opted for a retro look to the SLK's cozy cockpit. The three circular instruments--one

a speedometer, one a tachometer, and the other a combination fuel level/coolant

temperature dial--have chrome rings around ivory faces with black numerals

and red needles. Shiny accents are applied in numerous places, and a two-tone

effect combines black dashboard top, door panels, seat sides, glovebox

lid and center console with contrasting trim in the buyer's choice of red,

blue, dark gray or light gray.

Our only quibble with this blend of old and new is the carbon fiber

insert panel in the dash. We have nothing against carbon fiber, but in

a Mercedes it should be the real thing, rather than simulated.

But there is nothing old-fashioned about the SLK's safety features,

Beyond the dual airbags, Mercedes has opted to include separate rollover

bars behind driver and passenger, as well as adding a circuit to the airbag

system that detects a child's seat mounted in the passenger side and disables

the dash-mounted bag in front of it.

The seats, too, are modern as can be. No vintage sports car ever had

such comfortable and supportive chairs. And no open car of the past protected

its occupants from the wind as well as does the SLK's mesh wind deflector,

which fits over the rollover bars.

All controls are located in clusters for easy use, air conditioning

and a fine Bose six-speaker sound system are standard, and the whole is

finished off to the high quality level you'd expect to find in a Mercedes.