Mercedes SLC replaces SLK: New name heralds new era for German sports car

The revised model will go on sale in the UK in the spring

The just-launched SLC marks a new era for Mercedes-Benz’ two-seater roadster, as it drops the old SLK name as well as introduces facelifted styling inside and out, plus a freshened-up engine range.

The revised model will go on sale in the UK in the spring, and boasts a new family face with a tweaked grille, lights and bumper. In the cabin there is a bigger four-inch multimedia screen and numerous detail changes, while the folding roof now operates at up to 25mph.

British-market SLCs come with several petrol engines and one diesel. The SLC200 and SLC300 share the same 2.0-litre powerplant, with 181bhp and 221lb ft or 242bhp and 273lb ft respectively. These units are teamed with a six-speed manual transmission, unlike the multi-mode 9G-Tronic auto fitted as standard to the rest of the range.

This box helps boost efficiency in the 201bhp/369lb ft SLC250d diesel. It now returns 64.2mpg and 114g/km of CO2 emissions, an improvement over the engine’s previous incarnation in the SLK250 CDI.


 UK specifications and prices will be released at the end of January.

Meanwhile, the range-topping SLC43 replaces the old 5.5-litre V8 with a less powerful 3.0-litre V6, but still manages the 0-62mph sprint in 4.7 seconds – only 0.1 second slower than before. And while torque is marginally down, dual turbos ensure the muscle is available from a lowly 2000rpm. The main benefit of downsizing and twin-charging is efficiency improvements to 36.2mpg and 178g/km.

UK specifications and prices will be released at the end of January.