Mercs little fire starter SLK55 AMG

The first feature to catch the eye is an upright radiator grille that stands proud and confident in the wind. It facilitates the long and well-proportioned bonnet and with its rearward light-catching contours it already hints at the roadster’s dynamic qualities. The wide radiator grille bears the Mercedes-Benz star in a prominent central position and displays a powerfully contoured fin, chromed at the front.

The clearly defined headlamps complete the look for the SLK’s face, which resembles that of the legendary 190 SL from the 1950s. The new SLK emphasises its classic roadster proportions and puts them in the spotlight to thrilling effect. Behind the long bonnet is a compact passenger compartment positioned far back, and a short tail end. The SLK has never looked so good before, it has adopted much more masculine attributes which have clearly steered it far away of the ‘hairdresser’s’ car cliché.

With the most compact dimensions in its class, the new SLK has an interior whose generous size is exemplary. The interior is characterised by sporty refinement, well-thought-out ergonomics and high-quality, authentic materials. Four rounded, galvanised air outlets integrated in the dashboard emphasise that this model well and truly belongs to the Mercedes-Benz sports car family, their shape being derived from those in the SLS.

So the SLK has the aggressive looks that you would expect from an AMG Mercedes-Benz but what about the driving experience, is that AMG like as well?

Yes, it most definitely is. AMG Mercs are known for being loud, fast and being somewhat of a handful and the SLK55 AMG ain’t no different. Jump on the loud peddle with the traction control off and you end up with an AMG smoke machine. You can smoke the rear tyres in your sleep with the SLK55. Once it catches traction it leaps forward, pushing you back into the seat. Change up a gear and a loud bang comes from its quad tail pipes. It’s all very theatrical and I love it. The experience is enhanced with the roof down of course. Show the SLK55 some corners and the fun really starts. Its great on the open, long and flowing stuff but the when it comes to tight and twisty corners you better know your stuff because that little Kardashian butt likes to slide out. Its desire for this sideways action is thanks to a 5.4l V8 producing 310kW and over 500Nm of torque. Its short, compact body and the fact that you just about sit on the rear wheels means that this is not just a roadster, it’s a full on Hot Rod, German style.

Sure, the boot is small and when you fill it with the roof it becomes even smaller, but I don’t care, and neither should you. This is not a practical car, it’s a fun little rocket designed to put a smile on your face, and that it most definitely does. It also cares about the environment (sometimes) thanks to its cylinder shut-off function which turns off 4 of the 8 cylinders to help improve fuel economy. I managed an impressive 8.2l/100km on the highway.

If I had to look for issues I would complain about the gearbox. It’s not nearly as quick on up and down changes like that on other AMG models and it is rather expensive. I mean, you could get this or the new Jaguar F-Type which, in my opinion wins the beauty contest hands down. The other problem with the SLK55 AMG is that it wouldn’t be the SLK that I would go for. After driving the SLK250 I fell in love with it. Sure it’s not as loud and brutal as the AMG but it is one seriously accomplished roadster that offers a fantastic driving experience as well as great fuel economy.

However, at the end of it all, the SLK 55 AMG is just solidly fun to drive, it’s a maniac on wheels. It constantly put a smile on my face and I reckon that’s a key attribute for people in the market for a tiny, fast, and somewhat eco-friendly roadster with almost no luggage space that will probably set them back as near as makes no difference a million bucks.