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Apocalypse. You might believe it translates as hellfire and damnation bubbling up from the earth's core, a simultaneous explosion of volcanoes, earthquakes, disease and intense war; a world where Peter Andre has a number one hit record.
You'd be wrong. It is actually the end of the world as we know it; a disclosure of something previously hidden from mankind. And this SLK could be that apocalypse. It is the first ever diesel SLK, and it has some pretty big numbers to shout about.
See pics of the Mercedes SLK 250 CDI
First up, it gets Mercedes' 2.1-litre confusingly-titled ‘250 CDI' four-pot diesel engine, producing a healthy 204bhp. That's on par with BMW's confusingly-titled Z4 sDrive23i 2.5-litre petrol sixer. But where the BMW can only manage 184lb ft of torque, the mighty-Merc churns out a frankly incredible 368lb ft. Fans of mathematics will recognise that's twice as many torques as the Z4.
It sprints from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds with a standard 7G-TRONIC auto ‘box, covers 50mph to 75mph (80 to 120 km/h) in 4.3 seconds and tops out at 151mph. To give perspective, the 23i Z4 with an automatic gearbox does the 0-62mph sprint in 7.3 seconds, and while that drops to 6.6s with a manual shift, the Merc will get a six-speed manual in the second quarter of 2012.
You might be frothing into your keyboard shouting 'what about the Audi TT TDI?'. Well, friends, in coupe form that car produces 170bhp, 258lb ft and hits 62mph in 7.5 seconds (7.7 for the roadster). In the game of Internet Top Trumps, that loses to the Mercedes.
Top Gear drives the new Mercedes SLK
Mercedes claims 57mpg for the diesel SLK and 128g/km of CO2, along with the possibility "to drive from the North Sea to a beach on the Mediterranean non-stop", which is some distance indeed. Everything else - chassis, options, colours etc - are as before, and German prices start at £36,500, with UK prices to be confirmed shortly.
Would you buy a diesel SLK or could no amount of superior stats tempt you into the black stuff?
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
8thgear commented on this article
at 02:30 pm on 18 August 2011
Diesel a "sporty" convertible: you'll hear the sound! TT TDI: well they have it in coupe bodywork, makes it slightly easier to forget the engine sound. Although having driven a TTS: its far from soundproof, I'd not want a TT TDI either.
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beeblebrox commented on this article
at 03:19 pm on 18 August 2011
Yes! I love that diesels have that great low end torque, so it gives them their own sporting character in itself. Also, beacause of the torque, one could probably powerslide it quite easily.
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The_Stig_Farmer commented on this article
at 03:50 pm on 18 August 2011
Excellently torquey, good looking, clean and economical, and German, so it shouldn't break. I love this and I'd buy it tomorrow. It won't be remembered, though; the bonkers old AMG will be. Such a big engine in such a small car was always going to be a good recipe. Come to think of it, would anyone like to see a big diesel V8 in the SLK? I want to know if it just me...
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V12man commented on this article
at 03:57 pm on 18 August 2011
What a stupid idea, put a V12 in there instead of a stupid stupid diesel
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Enzo3185 commented on this article
at 04:00 pm on 18 August 2011
it finally looks good, and have enough power and many torques, so why not?? it's a cool car, with an extraordinary fuel economy, sounds very tempting, and @ThermitelsFun you're right, a diesel V8 touched by the gods of AMG sounds great!!
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