2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadsters Come to America

The SLK convertible is available in U.S. showrooms this month with a suggested retail price starting at $54,800

Arriving in the U.S. and hitting showrooms this month are the all new 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK roadsters. The new-generation 2012 SLK roadsters represent the third generation of the first sports car offering an automatic retractable hardtop. The new SLK boasts a wide SLS AMG-inspired front grille with a long hood as well as relatively wide doors and a short rear section. The SLK convertible is available in U.S. showrooms this month with a suggested retail price starting at $54,800 (excluding D&D).

MAGIC SKY CONTROL

The standard convertible roof panel is made of body-color polycarbonate, and an optional Panorama Roof features a see-through panel. Also optionally available is a MAGIC SKY CONTROL roof, in which the tinting of the panel can be changed by the occupants, using the same electrochromic technology as automatic dimming mirrors. Sandwiched between two layers of glass, a chemical film called a matrix polymer holds oblong nano particles that line up uniformly when electrical current is applied, allowing light to pass through. When the electrical current is turned off (via a button above the rearview mirror), the nano particles disperse randomly, reducing light and tinting the roof panel.

New Direct-Injection Engines

The 2012 SLK line debuts with the SLK350 model, powered by a new 3.5-liter V6 engine that features direct injection and multi-spark ignition. With even more power and better fuel economy than its predecessor, the new SLK engine generates 302 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque. Early next year the SLK250 will join the line-up featuring a new turbocharged 1.8- liter direct injection four-cylinder engine that produces 201 hp and 229 lb.-ft. of torque.

New Transmission

The 2012 SLK line features a new transmission with a more advanced torque converter lockup clutch that provides even better fuel mileage, more responsive driving, quieter operation and increased durability. The new transmission is also designed to work best with a new type of low-viscosity ATF transmission fluid – colored blue instead of the usual red. Together with new planetary gears, bearings and internal seals, the “FE-ATF” fluid provides less friction and improved fuel mileage.

ATTENTION ASSIST

The SLK comes standard with the innovative “ATTENTION ASSIST” system, which couples a steering movement sensor with intelligent software that can identify the erratic steering corrections drivers make as they begin to get drowsy. When the system senses drowsiness, a warning message appears in the instrument cluster, and the driver is also alerted by a display that says, “Time for a rest!” Sophisticated enough to disregard sporty driving, the system works between 50 and 100 mph. Elegant in its simplicity, ATTENTION ASSIST essentially adds new computer software to existing sensors.

The First Retractable Hardtop in Modern Times

Spearheading a trend that’s still changing the auto industry, the latest SLK is best known for its distinctive retractable hardtop. With the top up, it’s a quiet, weather-tight coupe – push a button, and about 20 seconds later, the car is topless. Thanks to its pivoting rear window, the folded roof of the SLK takes up relatively little trunk space. Like the retractable hardtop of the larger SL model, the rear window of the SLK pivots to match the curvature of the top as it’s being lowered.

AIRSCARF and AIRGUIDE

An optional AIRSCARF system can extend the open-air driving season into the cooler months. Built into the seatbacks of the SLK, the neck-level heating system blows warm air from the driver and passenger-seat head restraints, allowing occupants to cruise comfortably with the retractable hardtop open in cooler weather. AIRSCARF even compensates automatically for changes in vehicle speed.

A standard fabric air deflector mounts to the SLK roll bars, helping to reduce air buffeting. Going a step further, an optional AIRGUIDE wind deflector mounts to the back of the roll bars. Consisting of two Plexiglas panels, the wind deflectors can be adjusted independently by the driver and front passenger.

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG – Active and Passive Safety

Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG Active and passive safety is a unique combination of driver-assistance systems

The large-scale Mercedes coupé has always been synonymous with the ultimate in active and passive safety systems. A significant part of such systems is also made up of the unique combination of trend-setting camera and radar-based driver assistance systems. The latest innovations are called Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist, both of which are available as optional extras.

The combination of state-of-the-art assistance and protection systems turn the AMG CL-Class into an “intelligent” partner which is able to “see”, “feel”, to respond “instinctively” to detected dangers and to act “on its own initiative” in order to avoid accidents or to reduce the severity of accidents. The vehicle makes use of cameras which look far ahead, observe the conditions around the vehicle, and are able to interpret typical critical situations.

Like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the CL 63 AMG is now also available with the new Active Lane Keeping Assist. When the driver unintentionally drives over a solid line to the right or left of a lane or on the outside of a bend, the Active Lane Keeping Assist intervenes and prevents the vehicle from unintentionally leaving the lane. In such cases it applies the brakes to the wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle, using the sensor system of the Electronic Stability Program ESP®.

Similarly, when the new Active Blind Spot Assist system detects that changing lanes would be dangerous, it the driver by displaying a red warning in the glass of the relevant exterior mirror. If the driver ignores the warning signal and a vehicle in an adjacent lane comes too close, the ESP® takes corrective action by applying the brakes to the wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle.

Night View Assist Plus and Speed Limit Assist

The enhanced Night View Assist Plus with infrared camera (optional extra) is now equipped with special pedestrian detection: as soon as the system detects pedestrians on the road ahead, they are highlighted on the display to make them more readily noticeable for the driver. The images supplied by the windscreen camera are also used by the Speed Limit Assist, which is available as an optional extra. It recognises speed limit signs in passing and shows the relevant speed limit in the central display.

Adaptive Highbeam Assist is now also included as part of the standard equipment specifications. The camera-based system can detect vehicles with their lights on which are travelling towards or ahead of the car in which the system is fitted and controls the headlamps such as to ensure the largest possible range without dazzling other drivers.

Drowsiness detection on the basis of more than 70 parameters

Thanks to innovative technology the CL-Class has a very sensitive antenna for the attention level of its driver, and can warn him in time when he becomes drowsy.

The ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system, well-known from the S-Class, continuously monitors more than 70 different parameters. Once the evaluation

electronics recognise the steering behaviour pattern that typically indicates the onset of drowsiness on the basis of information from the highly sensitive steering angle sensor, a warning signal is sounded and “ATTENTION ASSIST. Break!” appears in the instrument cluster. ATTENTION ASSIST is fitted as standard.

“Electronic crumple zone” for maximum occupant protection

Mercedes-Benz has also improved the long and medium-range radar used by the optional Brake Assist BAS PLUS and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control. Mercedes-Benz also offers another radar-based system for the CL-Class in the form of PRE-SAFE® Brake. If the driver is distracted and fails to recognise the immediate danger of a rear-end collision, or the warning signals of an assistance system, this system can intervene and brake the vehicle independently. The CL-Class makes use of the latest development stage of this safety system: if the driver fails to react even after automatic partial braking action, the PRE-SAFE® Brake activates the maximum braking pressure around 0.6 seconds before what is now recognised as an unavoidable accident – an emergency braking action that can significantly mitigate the severity of the impact. The PRE-SAFE® Brake therefore acts as something like an “electronic crumple zone”.