The first Mercedes-Benz SLK was pretty but not a world-beater in performance terms; the second edition of Stuttgart's shorty, however, laid that criticism to rest - it was a proper sports car to rival BMW's Z4 or Nissan's 350Z for driving dynamics.
Not content, DaimlerChrysler has now unleashed the 265kW SLK 55 AMG, the most powerful roadster in its class. It's also the most expensive at R665 000.
Merc's mighty two-seater rides on AMG sports suspension and is motivated by the same 5.5-litre AMG V8 that's made other AMG Benzes the top performers in their categories; it's the unblown version of the supercharged, 368kW unit in the bigger SL55 AMG roadster.
The SLK 55 doesn't have quite the clout of its bigger brother but still packs a meaningful punch. It's really strong under acceleration and when the G-force is pushing you satisfyingly into your leather bucket seat you can convince yourself it was 665 grand well-spent.
It's an automatic so it's easy to get off the line at a pace that will keep BMW M3 drivers honest. Simply switch off the traction control and stomp the throttle; there's just a brief chirp from the rear tyres before the car bites and blasts off, reaching 100km/h in only 6.1sec and the quarter-mile mark in 13.7 (Highveld).
Very brisk indeed (the seventh-quickest car we've tried over the quarter-mile, equal with BMW's M3) and it all happens with a raunchy howl from the V8.
The car charges to its 250km/h (governed) top speed with little sweat and, provided you keep the right pedal mashed into the carpet, no brutal gearshifts. The seven-speed auto is serene and smooth, a surprise given how much power is being fed through it.
Left to do things on its own - in Comfort or Sport mode - the transmission is quick and efficient. However, if you want to play Kimi Raikkonen, you can shift manually with either the floor gearshifter or buttons on the steering wheel.
Fuel consumption, Merc says, should be around 12 litres/100km but the test car was showing a much greedier 17/100 after some spirited driving.
The SLK 55 wears flamboyant plumage to suit its performance. Beneath the F1-inspired nose is a spoiler more fancy than those found on other models in the SLK line-up, with a similarly robust rear spoiler through which poke a quartet of tailpipes.
A spoiler lip on the boot lid (said to improve rear downforce by up to 36 percent) and 18" alloy rims further distinguish this flagship model. Some observers thought the design was a bit over the top but I say this kind of hard-edged performance shouldn't be packaged in limp-wristed looks.
Power slides
The engine's considerable power is conveyed to the rear wheels, where a true sports car's drive should be. This not only means lurid power slides are possible when the traction control's off but also keeps the steering free of torque steer.
The sportiest SLK makes efficient progress through corners though you usually find yourself arriving at them too quickly because the car's so darn fast. All the basics are there: stiff suspension, powerful brakes and sharp steering action, the last thanks to the previous SLK's recirculating-ball steering system being dumped in favour of rack-and-pinion.
The stiffly sprung car feels well pinned to the tar but the SLK 55 is not light at 1540kg and there are times when it feels a little bulky. Notable is the car's rock-solid feel with no rattles or shaking caused by its lack of a permanent roof.
Though the suspension's firm the SLK 55 offers a fairly comfortable ride for a sports car.
22-second personality change
One of the major selling points of the SLK is its ability to morph in 22 seconds from roadster to coupe thanks to its folding hardtop; a canvas roof is noisier and less attractive.
There's a handy 208 litres of luggage room with the roof folded and 300 with it in place; golf bags welcome.
The cabin has a high-class finish and suave design that's a much better effort than the previous generation SLK. The sports seats have better lateral support and the AMG instrument cluster houses a 320km/h speedo.
Auto air-con, cruise control, a top-end Harman Kardon audio system and navigation system are standard - as is the newish Airscarf that keeps neck and shoulders warm when the top's down on a chilly day. - Star Motoring