High design is an expensive...
High design is an expensive commodity ò€“ as Jabraò€™s latest JX20 Pura headset proves. The Bluetooth hands-free kit costs Ò£99.99, and was created by Danish industrial designer Jacob Jensen to offer phone users even more style behind the wheel. An extravagant feel is evident as soon as you open the box ò€“ from the sleek desk stand to the pretentious necklace fitting. While this allows you to wear the Pura as jewellery, we donò€™t expect many will sport it around their neck on a night out.
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.
Unlike the current SLK, which has underpinnings dating back to the early Nineties, its replacement will be based on the hi-tech chassis of the C-Class. That has given engineers the flexibility to create a much more focused drivers" car, with a suspension set-up tuned for well balanced handling.
Designers have also made the SLK wider and longer than the current version, which has allowed the cramped cabin to be replaced with a more spacious and luxurious interior. The boot is bigger too, especially with the roof stowed. A complex mechanism, similar to the SL"s, means the rear window pirouettes to fit inside the upper roof panel to save space. This ensures there is still enough room for shopping and weekend bags with the top stowed.
To go with the new chassis, Mercedes has also engineered a range of fresh engines. Topping the bill at launch is a new 272bhp 3.5-litre V6 which uses DaimlerChrysler"s latest technology to give fine performance and economy. Thanks to a direct-injection system and variable valve timing, an impressive 350Nm of torque is produced, 87 per cent of which is available from only 1,500rpm. With the aid of two catalytic converters, the new engine is also one of the cleanest in the range, which means that it meets the strict Euro IV regulations with ease. Low CO2 emissions will also make this SLK tempting for company car drivers.
At first, only the new 350 and an entry-level four-cylinder 200 will be available, but the line-up will soon grow. Engineers are considering diesel power for the SLK, which would follow the trend set by Audi with its A4 Cabriolet. However, the big news for high-performance fans is that the flagship model will be the SLK55 - that means a 5.5-litre V8 with a power output of more than 360bhp. And while the lack of a sporty manual gearbox has previously been a drawback, all that is set to change with the new SLK. It will come with a short-throw six-speed unit that should achieve the ultimate feel by replacing the cables used for selecting ratios with more substantial rods. However, there will still be the option of the excellent five-speed auto.
The newcomer will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and go on sale in the UK in summer.