The pictures are already there, the first seating samples of the established media will then be given at the motor show in Detroit. When the holidays are barely out of sight, the automotive world is back to America and meets during NAIAS at the start of the new auto year. Mercedes-Benz will not only unveil the new E-Class there, the small Roadster SLK will also be given a facelift. And by the way, the name is also adapted. SLK becomes SLC. But why actually?
Mercedes-Benz SLC? Yes. But?
In this SUV year, the Daimler people have almost everything SUV range turned upside down, new models presented, Facelifts made and by the way revised the names of the individual SUV models once. While logic could be seen in the SUV segment, the GLK became the GLC because the SUV falls into the order of magnitude of the C-Class, the GL became the GLS because it represents the S-SUV variant and the GLA is the compact SUV suitable for the A-Class. Only the G model remained the G model and continues to lend all SUV comrades not only the habit of indestructibility, but also the G for the name. But why does the SLK now become the SLC?
SLC = A C-Class Roadster?
Despite all the love for “PR-speak”, it is difficult to understand the baptism for the SLK. The C-Class will get its very own convertible, just like the S-Class got a convertible. The Roadster SL ranks above this. Just SL and not SLS – as you might think. Because it could be the roadster in the S-Class price segment.
The SLC will not be the sportiest open variant either. As far as I can lean out of the window, there will be an AMG GT without a roof.
That changes with the SLC
Mercedes-Benz donated the nine-speed automatic to the roadster, canceled the eight-cylinder engines and, above all, put four-cylinder turbos under the hood of the roadster. Instead of the SLK 55, the SLC 43 is the sporty crowning glory. The 421 PS first become 367 PS. You can't understand that, any more than the naming. SLC 43? There is an A45 AMG with 380 PS. But a two-liter four-cylinder is tried, at least that currently the most powerful series engine (based on liter output) in automotive engineering. However, the SLC 43 gets the 3.0 liter V6 Bi-Turbo, as you know it from the C400, for example. The basic petrol engine SLC 180 with 1.6 liter four-cylinder, an SLC 200 and SLC 300, each with the 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbo and as a diesel, an SLC 250d also join 204 PS from the self-igniting all-purpose weapon of the Daimler group.
For this purpose, the interior is carefully revised and, as with the SL, the SLC also dispenses with the large multimedia display and instead takes the extra route of the integrated, but only 7 inch-sized display.
The roadster will start selling in January and is expected to start at just under € 40.000.
But why now SLC?
I have no idea. It doesn't make sense to me. The C-Class Cabriolet does its laps, the SL-C cannot be a roadster for the C-Class either, because then the SL with its latest facelift should have become the SL-S. It doesn't really make sense, this name-lifting. Or is it, Daimler? Tell me!