Just as the 2016 Mercedes SLC is about to hit dealerships worldwide, the German automaker took the time to remember how it all began for their smallest yet very stylish roadster.
It began in April of 1996 when the first generation SLK was launched at the 66th Turin Motor Show. Categorized as a compact two-seater sports car, the SLK caused quite a stir – since it was also the first time Mercedes were offering something similar to the SL, yet positioned below it.
The SLK stood out thanks to its folding sheet-metal roof, which combined the advantages of a hard top with the flexibility of a typical fabric top.
However, before the SLK even saw the outside of a factory, Mercedes tested the waters with two concept vehicles, one of which even made it to the Paris Motor Show in October 1994 and got a very positive reception.
To date, SLK sales across all three generations have surpassed 670,000 units, with the first-generation model accounting for over 311,000 units alone. Of course, female customers showed a particular predilection for the smallest of Benz roadsters and it’s easy to see why. The SLK’s vario roof offered more safety than traditional fabric tops, while the car performed admirably during all relevant crash tests.
Mercedes’ AMG division also made their presence felt with the SLK 32 AMG initially, followed by the SLK 55 AMG when the second generation model popped up. Speaking of which, the R 171 (second-gen SLK) really stood out aesthetically, because it was linked visually with the SLR supercar and the McLaren-Mercedes F1 cars.
As for the third generation model (R 172), it was launched in 2010 and became the first ever SLK available with a diesel engine (250 CDI). Of course, now the SLK goes by the name SLC, though just like the versions that came before it, it will be built at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Bremen, alongside its larger sibling the SL.
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