Over the past few months, car enthusiasts have become quite familiar with the image of Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu driving various JDM cars on the streets of Saigon. In January, Chairman of Trung Nguyen Corporation, Mr. Vu, acquired dozens of Japanese sports cars.
And this morning, January 28, 2024, there was a change as Vietnam’s largest car collector sat behind the wheel of a German sports car. Moreover, this particular model has been out of production for 13 years, but it still caught the attention of Mr. Vu.
Background of this convertible sports car
It is evident that Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu has a strong affection for the sports cars and supercars of Mercedes-Benz. It is estimated that he owns dozens of the “2-door” models from the three-pointed star brand, and most recently, he added the Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 to his garage.
Looking at the design of this Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 convertible sports car, you can see that it belongs to the second generation, coded R171, which was in production from 2004 to 2010.
Exterior design of the Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 R171
The Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 has only gone through three generations, but the second generation has been enthusiastically sought after by Vietnamese car enthusiasts. In this iteration, the Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 features a more rounded and intriguing design. The front fascia is elongated and sharper compared to the first generation.
The most beautiful part is the eye-catching grille, with the large three-pointed stars placed in the center and connected by a horizontal bar, reminiscent of the legendary silver arrow – the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Next are the air vents divided into two separate sections, with additional fog lights.
On the side, the car is equipped with silver-colored, 5-spoke alloy wheels. At the rear, there is a wide taillight cluster, with the brake lights positioned in the center, and a dual exhaust system.
The Mercedes-Benz SLK R171 has some modifications compared to its predecessor, the R170. It has a longer wheelbase, increased length by 72mm, and width by 65mm. Additionally, it incorporates 40% more high-strength steel and a 7-speed automatic transmission. The dual-stage adaptive airbags, head/chest airbags, and the convertible mechanism have been improved and can be opened or closed in just 22 seconds (previously 25 seconds) with the rear window rotating to allow for compact folding of the roof and trunk, increasing luggage space by an additional 63 liters when the roof is retracted. Optional features include remote operation of the hardtop and air scarf, an integrated air heating system with adjustable neck-level heating integrated into the headrest.
The body is fully galvanized, improving bending rigidity by 19% and torsional rigidity by 46% when the roof is lowered. It also improves aerodynamic efficiency by 3% with a Cd value of 0.32. The design has been aerodynamically optimized to minimize turbulence inside with the top up and includes a fabric wind deflector that can be pulled up through two roll bars. Mercedes-Benz marketed the R171’s sleek front end design, which was created by designer Steve Mattin, as “inspired by F1 racing cars.”
An updated version of the model was launched from 2008 to 2011, with a revised front bumper featuring modified air intakes and clearer arrow-shaped headlights. The rear of the car was modified with the introduction of a diffuser-style lower section, giving the Roadster a more aggressive appearance from behind. Larger exterior mirrors with clearly visible LED turn signal indicators were also introduced, while the range of light alloy wheels was almost completely new.
Interior
When you open the door and step into the cabin of the Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 convertible sports car owned by Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu, you will find a two-tone leather interior in black and white, still in relatively good condition. The center control panel of the car has been wrapped in carbon fiber.
The interior is optimized to make it more driver-oriented. The equipment has been updated to include the NTG 2.5 sound system and telecommunications with optional voice-operated LINGUATRONIC control, as well as the harman/kardon Logic7 sound system.
In the mid-life facelift, the “seagull wing red” leather option, inspired by the original 300 SL seagull wing, was added. Other new additions include natural-toned “be” nappa leather upholstery, perfect additions to the “light” burl walnut and “dark charcoal” wood trim. The direct-steer system with variable steering became an option.
Powertrain
Underneath the hood of Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 convertible sports car is a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine with an output of 301 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 360 Nm from 2,400 – 5,000 rpm.
The power is transferred to the rear wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission (7G-TRONIC). Thanks to this, the Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds before reaching a top speed of 250 km/h.
“King of Coffee” Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ acquires rare Ferrari California worth over 10 billion VND
Recently, the “king of coffee” Dang Le Nguyen Vu has once again impressed car enthusiasts by adding a rare 2010 Ferrari California to his garage, worth over 10 billion Vietnamese dong.
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage 007 Edition manual owned by Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu spotted posing on the street
The Aston Martin Vantage 007 Edition is a limited edition of 100 cars worldwide, released in parallel with the premiere event of the 25th James Bond film – No Time To Die. The car is inspired by the 1977 V8 Vantage model featured in the movie The Living Daylights.
Surprising Purchase: Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu acquires a used Audi R8, despite owning a unique pair of R8s.
The Audi R8 V10 Plus, which has just joined the billionaire Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s collection of million-dollar cars, is attracting attention with its mileage of just over 6,700 km after years of use.
Billionaire Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ acquires 2010 Ferrari California instead of buying a new car
The recently acquired 2010 Ferrari California by Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu has quite an impressive history, as it was once owned by a renowned tycoon from Ha Tinh province.
Lifestyle of a JDM Enthusiast: “Qua” Vũ Buys His Third Toyota Celica, with Matching Birth Year and Stunning License Plate
Introducing the newly unveiled 3rd generation Toyota Celica, now a part of Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s car collection, which belongs to the 1st generation produced 52 years ago.
