Mercedes to launch 2012 SLK 55 AMG With 416bhp

Mercedes will launch the AMG version of the SLK roadster at the Frankfurt motor show in September, packing a 5.5 litre V8 with 416bhp.

The engine is the new AMG developed unit found in the larger CLS AMG, but in this application without the turbochargers.  Even so, 416bhp is a 45bhp improvement over the SLK AMG it replaces.

As impressive is a claimed 30 per cent improvement in fuel consumption, with 33.6mph being mentioned for the combined cycle.  Emissions for the new car are meant to be 199g/km.

These stats are made possible through stop/start technology and the use of some other trickery learnt from Mercedes efforts in Formula 1 — one of the two banks of the V8 engine shuts down when not needed, turning the engine into a fuel sipping four cylinder.  As soon as the drivers nails the gas (actually, strays above 3600rpm), the other bank of four cylinders kicks into life again, restoring the V8 performance in just 30 milliseconds.

The previous SLK AMG cost about £54,000 in the UK when sales stopped earlier this year when the new ‘R172′ model replaced the SLK.  To date, the most powerful of the new SLKs has been the SLK350 with 306bhp, priced at £44,255.

For more spy shots of the SLK 55 AMG click here.

Other readers also found these posts interesting: