By: Gregory Smyth
Post Date: 2011-08-21 Not surprisingly the model which pioneered the retractable steel hard roof - and inspired rivals such as the BMW Z4 to follow suit - has stayed true to itself yet also breaks into exciting new territory.
The spirit and adventure of the roadster was immortalised by Ridley Scott's Thelma and Louise (remember Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon with their dark glasses and long, flapping scarves?). Yet taking the plunge into the world of open air driving has never been for the faint-hearted.
Until 1996, that is. The release of the SLK Roadster brought the exhilaration of open-air motoring into the mainstream. Suddenly motorists (namely women with an eye on a convertible Hong Kong sports car) could enjoy the rush of a roadster with more than a canvas ragtop over their heads. Mercedes-Benz SLK had brought the world the steel vario-roof, a retractable hard roof design. In contrast to the soft cloth top of rival roadsters, it brought the protection of a coupe to the convertible. The innovation was a massive hit worldwide, and sales of the SLK reached 55,000 in the first year.
Other makers follow suit
The hard top design was so innovative it was always going to be a trend-setter. Perhaps the closest rival Hong Kong sports car, the BMW Z4, features a hardtop which folds in an impressive 20 seconds (comparable to the SLK). This fellow German roadster transforms into a stylish, sporty coupe with its roof closed, meaning there's no need to compromise on looks.
Mazda brought out a popular offering with its MX-5 Miata, which has been applauded for its dynamic handling. The Volkswagon Eos is a four-seat version which boasts a sun-roof as part of its retractable hard-top.
The third generation 2011 SLK Roadster has arrived at car dealerships in Hong Kong and offers new innovations that will again raise the bar against rivals such as the Porche Boxter and BMW Z4.
Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster
One of the most exciting sports cars in Hong Kong, the SLK Roadster has long been regarded as an icon of convertible motoring. It has teamed the excitement and open-air enjoyment of the roadster with the practicality and safety of a fixed hard roof at the touch of a button. It allowed Hong Kong luxury car enthusiasts to take the roadster beyond weekend joy rides and into the realm of everyday driving.
The third generation release on show at Hong Kong Mercedes-Benz dealerships features the new panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL, which switches from dark to light at the touch of a button.
Open or closed - the choices just keep coming
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster comes with a choice of vario-roof options. The base version is a painted roof the colour of the vehicle. The next is a panoramic vario-roof with dark-tinted windows. The third is a world premiere - panoramic vario roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL. This allows you to switch the tint from light to dark at the press of a button. The light option gives the allusion of an open-air drive, perfect for colder weather. When the sun heats up it's easy to switch to dark for some welcome shade.
The wind at your back
For those cold Hong Kong winter days there are some classic new Mercedes-Benz innovations to stop you freezing over. An optional AIRGUIDE draught stop made of transparent acrylic glass can be attached to roll-over bars, without obstructing rear vision.
Three models of the SLK are available on the Hong Kong auto market - the four-cyclinder SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY and SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY and the V6 SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY. The SLK 200 shows impressive fuel efficiency for a sporty model, consuming a frugal 6.1 litres over 100 kilometres (or 142 grams of carbon emissions per kilometres).
The drawbacks of the hardtop come in the extra weight (from the added machinery) and reduced boot space. While improvements in canvas roofs are making way for a new breed of soft tops (such as the Mercedes E-Class cabriolet), the hard top continues to attract a new breed of open-air drivers. The arrival of Mercedes SLK 2011 at car dealerships in Hong Kong is sure to make a few more converts.
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