One of the hallmarks of today's SLK is its slick, retractable hardtop design. On the redesigned 2005 Mercedes SLK, the rear window pivots so that it takes up less trunk space than the old model. Indeed, the trunk has added a third more space than before when the roof is folded. Mercedes-Benz claims that the 2005 SLK's roof will stow in 22 seconds, and it can now be operated using a button on the key fob, making it easy to drop the top as you approach the car from the outside and raise it as you walk away. Nice touch, Mercedes. Another nice touch unique to the convertible market is the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK's optional Airscarf system. Airscarf is a neck-level heating system that blows warm air from the headrests on the seat, the effect not unlike wearing a scarf. The automaker claims that this makes the 2005 SLK a year-round, top-down ride - even in winter. Safety issues have been addressed with the inclusion of a head-and-thorax side airbags system, dual-stage front airbags, two-stage seatbelt force limiters, and rollover bars that deploy from behind the seats. In the event of a rollover accident, a sensor also tightens the seatbelt pretensioners to remove all slack and hold occupants in tightly. As in the previous car, four-wheel-disc ABS with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, as well as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), keep the SLK on the intended path.
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