The "K" in SLK and CLK is NOT derived from nor stands for "Kompact" or "Kompressor"; it comes from the German word "Kurz", meaning "short". Daimler-Benz employed this designation to differentiate short wheel base vehicles from their standard wheel base siblings (i.e., SL vs. SLK; CL vs. CLK).

The SLK, initially offered Stateside with only the "Kompressor" engine, has always been available in Europe with a choice of normally aspirated or "Kompressor" engines. Again, the "K" referred to the wheel base, not the engine.

[Edited by jgl1 on 12-30-2000 at 12:42 AM]