Mercedes has just made an announcement regarding a new powerplant they want to fit on their SLK roadster that will simply annoy enthusiast drivers.
It is the launch of the Mercedes SLK 250 CDI, a roadster that has a diesel powered, oil-burning engine under the bonnet.
![2012 Mercedes SLK 250 CDI](https://www.automotorblog.com/storage/2011/08/2012-Mercedes-SLK-250-CDI-1.jpg)
I don’t have a downer on diesels, I don’t think they should be reserved for tractors and trucks but there’s something (in my mind) that’s awfully wrong about a diesel roadster.
I think a roadster is a vehicle that has little practicality, is primarily bought for fun, looks and feel. A roadster is rarely your only car so it probably gets a considerable amount of time on the side.
![2012 Mercedes SLK 250 CDI](https://www.automotorblog.com/storage/2011/08/2012-Mercedes-SLK-250-CDI-3.jpg)
All of these factors don’t necessarily meet with the diesel engine. Despite Mercedes’ best efforts to fit the 250 CDI with a reasonably capable 2.1 liter turbocharged powerplant which churns out 204 horsepower and 368.8 lb-ft of torque, I don’t like it.
The only trouble with that statement is that it’s not about what I like, it’s about what people buy. And on that front, I’m pretty sure plenty of buyers will feel thrilled about having a sports convertible which can do 48 mpg.
![2012 Mercedes SLK 250 CDI](https://www.automotorblog.com/storage/2011/08/2012-Mercedes-SLK-250-CDI-2.jpg)
For the time being, Mercedes has only announced the SLK 250 CDI’s availability for Europe from 2012 and prices are said to start at €41.828 or just over 60.000 USD in Germany.