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Retractable hardtop convertible adds safety and technology
Mercedes-Benz continues to revitalize, and rename, its product line, with the transformation of the SLK retractable hardtop into the SLC. By adopting the classic SLC moniker, the brand is recognizing the roadster's C-Class pedigree while aiming to better align the models in its range. Some may recall that the SLC was a 2+2 coupe version of the SL from the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Of course, the SLC variants still feature the SLK's pioneering "vario-roof," a mechanical feat that defined the roadster as one the first retractable hardtop convertible sports coupes sold. The top can now deploy or retract at speeds up to 25 mph. The SLC also offers the Magic Sky Control option from the SLK, which adjusts the opacity of the retractable glass roof to control the amount of sunlight allowed through.
The SLC300 has a 241-hp, turbo four-cylinder engine shared with the C300 sedan. Mercedes-Benz claims 0-60 mph sprints in 5.8 seconds.
The souped-up Mercedes-AMG SLC43 boasts a 362-hp, 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine that promises 0-60 mph times of 4.6 seconds. Both models use a nine-speed automatic transmission. The SLK had lost its manual transmission after the 2015 model year.
The cockpit freshening features updated instrument clusters, including the 7-inch screen seen in the C-Class sedan, and extended infotainment features. Forward-collision warning with auto braking is standard, with blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assist being optional. For top-down motoring in chilly temperatures, the new car continues to offer the Airscarf--vents built into the head restraints that blow warm air.
