Renamed 20 years after its launch, the Mercedes SLC convertible is set to replace the SLK and is available to order now, with prices from £30,495.
Four engines will be available, including a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol with either 181bhp in the SLC 200 or 242bhp in the SLC 300. The former comes with a manual six-speed gearbox as standard, or the optional 9G-TRONIC automatic, while the latter gets the auto as standard. Emissions range from 137g/km to 150g/km of CO2.
Also destined to be popular in the UK, is the 2.1-litre diesel in the SLC 250 d, with 201bhp and CO2 emissions of just 114g/km.
You can distinguish Sport models by their 17-inch alloy wheels, while AMG Line models come fitted with 18-inch AMG multi-spoke items. New options for the SLC include LED cornering lights, which can also switch between low and high-beam automatically, for £1,150. Keyless entry and starting is a £765 option.
AMG SLC 43 gets 362bhp
If it’s Boxster-beating performance you’re after, then the AMG SLC 43 gets 362bhp, courtesy of a 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine, catapulting it from rest to 62mph in around 4.7 seconds. Despite this acceleration, and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph, it emits 179g/km of CO2, around 20g/km less than the V8 found in the SLK 55 AMG. It’s a good deal cheaper too, coming in at £46,355, rather than the eye-watering £55k of the previous 55 AMG range-topper.
The SLC 43 also comes loaded to the gunwales with an AMG leather sports steering wheel, neck-level heating, LED headlamps, Garmin sat-nav and AMG chassis upgrades, including sports suspension, high-performance brakes with red calipers and a sports exhaust.