Classics Of The Future

Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 Kompressor, 1996

 

SLK 230 Kompressor For Mercedes-Benz, the SLK roadster was a radical departure. It was, at the time, the shortest car the company had made, and it was built around a supercharged 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine, with drive to the rear wheels. Automatic transmission was popular, but the car’s main feature was its Vario roof, an electronic two-piece hardtop that folded into the boot, yet left a useful amount of luggage space.

Origin	Germany
Engine	2,295 cc, straight-four
Top speed	145 mph (233 km/h)

The 1990s saw renewed interest in two-seater sports cars, and Mercedes countered BMW’s Z3 with this luxury model. A 3.2-liter AMG model followed.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, 2003

 

SLR McLaren The SLR was conceived and styled by Mercedes-Benz as a powerful touring sports car before being handed over to McLaren Automotive to engineer, develop, and manufacture; unlike other high-performance Mercedes-Benz cars, it was built in the UK. The SLR was prodigiously fast: 208-mph (335-km/h) was said to be possible. A technological tour de force, with 2,252 examples produced up to 2009, the SLR proved to be an outstandingly lucrative supercar.

Origin	UK/Germany
Engine	5,439 cc, V8
Top speed	203 mph (326 km/h)

With 617 bhp, this was one of the most powerful production cars ever. The “butterfly” doors were an homage to the gullwing doors of the 1950s’ 300SL.

 

It is a quote. The Classic Car Book – The Definitive Visual History 2016