THE SLK is normally viewed as a comfortable cruiser, one of the more feminine roadsters, but there is one exception – it’s called the SLK 55 AMG and packs a sledgehammer V8 engine beneath its curved bonnet.

This is the third time the Mercedes-Benz tuning department has turned its attention to the SLK and this is the most powerful version yet, with a new naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V8 that makes 310kW and 540Nm, and can blast it from 0-100 in just 4.6 seconds.

Perhaps even more impressive, though, is the official average fuel economy figure of just 8.5 litres per 100km.