Mercedes has mildly tweaked the SLK range for the 2015 model year, with fresh engines and greener credentials, plus some extra tech.
Exterior
Not much has changed outside, apart from new LED daytime running lamps in a rod-shaped design, and an LTE-capable aerial with optional convenience telephony, which boasts higher transfer rates of data. There are also two new paint finishes available that Mercedes says add a 'breath of fresh summer air to the colour range'... but both are greys, which isn't very summery at all. Choose from Selenite Grey metallic or designo Cerussite Grey magno. The SLK still boasts the Magic Sky Control glass roof in the folding hard-top, which can be lightened or darkened at the touch of a button.
Interior
A few driving assistance technologies are loaded into the 2015MY car, such as Distronic Plus active cruise control with Collision Prevention Assist Plus. This latter system features automatic proximity control, a collision warning function including Adaptive Brake Assist and initiation of autonomous partial braking if the driver fails to react. Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist are now options, alongside the usual raft of software like Comand Online, Attention Assist and more. The SLK still has 335 litres of boot space, which makes it reasonably practical for a two-seat roadster.
Mechanicals
There are three petrol engines and one diesel comprising five models in the updated SLK line-up, with one badge changed - the more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol model becomes the SLK 300, where previously it was known as the 250, and it gets another 41hp and 60Nm for headline figures of 245hp/370Nm. That means 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds, 134g/km CO2 and fuel economy of 5.8 litres/100km (48.7mpg). The entry-level 2.0 turbo, the SLK 200, sees an increase of 30Nm torque to 300Nm overall, while power remains rated at 184hp; CO2 is 133g/km and economy 49.6mpg (5.7 litres/100km), with 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds. These improvements are achieved courtesy of Merc's third-generation direct injection and multi-spark ignition.
The 2.1-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel model continues for the SLK 250 d, but it too has some changes that see fuel economy improve by 0.4 litres/100km to a combined 64.2mpg (4.4 litres/100km) with CO2 dropping to 114g/km. Power and torque remain at 204hp and 500Nm, meaning 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds. The 3.5-litre V6 SLK 350 (306hp, 370Nm, 0-100 km/h 5.6 seconds, 36.2mpg or 7.2 litres/100 km and 167g/km) and monster 5.5-litre V8 SLK 55 AMG (421hp, 540Nm, 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds, 33.6mpg or 8.4 litres/100km and 195g/km) are unchanged.
The four-cylinder cars benefit from updated transmissions, with the SLK 200 receiving a six-speed manual as standard while the 300 and 250 d models get the nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox (which is an option on the SLK 200). All SLKs feature Eco Start/Stop and are EU6-compliant. Optional Dynamic Handling suspension, with adaptive damping, Direct-Steer system, ESP Dynamic Cornering Assist and a 10mm lower set-up, features in the 2015MY SLK.
Anything else?
Although there's no confirmation on prices for Ireland, in its native Germany the new SLK is slightly more expensive than the outgoing 2014MY car, so expect those increases to transfer to other markets.