Report Says Next Mercedes SLK to Ditch Metal Roof and Go FWD; Next CLS to Be More Distinctive

The report made its first appearance in the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport with Automotive News sharing the story and basically says that Mercedes is planning a FWD coupe/roadster based on the platform of the next A-Class, set to debut in 2017-2018.

If the rumours are true, the FWD SLK successor will ditch the folding metal roof in favour of two separate versions in the form of a coupe and a soft-top roadster. The move from RWD to FWD certainly makes sense financially, and the use of a common platform with the new A-Class will drop development costs significantly, helping this way Mercedes to reach its goals and pass BMW by 2020 to be the world’s best-selling premium car manufacturer.

*hurl* *vomit*

The SLK has never been a true driver's car. Who will even notice it?

If they had any brains, they would take the front-engine/front-drive drivetrain and place it behind the driver, ala the 914 and X1/9, and have a fighting chance of offering a Boxster alternative. Yes, it will scare away the current SLK's clientele of successful hairdressers, but it would have the potential to finally become a real sports car.

<5% of the driving public.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)