Suddenly it's 1955. Mercedes-Benz interior stylists have unabashedlyopted for a retro look to the SLK's cozy cockpit. The three circular instruments--one
a speedometer, one a tachometer, and the other a combination fuel level/coolant
temperature dial--have chrome rings around ivory faces with black numerals
and red needles. Shiny accents are applied in numerous places, and a two-tone
effect combines black dashboard top, door panels, seat sides, glovebox
lid and center console with contrasting trim in the buyer's choice of red,
blue, dark gray or light gray.
Our only quibble with this blend of old and new is the carbon fiber
insert panel in the dash. We have nothing against carbon fiber, but in
a Mercedes it should be the real thing, rather than simulated.
But there is nothing old-fashioned about the SLK's safety features,
Beyond the dual airbags, Mercedes has opted to include separate rollover
bars behind driver and passenger, as well as adding a circuit to the airbag
system that detects a child's seat mounted in the passenger side and disables
the dash-mounted bag in front of it.