Mercedes-Benz Unveils Prices For Its Summer Stars
Published: 27th May 2003
| Model | On The Road Price
(£) |
| CLK 200 KOMPRESSOR | 31,245.00 |
| CLK 240 | 33,225.00 |
| CLK 320 | 38,705.00 |
| CLK 500 | 47,285.00 |
| CLK 55 AMG | 61,445.00 |
The new range costs an average of just 5.9 per cent more than the outgoing models, yet feature more standard equipment than before and two engines - the CLK 200 KOMPRESSOR and CLK 500 - that are new to the range. As with the CLK-Class Coupé stablemate, two trim levels - Elegance and Avantgarde - are available at the same price.
Standard UK specification includes the revolutionary head-thorax side impact airbags that made their world premiere in the SL-Class Roadster in 2001; rollover sensors with strengthened pop-up rear head rests; the handy "belt butler" from the Coupé, and a fully automatic soft top featuring remote control operation.
Comprising eight layers of material and some 830 components, the fabric roof opens or closes automatically at the touch of a button, in around 20 seconds. A larger rear windscreen and smaller C-pillar than before improve all-round visibility. The roof structure has even been designed to act as a Faraday cage, meaning the car can withstand lightning strikes with the passengers in safety.
SL 600 Roadster
Luxurious and refined, with incredible performance, the new SL 600 Roadster is a technological tour de force featuring some of the most advanced road car technology in the world.
Coupling the style and grace of the rest of the SL-Class Roadster range, the new model - available from the beginning of June - is powered by the same 5.5-litre, 500 hp bi-turbo V12 engine that's already fitted to the S-Class Saloon and CL-Class Coupé. Maximum torque is 800 Nm, available from 1800 - 3600 rpm.
With so much energy in reserve, the car's performance figures are clearly going to be impressive. Acceleration from 0-62.5 mph takes just 4.7 seconds, while the time taken to travel from 37 - 75 mph is just 4.9 seconds. However, epic performance doesn't mean epic fuel consumption. The bi-turbo engine is remarkably frugal for such a powerful car, returning 19.6 mpg on the combined cycle.
