Mercedes SLK 350 7G-Tronic

It may look like an SL that's been through a hot wash, but there's more to the latest Mercedes than its styling. The 350 offers genuine performance and feels every bit as special as its more expensive big brother. But for the price, there are a number of tempting rivals.

It looks set to be one of the most sought after drop-tops of this summer, but will all variants live up to the hype? After taking to the road in the base 200 in Issue 798, we couldn't wait to get our hands on the more potent V6-powered SLK 350 to see whether it can justify its inflated asking price.

Apart from the badges, the two models are visually identical, so unless buyers specify the muscular AMG bodykit, they'll have to wait for the mighty SLK 55 to arrive this time next year for a truly aggressive look. But even in standard trim, the SLK is a beautiful car, taking all the style and poise of the SL and fitting it in a more compact wheelbase.

While the base unit is carried over from the previous versions with a few modifications, the 350 has an all-new engine using four valves per cylinder, rather than the three-valve set-up of the 350-badged powerplant in the S, SL and M-Class. Fire it up and the 272bhp unit feels instantly suited to the two-seater, with a refined hum hinting at the performance. Equipped with Mercedes' new 7G-Tronic seven-speed auto, the SLK 350 covers 0-62mph in a supercar-like 5.5 seconds. Despite its many ratios, the box changes smoothly, while the excellent manual override gives a sporty feel despite the awkward paddleshifters.

Coupled with the SLK's superb new chassis, the punchy 350 is the pick of the range - until you look at the price. Even the manual car will cost £34,270 when it arrives here in July - £2,820 more than a base Porsche Boxster.