With Mercedes’ next generation of super sports cars currently under development by the carmaker’s racing arm, HWA, as well as its in-house tuner, AMG, the current manufacturing partnership with McLaren is set to end once production of the SLR supercar concludes next year. To mark the occasion, Mercedes and McLaren will release a highly modified SLR that will be produced in a limited run of just 75 cars.
The latest version will differ significantly from the current model on which it’s based. The most striking feature will be its open-top design, which incorporates a roofless design with no windshield and vertical lifting doors. The design will be similar to the previous C16 Speedster based on the Corvette from Callaway, which was revealed last year.
The driver and passenger will only be protected by a small deflector, but the new design means the car will be able to accelerate from 0-300km/h in just 26 seconds and reach a top speed of 350km/h – 13km/h faster than the SLR 722 model.
Adding to the performance is a lighter kerb weight, which Auto Motor und Sport reports could be more than 300kg lighter than the standard model. The weight saving will come from increased use of carbon-fiber for the body, new carbon-ceramic brakes and a new exhaust system.
The special edition model will cost about €450,000 ($712,605) and is expected to be presented at the end of the year by Lewis Hamilton, who is also expected to be given one of the cars.
Reader Comments
Wed Jul 2 2008 8:26 AM
Andrey says
it was such a beautiful super car, too bad it's manufacturing will come to an end :(
Wed Jul 2 2008 9:19 AM
bambam says
It was beautiful but most of the mens would not accept the stylish luxury sport looks, instead they prefer the record breaking looks of an F1. it looks more like an SLK and not a supercar and most female buy the SLK. Maybe it was the marketing.
9 out 10 for Mclaren SLR
Wed Jul 2 2008 10:56 AM
Gus says
We have two that drive around here regularly, and whenever I see them, I have to look twice to make sure it's not just an SL. Not a bad thing, but it doesn't really grab your attnetion in person the way an Italian exotic does.
Wed Jul 2 2008 7:19 PM
Dann says
I would have this over everything else though cause it's discreet and you will blow everyone off with the performance ..think about it. You're at the lights next to someone in an M5 or a GTR or 911 Turbo and they want to have off what they probably think is just an SL55 but you can silly them off
Thu Jul 3 2008 12:04 AM
Wizards Lore says
Gus....how can you not tell its the SLR ?? the sound is so much angrier, and the long snout and very short rear are massive giveaway's....also those rims, my god the rims...
Even as a Porsche fan / nut / whatever you want........i love this car. And if i had the funds would want one, yes i woudl want one just as much as a 911 turbo ! (please dont scream sacreligeous at me please :( )
Fri Jul 4 2008 8:51 AM
Dann says
Can't believe they are actually going to do away with a wind shield...I wonder if it will come with complimentary MB goggles
Sun Jul 6 2008 11:43 PM
Layne says
That thing is just crazy cool.
Tue Jul 15 2008 8:07 AM
JD says
Is the driver a dwarf or is the car supersized?
Tue Jul 15 2008 10:00 AM
vb says
The car is huge. The "snout" is rediculously long (almost E-Type Jag like). I was able to sit in one last saturday and in my opinion no picture can show you how brutal it is in reality.
Tue Jul 15 2008 10:06 AM
Gus says
Well lets make one thing perfectly clear, my above comment was from another article about the NORMAL SLR. This thing is OBVIOUSLY not an SL... :)
I've never driven/ridden a speedster type vehicle with no windscreen. I have a convertible and often wonder what it would be like without a big windscreen frame.
I think what I would prefer would be a frameless windscreen, leaving the rollover safety to a rollbar directly behind me (which it appears this vehicle and the Atom do). But not having anything in front of you might be tough on the face and head. It's not like on a motorcycle, there is so much more air being pushed over the hood of a car than on a bike.
Sure look forward to seeing one in person someday.
Tue Jul 15 2008 12:55 PM
cheato says
The guy in the shots (without the helmet on) is Chris Goodwin, a long time McLaren test driver, who also used to pilot F1s (as in the McLaren F1) in sportscar racing. He currently mentors Bruno Senna in GP2 and does some commentary work for ESPN and Star Sports over in Asia. I don't believe he's a dwarf - it must be the car.
Thu Jul 17 2008 6:04 PM
rickybobby says
so will this b like a slr withouth the heavy interior?
kinda like what it was before mercedes got to it
Thu Jul 24 2008 3:36 AM
lamboguy says
It looks like it has a really big engine! .....(+[__]::).....
Wed Aug 13 2008 10:55 AM
christian says
that rendering is horrible.
Sun Aug 17 2008 12:20 AM
Layne says
Agreed. Absolutely horrendous job on that rendering.
Mon Aug 18 2008 6:45 PM
Wizards Lore says
Oh dear god, the rendering looks like Thunderbirds :(
Mon Aug 25 2008 2:16 AM
Kenneth says
it's all fun and games till a bug hits you in the eye doing 100mph... this car would suck to own, you would have to wear goggles or a helmet whenever you really drove it. If you spend a million dollars on this thing, and can't even take a date out on the town, what's the point? looks cool, but its retarded to use... unless you like getting dirty when you drive a million dollar car. I would take the SLR Roadster over this in a heartbeat and do without the messed up hair or circles around my eyes from the goggles. If you bought this to actually drive it, I think you got ripped off.
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