Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster

On the inside, after witnessing the cabins of all the latest generation models of Mercedes-Benz, one can clearly sense that the cabin of the Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster looks dated and feels the last generation, which it actually is. Nevertheless, as expected, it is high on quality and luxury appeal.

The driver’s cockpit, with the flat bottom multi-functional steering wheel as well as pod-like instrument console, looks sober but stays true to its sporty essence. In the middle of the center console sits a simple rectangular touchscreen infotainment system flanked by propeller styled AC vents at the top, and a large rectangular panel of buttons for the infotainment system as well as a small panel of climate control sits just below it.

The Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster might be in the existence for a very long time in its current iteration, but thanks to its compact size and low slung stance combined, it has a great road presence and is a sure shot head turner.

At the front, the Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster tries to look fresh and contemporary with its wing-shaped headlamps, which consists of dual LED projectors as well as a sleek daytime running LED. The wide and low positioned grille with a star-studded pattern as well as sleek chrome line flowing in the middle of it is shared with the C-Class Cabriolet. The aggressive-looking lip spoiler with horizontal air intakes in the corners of the front bumper complements its sporty appeal.

The side profile of the Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster looks extremely sporty, with the lowered ride and overall height, rounded roofline, large door-mounted rearview mirrors and small air intake on the edge of the front fender. The two-door roadster has a rather compact wheelbase, which makes its stance look even more appealing.

The Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster has a rather simple and quite dated looking rear profile, with the stretched trapezoidal tail lamps trying to look modern with their LED inserts. The rounded design for the upper lip of the boot lid and high loading lip for the boot lid gives it a squatted stance.

The lack of hair-raising performance levels in the Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster is made up quite effectively by sharp driving dynamics of the roadster. The stiff suspension setup and taut steering, complemented well with the compact size of the car, makes the Mercedes Benz SLC Roadster an involving experience behind the steering wheel.

The Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster has been made available in the Singapore market with two petrol automatic powertrains on offer. The smaller 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in the SLC 180 makes 155 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque, whereas the bigger 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine from the C-Class produces 182 PS of power and 300 Nm of torque.

By the roadster standards, the numbers are quite small and are not as thrilling as expected. Both the engines are matched to a 9-speed automatic gearbox and rear-wheel drive configuration as standard.

The Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster might be an old vehicle by today’s standards, but it is decently equipped with safety features such as a total of eight airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, blind-spot monitoring system, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control.

While it might feel a bit dated in terms of overall styling (both outside as well as inside), the Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster still has got the required charisma to be an attention magnet. The chic styling complemented with its compact dimensions gives it a striking road presence, while the not-so-powerful engines and sharp driving dynamics make it quite a friendly car for the people new to sports cars.