Mercedes finally puts some power into this little roadster. New for 2001 is the SLK 320, which comes with a powerful V-6 engine. This V-6 is so smooth in acceleration, as well it has ample power propelling this car from 0-60 in 6.6 seconds.

Some New Upgrades for this Sleek Roadster for 2001: These upgrades to the car are accompanied by some subtle exterior and interior changes. The bumpers and front fascia have been restyled, and sill extensions have been added to the rocker panels for a more aggressive look. All body trim as well as the outside rearview mirrors are now body-colored, giving the car a much cleaner appearance. The mirrors are also equipped with turn-signal repeaters on the leading edge. The rear sports a new bumper cover, clear glass strips across the taillights for the turn signals and backup lights, and the trunk release is now hidden at the top edge of the license-plate frame. A single, chrome-tipped exhaust pipe completes the new look.

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A Major difference over the 2.3 Liter Kompressor powerplant: The V-6 engine produces 215 bhp at 5700 rpm and 229 lb.-ft. of torque at 3000 rpm. Mercedes says the new engine enables the SLK to accelerate from 0Ð60 mph in 6.6 seconds. Meanwhile, the 4-cylinder supercharged 2.3-liter engine found on the SLK 230 has been upgraded to 190 bhp at 5500 rpm (an increase of 5 bhp) and 200 lb.-ft. of torque at 2500 rpm. Power is put to the rear wheels through a new close-ratio 6-speed manual. Top gear is a relatively modest overdrive of 0.84. As a result, even in top gear the SLK retains some liveliness. A 5-speed automatic with TouchShift sequential shifting is optional.

This car looks as good with it's top up or down: The SLK 320 is fun and yet at the same time practical. The retractable hardtop and stiff body structure enable this car to be a true four-season daily driver, especially with ESP. The addition of V-6 power enhances the SLK's reputation as a great 2-seat GT. As for taking on the road-ripping 2-seaters in this class, we have seen the new AMG version, this version is awesome with its trim package and oversize wheel package. This upgrade does include a muscular-looking body kit and thick 17-inch treads mounted to AMG Monoblock wheels. All SLK 320s come standard with new 17-inch, five-spoke wheels, a unique air dam, metal plate door sills, power seats, a telescoping steering column and a wood and leather trimmed interior.

Multiple Changes on this model for 2001: The Mercedes-Benz SLK has undergone a major makeover for the 2001 model year. Mercedes has redesigned the exterior, completely redesigned the interior, and for the first time, is offering a wider choice of engines and transmissions.A much more aggressive front spoiler and grille design and a smoothed-out profile makes the car look much, much lower to the ground than the original design did. At the same time, a heftier-looking rear bumper and taillamp combination give the car a more substantial look. Handles, moldings and mirrors are all painted the same color as the body for a more unified look. Large turn signal repeater lamps built into the rearview mirror housings let other drivers know of your intentions. Under the sexy new skin, the frame has been thickened and reinforced to provide even higher levels of offset frontal crash protection. A larger fuel tank extends the SLK's range.

Some inside features to note: The original SLK interior used a combination of deliberately retro instrument faces, black on white, with a modern carbon fiber dashboard and console covering. That design has been abandoned in favor of standard machined aluminum interior trim for the SLK 230 with a beefy new steering wheel design and a new floor shifter design. The SLK 230 offers the option of much warmer, much cozier wood trim in either brown eucalyptus or black bird's-eye maple finishes.

The wood trim is standard on the more expensive SLK 320, along with its own special leather-and-wood steering wheel design. Power seats and the telescoping steering wheel are standard equipment on the SLK 320, along with special aluminum step plates on the doorsills emblazoned with V-6 emblems. Mercedes redesigned the seats to offer more comfort to more customers. They provide more lateral support to keep you in place in fast cornering. They also look different than the old seats. The SLK 320 comes standard with electric adjusters that provide a greater range of adjustment than manual ones. From our view, we found the seats much more comfortable than the old ones. The seats have electronic systems that can tell when there is a passenger present, and can tell when a child seat has been installed, automatically disabling the right-side air bag system.

Our Final Thought for you: The new Mercedes-Benz SLK 320 fits comfortably in the new world of German roadsters. It doesn't accelerate as quickly nor does it have the top-end speed of the Porsche Boxster, but the SLK is more comfortable and less expensive. It costs more than the new Audi TT roadster, but it's far prettier and performs better. It has a weatherproof automatic steel top, where the Porsche and the BMW offer optional metal tops that you have to store in the garage. This new Mercedes is a much-improved roadster, whether you're looking at the SLK 230 Kompressor or the sporty SLK 320 V-6. It's better looking, more fun to drive, safer and substantially better equipped than last year's single-model lineup. JH/AutoNetDirect.com

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