Did you really just say that?
The original SLK was one of the most influential designs that has been produced recently?
Oh my.
I would suggest "one of the most widely criticized designs that has been produced recently" would be more accurate.
I mean, I love my 6, and happen to love the SLK32 as well, but the original gen SLKs were generally regarded as a let down performance wise, as well as not particularly attractive. The performance was largely rectified in the 32, but it is still a general design that no other car has tried to imitate.
If no other cars tried to copy it, it seems difficult to call it influential.