Free of the black disguise...
Free of the black disguise tape which kept prototypes away from prying eyes, the new roadster can be seen in all its glory for the first time. And it proves that those "baby SLR" supercar looks are for real! Building on the success of the current car, the new SLK aims to appeal to enthusiastic drivers with an all-new chassis and more masculine looks. But it will still retain the qualities which made the model a hit, including an improved version of the Varioroof folding metal hard-top.
Pressure to make cars...
Pressure to make cars more eco-friendly could force showroom prices up by six per cent, industry experts warn. In the latest bid to cut emissions, the European Commission has proposed that manufacturers reduce their vehicles’ average CO2 output to 120g/km by 2012.
Under the strict new targets, car makers would be landed with hefty penalties of up to 95 euros for every single g/km they are over this figure for the total number of models produced. The EC says targets will also vary depending on vehicle weight.
However, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) warned that buyers would end up covering the cost. Its spokeswoman said: “These targets would result in an increase in production costs of six per cent per car – which would be passed on to the motorist.”
The SMMT argued the proposed deadline didn’t provide firms with enough notice, either. “Given that model redesigns tend to be carried out every seven years, in 2010 there will still be some new cars on the market that were built before these targets were introduced. A launch date of 2015 would be far more realistic,” the spokeswoman explained.
She added that the recommenda÷tions have to go through Parliament before a final decision is made.