The Hindu Business Line : A coupe and a roadster

The bevy of imported beauties on offer from Mercedes-Benz does not end with the M-Class. And while there may be more to come from parent company DaimlerChrysler's vast product portfolio, the other two that are currently being made available for Indian buyers are the CLS-Class four-door coupe and the SLK-Class roadster.

CLS-Class coupe

The CLS-Class four-door coupe has been a great success in the international market and stands out from the rest in the saloon market due to its unique design synthesis.

The precursor to the new CLS-Class was a coupé study, which Mercedes-Benz presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in autumn 2003. The enthusiastic public response to this four-door coupé encouraged the management in Stuttgart to give the green light for series production in end-2004.

This trend-setter combines the elegance and dynamism of a coupe with the comfort and practicality of a saloon. While the design lines exude the emotionally charged character of a coupe, spaciousness, luggage capacity and practicality are the hallmarks of a saloon.

The CLS-Class's engine range includes two powerful petrol units. In the CLS 350, a newly developed V6 is offered with a peak output of 200 Kw/272 bhp and in the CLS 500 a muscular eight-cylinder unit generates 225 Kw/306 bhp of power. Both engines are partnered by the new seven-speed automatic transmission, 7G-TRONIC, as standard. In the top-of-the-line CLS 500 model features such as `Airmatic' DC air suspension and Thermotronic four-zone climate control provide S-Class levels of comfort.

SLK-Class

THE SLK-CLASS roadster

Mercedes-Benz's most successful sports car — the SLK-Class roadster — is now even more powerful and sportier. The second generation of this Mercedes two-seater compact boasts of an alluring, exquisite overall design, several details of which take their cue from Formula 1.

In the SLK-Class, the further developed vario-roof, which transforms the roadster into a coupé in just 22 seconds, is joined on the list of standard equipment by head and thorax sidebags, adaptive front airbags and two-stage seatbelt force limiters.

The car's chassis, steering and manual transmission have been given an even sportier edge. Plus, Mercedes-Benz is presenting a world first — an innovative `Airscarf' neck-level heating system. At the touch of a button `Airscarf' generates warm air, which flows out from the head restraints. This allows the SLK passengers to keep the roof down even when outside temperatures drop below comfortable levels and enjoy the open-top roadster experience the whole year round, irrespective of the weather condition.

Three different engine variants are available for the new SLK-Class, developing peak power from about 120 kW or 163 bhp to 265 kW or 360 bhp. The range includes — for the first time in this vehicle class — an eight-cylinder power unit from Mercedes-AMG.

The V6 engine in the SLK 350, meanwhile, develops 200 kW or 272 bhp and delivers a dynamic driving experience for sports car lovers. The 120 kW/ 163-hp engine under the bonnet of the SLK 200 Kompressor is also being offered for the first time in this model of the Mercedes family.