which is hand-built in conjunction with the McLaren Formula 1 team and sells for $700,000. The resemblance is even more pronounced on SLKs with the AMG sport package, with its more aggressive air dams and side sills. The wedge-shaped SLK sports a long, sloping hood and a short rear deck with wide doors in between. If the 2006 model is more macho than the first-generation SLK, it's also more cluttered, and a tad schizophrenic, as if two different designers did the front and back. Its face is busy, so there's almost too much to look at, while the back end is clean and sleek.
The design overhaul was not entirely cosmetic, however. The SLK introduced a new generation of high-tech Mercedes paint, which was developed to be more scratch-resistant than conventional paint. The 2006 is larger than the first-generation SLK and the larger dimensions allow for a roomier cabin, albeit still cozy. Trunk capacity increased to 6.6 cubic feet.
The SLK features a retractable roof that folds in 22 seconds. The original design of this roof dazzled crowds when it was first shown at the 1994 Turin auto show, and the current top still draws spectators when operated.
