When it comes to the sexy little SLK roadster, the normally serious, white-coated gents in the Mercedes-Benz R&D department are allowed to try things that wouldn't be permitted on the Three-Pointed Star's more conservative luxury sedans.
In 1997, the original SLK introduced Mercedes' first folding hard-top; the second generation brought us the air-scarf (as copied, we found out this morning, by no less prestigious a marque than Bentley) and the third-generation SLK, released in South Africa this week, has something that not very long ago would have been science fiction: a glass roof that becomes opaque at the touch of a button.
But a lot has stayed true to the successful formula - compact, rather blunt-ended styling with very short overhangs and a long bonnet wedging up to a short, high rear deck.
The latest SLK is available here at launch in two variants only, the four-cylinder SLK200 at R555 700 and the SLK350 V6 at R734 100.
The SLK200's 1796cc engine is rated at 135kW, taking it from 0-100 in seven seconds flat and on to 240km/h. With the optional 7G-tronic auto transmission Stuttgart quotes fuel consumption of 6.5 litres per 100km (19 percent better than its predecessor) and CO2 emissions of 167 grams per kilometre .
The all-new 3498cc V6 in the SLK350 has third-generation direct fuel-injection using piezo injectors and dual-spark ignition, and cranks out a claimed 225kW, pushing it from 0-100 in 5.6 seconds, with a top speed of 250km/h.
Stuttgart quotes 7.1 litres per 100km (a 28 percent improvement) and 167 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
The new SLK's body now has aluminium bonnet and wings, with a wide upright grille around a central three-pointed star and chromed fin, and clearly defined headlight clusters giving a look of the original 190SL of the 1950s.
Inside, even the vanilla-flavour SLK 200 has lots of brushed-aluminium trim, with glossy brown walnut or black ash veneer as options. The dials - backlit in red at night - are flanked by the onboard computer display, and the colour screen for the infotainment suite at the top of the centre stack can be easily read by either the driver or passenger.
And just above it there's an analogue clock lending an extra touch of class.
The multifunction sports steering wheel has a flattened lower section and a thick leather rim; the neck-level Airscarf heating system is standard, as is a new system of draught baffles called Airguide, mounted behind the roll-bars, that pivot out towards the middle to prevent turbulent airflow behind the occupants' heads - and you don't have to stop to deploy them.
Standard safety kit includes a drowsiness detection system and Pre-Safe Brake, which not only pretensions your seatbelts and sets up the head restraints before an impact, it'll apply the brakes if you ignore its warnings.
And finally, there's the roof.
Actually, there are three folding hard tops to choose from - a body-colour base version, a panoramic version with tinted glass and the Magic Sky setup, a glass roof that goes dark at the touch of a button. It's also opaque to infra-red light, thus keeping the cabin cool as well as shady.
Each SLK comes with an two-year, unlimited distance warranty and a MobiloDrive 120 six year or 120 000km maintenance plan.