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However, being a roadster – and the original roadster at that – it also has to make an authentic statement about its performance. We took the current generation SLK 350 out for a spin to find out how it does so

The SLK has always had a special place in my heart, for it was the first sports car that I ever got my hands on. It was about four years ago that a kind-hearted friend gave me the key to his SLK 200 and let me take the car out for a spin. Had it not been for him, the passion for hardtop convertibles would never have been kindled in the first place.

Talking of hardtop convertibles, let us remember that it was the SLK, which, 15 years ago, introduced the concept of a two-piece hardtop folding back into the boot to make the car a convertible. Today we are witness to the third generation of the SLK and what we see on these pages is a variant of the current generation – the SLK 350.

No doubt it is a beautiful car. The upright grille with its single, horizontal division boldly shows the SLK's resemblance to the SLS AMG. In fact, the proportions of the headlamp and grille, the layout and the overall effect of the fascia point to an admirable combination of retro styling and modern-day design language of the three-pointed star. Start moving rearwards and you realise how long the bonnet of this car is. And it’s not just long, but a very strong element defining the character of the SLK that leaves the driver’s seat almost behind the half-length of the car. At the stylish rear end of the SLK are clusters of LEDs that make for a decent set of tail-lights, muscular wheel arches and a typically Mercedes boot-lid.

The beauty of this car is not restricted to the exterior alone. Get inside and one of the most pleasant cabins welcomes you. The air-conditioner vents are straight from the SLS AMG and so are most of the controls for the multimedia system. The instrument console, which takes a number of cues from the SLS, is a much subtler version of the big brother. The quality of everything in the cabin is top-class. Not a single thing to grumble about.

There is a new introduction in the SLK which will appeal to many – the ‘Magic Sky Control’ panoramic vario-roof in Mercedes language. Well, it is basically a sunroof equipped with a switch to control the transparency of its glass. Interesting, isn’t it? From outside, you just see an iridium-finish, dark blue sunroof. From inside too, it’s the same until you press this particular button that lets more sunlight pass through the glass. So when the sun overhead is too bright for comfort, you may switch to the dark tint; when it’s moderate, you may opt for the transparent one and when it's pleasant outside, stash the whole roof away and let the cool breeze commune with you while you munch the miles!