- Mercedes-Benz leading supplier of convertibles and roadsters in the premium
and luxury segment
- 200,000 CLK convertibles sold since market launch
- SLK best-selling roadster in premium segment, with 440,000 models delivered
to customers since 1996
Melbourne – Mercedes-Benz is reinforcing its position as the world's leading
supplier of convertibles and roadsters in the premium and luxury segment. Year-
to-date in Australia, Mercedes-Benz convertibles, consisting of the CLK-Class
Cabriolet and SLK-Class Roadsters, account for over 60 per cent of convertible
sales in the sports car greater than $80,000 segment.
Since the market launch of the CLK convertible in 1998, 200,000 models of the
four-seater vehicle have been delivered to customers throughout the world.
Following its model update in the summer of 2005, the current CLK convertible
continues to emulate the success of its preceding variants.
This is particularly the case in Australia with the CLK Cabriolet continuing
to dominate its closest four seater rivals. Almost a third of customers have
chosen a CLK Cabriolet when purchasing a sports car over $80,000, with 43 per
cent of customers this year opting for the V6 CLK 350 Cabriolet, closely
followed by the CLK 280. Ongoing success story: The Mercedes-Benz roadsters
The roadsters from Mercedes-Benz remain the undisputed leaders in the market.
The second generation of the SLK-Class has been especially successful. Since its
international market debut in March 2004, the compact roadster from
Mercedes-Benz has won the hearts of 125,000 customers, making it the number one
car in its class worldwide. In Australia, the second generation SLK was launched
in September 2004 and since then over 1,600 customers have purchased an SLK,
with the most popular choice being the SLK 350. With 440,000 customer deliveries
worldwide since 1996, the SLK is the best-selling premium roadster ever. In
Germany, the largest sales market, every second roadster in the premium class is
a Mercedes. The open-top two-seater has a market share of more than 30 percent
in the Western European countries outside Germany.
Since its market launch in 2001, about 120,000 models of the current SL-Class
have been sold worldwide, and it continues to hold the rank of best-selling car
in the luxury roadster segment. Demand is particularly high for the SL 500,
which is chosen by about two-thirds of all SL drivers. The facelifted model
unveiled in February 2006 has also been met with a very enthusiastic response.
Innovations like the sportier tuning of engines, powertrains and suspensions
make the legendary dream car even more attractive. New V6 and V8 engines and an
even more powerful V12 engine ensure added dynamic driving enjoyment and
all-round driving pleasure in the facelifted Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. In
addition, the second-generation Active Body Control (ABC) system and more
responsive steering provide an extra dose of sportiness in the SL.
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