But not Mercedes which decided to refresh our memory with a new set of photos of its two-seater hardtop roadster model that went on sale earlier this summer.
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You see, British designer Afzal Kahn took a Mercedes SLK 200 that had already been fitted with an extensive AMG sport package and then further honed by Brabus and added his own personal touch.
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[2000 Mercedes SLA Concept pictured above]According to a report from Australian website GoAuto, Mercedes intends to utilize the 2012 A-Class MFA platform to not only launch the CLC in four-door coupe and shooting brake variants, but also a new front-wheel drive small roadster.
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In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz is planning a full attack this year starting with the launch of the second-generation CLS sports saloon in June. Today, the Stuttgart-based premium carmaker released a list outlining the arrival dates and the changes for its 2012 model year cars and SUVs in the States. Follow the jump to check it out in detail.
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For the time being, the German automaker has announced pricing only for the 2012 SLK350 that will start at $54,800, not including a $875 destination and delivery charge, which raises the cost to $55,675. In comparison, the soon-to-be-replaced 300-horsepower 2011 SLK350 is priced at $54,145 (including transportation fee).
While we can only speculate on the unnamed concept model, it is very likely that the AMG production car is the SLS AMG Roadster as it was recently teased in the German firm’s SuperBowl commercial.
As for the North American motorshow debuts, these are new 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350, C-Class Coupe, and C-Class (the latter was shown at a special media event on the sidelines of the Detroit Show in January).
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The third-generation of the SLK keeps the two-piece folding hardtop of its predecessors but gets a fresh design with styling cues from both the SLS AMG and the new CLS. It also comes with as a new range of fuel-efficient engines, including a 1.8-liter force-fed four-cylinder with either 184HP or 204HP, and a 3.5-liter V6 delivering 306HP in Europe and 302HP in North America.
Other highlights include the addition of the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL, which switches to light or dark at the touch of a button, and the new COMAND system with 7-inch color display and central controller. Hit the jump for the complete gallery that also includes sketches and photos of the development prototypes like the one pictured above.
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The third generation of Merc's roadster comes with a two-piece foldable metal roof top and a choice of a force-fed 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine available in two states of tune, or a 3.5-liter V6 motor. In Europe, the 2012 SLK will be available for order starting from next week, while U.S. sales will begin this summer. Click here for more details or follow the jump to watch the videos.
Claimed to offer a 25% increase in fuel economy compared to the previous model, in Europe, the SLK will be available with three engines, all of them featuring direct injection and stop/start systems.
Filling in the base model's shoes is the SLK 200 BlueEfficiency variant, powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder powerplant, capable of 184 hp. Mated to a seven-speed 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission, the four-pot needs just 6.1 liters of gasoline per 100 km (38.6 US mpg) in the combined cycle. The SLK 200 sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7 seconds and has a top speed of 237 km/h (147 mph).
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Looking at the video, we can tell that, even though the new SLK's silhouette remains familiar, there are plenty of new details and a crisper styling for the body which brings to mind the larger SL model. Notable changes include the new CLS-inspired front grille and the air vents on the front fenders.
Driving with the top down is not always an option. There might be clear blue skies, but temperatures could be also very low. Other times the car's interior gets way too hot if it has a panoramic glass roof. Either way, your drive is ruined.
And this is where the Magic Sky Control system comes into the picture. A roughly 2,000 euro (US $2,772) option for the next generation SLK, the MSC is, in essence, a panoramic roof that can be made either transparent or darkened, just by pushing a button.
The increase of the V8 engine's displacement to 5.8-liters along with the addition of a compressor and a series of other measures including a new exhaust system and recalibrated ECU, just to mention a few, push output to 565 horsepower and 770Nm or 568 lb-ft. The extra kick in the pants allows the V58 SLK to top out at 310km/h or 193 mph.
*Article Updated With New Spy Photos
And while the excessive black cladding on the outside obstructs our view of the 2012 SLK's exterior styling, our man with the long lens managed to bag a few revealing pictures of the interior.Though not of the best quality, the images show that the new SLK's dashboard is clearly inspired from the SLS AMG.
It features a similar instrument cluster layout with two large gauges as well as an almost identical center console design boasting a pair of prominent air-vents with cruciform nozzles that are reminiscent of a jet's engines.
It very likely that the new SLK will grow in dimensions, thus improving passenger and luggage space.
Underneath the skin, Mercedes' new roadster model will make use of the C-class platform and suspension hardware, tuned of course to deliver more responsive handling characteristics.
The SLK's engine lineup will comprise of four-cylinder and V6 options at launch. As for the AMG version, there are all sorts of rumors circulating on the net, ranging from a twin-turbocharged V6 to a smaller displacement V8 turbo, but none have been confirmed.
Starting with the SL Night Edition, Merc's flagship hardtop roadster is finished in an exclusive designo magno night black paint and features 19-inch AMG five-spoke light-alloy wheels in a two-tone, high-gloss finish, silver-painted front brake callipers with the Mercedes-Benz logo and darkened headlamps/tail lights.
Inside, the SL's cabin is dressed in black nappa leather and shining chrome trim while the seats also have arrow-shaped seams and silver-colored contrasting features. Finally, the sports steering wheel, shift lever and roof lining are in black.
Moving onto the SLK Grand Edition, the compact roadster is distinguished on the outside by the designo graphite paint finish, 18-inch light-alloy wheels with five triple spokes, silver-coloured fins on the bonnet and darkened headlamps.
Interior highlights include the standard AIRSCARF system, the new seats that are upholstered in basalt grey nappy leather, with red stitching and arrow-shaped seams. Basalt grey nappa leather is also used for the door linings and is contrasted by the designo pearl leather armrests.
Depending on the engine variant, the additional cost for the special models is between 3700 and 5200 Euro for the SL Night Edition and between 2300 and 3500 Euro for the SLK Grand Edition.
In typical Mercedes-Benz style, the special paint finishes will cost you an additional 3640 Euro for designo magno night black and 1800 Euro for designo graphite.
