'98 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230

If Michelangelo were alive today-instead of having the gall to die in 1564-he'd probably be too old to fully enjoy the new Mercedes-Benz SLK 230. Nevertheless, with his love of design, architecture, and sculpting, he would be touched by the blissful yet stunning manner in which this roadster is constructed. It's therefore entirely appropriate that Mercedes-Benz invited Motor Trend to Florence, Italy, for the first drive of its all-new '98 sports car. After all, Florence is where Michelangelo's "David" is on display.

Mercedes has changed its formerly stodgy image in record time. Gone are the days of dreary earth-tone color palettes and radios that play nothing but Wagner symphonies. Today's M-B buyer wants visual energy to go with the vaunted engineering, and the company's most recent response is this supercharged two-seater-a retractable-hardtop tour de force that boasts more style than the Armani spring lineup.

By early 1997, when the SLK debuts, roadster mavens will have a tough time deciding where to spend their $40,000. Among the European triumvirate that consists of BMW's Z3, Porsche's Boxster, and the SLK, the Mercedes offering is a terrific medium between ultraprofile and ultraperformance. Think of it as a downsized SL500 and you'll get the idea.

It's obvious that the rear-drive SLK is styled to resemble its big brother, but don't let the photos fool you. M-B's latest creation is a whopping 19.8 inches shorter in length than its flagship two-seater and weighs over 1200 pounds less. But, in a master stroke of mechanized alchemy, this adds up to a new type of car that feels at least as roomy inside as the pricey SL-Series, yet costs only about half as much as the "entry level" SL320.

Park the SLK next to a Honda Accord, and the Japanese sedan seems to take on Godzilla-size proportions. Yes, the SLK is a tiny car, yet it commands a presence that makes it appear much larger. The Z3's front styling also effectively works this optical trick, which gives both cars the visual clout of their more expensive family members.

Line up the three German roadsters side by side, however, and you won't believe your eyes: At 157.3 inches long, the SLK is 1.2 inches shorter than the Z3, and a mind-boggling 12.3 inches briefer than the Boxster. In wheelbase dimensions, the Mercedes (at 94.5 inches) is also more compact than the BMW (at 96.3 inches) and the Porsche (95.0 inches). When it comes to curb weight, though, the tables turn: The Z3 weighs in at 2690 pounds, the Boxster carries 2760 pounds, and the SLK holds down the earth with 2922 pounds.

The reason for the newest M-B's heft is also the item that gives it such a formed-from-a-billet feel: its body structure. Typical of Mercedes design, this roadster embodies superb torsional rigidity, and even feels less disrupted when traversing rough roads or train tracks than the class-leading SL. Outstanding crash protection is another important byproduct of such a design, and the SLK's occupants are further encapsulated by door-mounted side airbags in addition to the dual front units.

Mercedes' engineers used about every weight-saving trick in the book in areas where safety or structure wouldn't be compromised, however, including costly magnesium for the dual mini-rollbars behind the headrests and for an internal body brace located between the fuel tank and the trunk. Even the brake pedal is hollow to conserve mass.

Interestingly, the body panels themselves are sheetmetal instead of aluminum; the downsides of the lighter alloy remain its cost and ease of aesthetic damage in minor bumps. For Mercedes to meet its strict price target of $40,000 in the States, steel was the only solution.