"Sex and the City"

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Don't worry...The Bell Curve is not turning into your latest source for movie reviews. It is just that Mercedes recently invited a group of us to check out the film, as its vehicles play a role in it. If you have seen the movie, you know that Samantha drives the all-new GLK SUV to her retail therapy session on Rodeo Drive. Mr. Big spends time in the back seat of his chauffeured S550 rather than in the library getting hitched to Carrie.

But the real "Sex and the City" experience for me started the next morning when Mercedes handed out keys to the updated 2008 SLK and SL roadsters. Pulling out onto the real Rodeo Drive with the incredible 518-horsepower SL63 AMG underfoot was truly living the golden and rare-air lifestyle.

The SL is a true Mercedes icon. Just as the Prius is the car most people picture when they hear the word "hybrid," or the color red comes to mind when Ferrari is mentioned, the SL is a main pillar of the Mercedes palace. And after plenty of seat time in the refreshed SL63 and SL550, I can assure you that Mercedes-Benz takes this vehicle very seriously and has turned it into an even more potent (and sexy) ride to fuel your Hollywood dreams.

2008 Mercedes-Benz SL and SLK Roadsters

But since this is IntelliChoice, there is a better chance that you might be in the market for the new SLK. After all, the motto of this site is "Chose Your Car Wisely," and if you have SL kind of money to spend, expected fuel costs or maintenance scoring is probably not your first consideration. The SLK, however, is the roadster for the rest of us, and a fine little steed it is indeed. The first generation SLK picked up a reputation as being a bit soft vs. the competition (think Boxster, Z4, 350Z, etc.). But this new version does much to tighten its reputation as well as your smile when you can work it on a winding road.

To be competitive in these interesting times, Mercedes needed to improve the SLK's dynamic capabilities while also enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. The SLK350's engine pumps out 300 horsepower vs. 268 in 2007, and torque jumps from 258 to 265 foot-pounds. Zero-to-60 time has been cut by two-tenths of a second (to 5.3 seconds) yet with improved efficiency and reduced emissions.

Style has also been enhanced, but rather than follow the SL into the familiar new face of Mercedes territory with squared-off headlamps and a larger and more vertical grille, the SLK screams "Formula One" with a nose that echoes Lewis Hamilton's MP4-23 race car. This is a car that looks like it wants to be driven hard, and at last backs up the attitude with direct steering, powerful brakes, and a barking exhaust note that will be familiar to drivers of much more powerful and respected sports cars. And with Mercedes' renewed effort on the technology and reliability fronts, this just might be the perfect car to celebrate the "fabulous" life during the summer of 2008.

Posted on 2008-06-17 | Permalink | |

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