Mercedes SLC

The SLC is simply a refreshed SLK under Mercedes' new nomenclature. As a result, the engines have remained unchanged.

The SLK 200d is now the SLC 200d. It's still a 2.1-litre 201 bhp 500 Nm diesel that averages a claimed 70.6 mpg and 114 g/km. It'll still get to 62 mph in 6.6s.

The story's the same for the petrols. Both are 2.0-litre units producing 181 and 242 bhp respectively. Their impressive 300 and 370 Nm figures help them get to 62 mph in 6.9 and 5.8s too. Mercedes likes to think that they'll both get 47 mpg, but in my experience, my personal car that has the same claimed figure actually averages 35 mpg.

The only engine that has changed is the 5.5-litre V8 of the Mercedes-AMG SLK 55. In the name of none other than efficiency, a new 3.0-litre biturbo V6 is utilised. It produces 53 bhp and 20 Nm less, but only takes 0.1s more to reach 62 mph (now 4.7s). CO2 emissions have dropped too, now costing £225 a year to tax as opposed to £265. It's dubbed the Mercedes-AMG SLC 45, has an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph and costs £8,995 less than the outgoing model. You can hardly grunt at that!

SLC 45

Some standard kit that we'll see on the new SLC includes Active Brake Assist, Attention Assist and an Active Bonnet that helps provide more of a 'crumple zone'. Headlamp Assist also shows its face, aiding with the refreshed halogen headlights. LED technology is used for the daytime running lights and tail lights.

All cars get alloy wheels, with the range kicking off with 17-inch 5-spoke wheels.

Some optional kit includes LED headlights with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus for £1,150. Keyless Go is also available for £765, which incorporates an automatic boot separator, a handy life-facilitating feature.

Its main rivals are the German alternatives, the Audi TT Roadster and BMW Z4. Audi offers the same setup of two petrols, a diesel and a hot petrol, whereas BMW has a range of no less than 5 petrols with a range-topping Z4 sDrive35iS.

These both start cheaper than Mercedes, but Mercedes' standard kit and engine outputs put even the entry-level SLC in line with some mid-spec competition.

There's also cheaper rivals to look out for like the new Mazda MX-5, or equally the Porsche Boxster which is somewhat more expensive. Saying that, its entry-level 2.7-litre V6 is capable enough to beat the SLC 300 and costs £168 more.