Before the launch of the first generation of SLK, two prototypes were presented in 1994 as concept cars.

The first in the spring was shown in Turin as SLK I Concept—a silver body with a red interior. While the exterior-image is also close to the production type, headlights are also quite different. Although the interior colour is the very same as the production model, material design is completely different. The dashboard also has a sense of luxury about it and quite elaborate.

And in the Autumn that same year, the SK II Concept was shown in Paris. Compared with Concept I, the design is closer to the production model, with a blue and orange interior in a blue body.

And the SLK production model was actually commercially available. Overall proportions follow suit but the design of the characteristic headlight looks as if it has become relatively normal.

Then, after 20 years the name changed to SLC. A sense of luxury has certainly evolved, and design technology seemingly improving over the 20 years, but with 10cm the total width has grown from 1715mm to 1810mm.

And with the width expanding 10cm, the degree to which the design ‘freedom’ has gone up doesn’t allow for a simple comparison, since tastes change designing the same thing over twenty years.