2002 Mercedes SLK 32 AMG

Automotive Industries, Sept, 2001 by Phil Berg

The AMG division of Mercedes-Benz restates its proficiency as an engine hotrodder every time you depress the throttle of the SLK 32 AMG, the quickest roadster now in the Mercedes fleet

The car's new 3.2L V-6 makes 349 hp with the help of a helical screw supercharger. Mated to a Mercedes Speedshift 5-speed automatic transmission, the supercharged V-6 propels the roadster to 60 mph in about five seconds, more than two seconds quicker than the normally aspirated SLK320, whose engine makes 215 hp. And it weighs just 176 pounds more than the SLK320.

But the newfound power has a slight drawback: When you really push the little SLK on a challenging road, it feels like it's overpowering its chassis. Noise and vibrations and even extraneous shaking enter the cockpit through the pedals and the steering wheel All the while the hot-rod engine eggs you on to drive the roadster to its limits.

The Speedshift transmission features a shift gate that allows tap-up, tap-down shifting with a sideways tap of the shift lever -- which requires some practice. In automatic mode it will sense via accelerometers when to retain a low gear and when to downshift. Overall, it's a very easy system to learn, and the most sporting of 5-speed automatics I've tried.

Inside, the cockpit is trimmed luxuriously to the level expected of a $54,000 two-seater. Very subdued dark maple trim on the console and silver instrument displays differentiate the AMG roadster from the "mundane" SLKs.