More often than not automotive brands tend to partner with each other in coming up with a rather special offering. One such collab led to the McLaren-Mercedes SLR. Before we debate on whether it’s Mercedes-McLaren SLR or Mercedes SLR Mclaren or any of its derivatives, we should point out that irrespective of its lengthy nomenclature, the car was nothing short of magnificent.
You had two automotive greats, McLaren and Mercedes-Benz who were stalwarts in their respective fields coming together post the latter buying a 40% stake in the British marque. It was during this partnership that Formula-One saw Mclaren-Mercedes logos and one lucky road car having the chance to wear one. The Sport Leicht Rennsport" (Sport Light Racing proved to be an homage to the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR which served as the car's inspiration.
Spawned by the Vision SLR concept introduced in 1999, Mercedes decided to go with the project following its positive reception. The production version of the SLR was unveiled to the public in 2003 as a competitor to the Aston Martin DB9 and the Ferrari 599 GTB. However, price-wise the SLR Mclaren was more in line with the Porsche Carrera GT and the Pagani Zonda.
While decades have gone by since its inception, we think a partnership like this will be highly unlikely and that the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren befits the title of being a "once in a blue moon" supercar.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren: An Ambitious Grand Tourer
The automotive fraternity has badged the SLR McLaren as a super-GT that fought alongside the flagship Porsche and the artistic Italian. Though many journalists were keen on competing it against the Ferrari 599 and the Aston Martin DBS/ DB9, the debate on where it belongs has been one-sided, it’s a super GT that belonged to the upper echelons. This is where the Mercedes SLR was a bit weird. It had the technological prowess in terms of crazy power figures garnering it hypercar royalty. However, there were a lot of problems especially with how the SLR was a GT. The SLR wasn’t as comfy as an Aston but was forgiving than the Carrera GT. This proved its place in a rather odd spot in the line of supercars back then.
Under the SLR’s clamshell hood sits a handbuilt 5.4-liter Supercharged V8. The engine generates a maximum power output of 617 hp at 6,500 rpm and maximum torque of 575 lb-ft between 3,250 and 5,000 rpm. Before we talk about the oodles of grunt the engine offers, the SLR Mclaren was built on a carbon-fiber tub with aluminum subframes lending it the handling prowess McLarens are famed for. 0-60 happened in 3.6 seconds and top speed stood at 208 mph; making the SLR Mclaren one of the fastest cars in the world at the time. Though the 5-speed unit wasn’t thought to be ideal by the automotive community, Mercedes thought the torque converter proved more reliable than any other form of gearbox and went with the idea.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren: Came With A Few “Quirks”
Because of how oddly positioned the SLR was, it had a few unique bits that were a first in the industry. The brake lights would glow at twice their normal intensity under hard braking to warn the drivers behind. There was a sensor that measured the angle and luminous intensity of the sun's rays to make sure the HVAC system could keep the cabin as comfortable as possible.
The single-piece carbon-fiber seats were set to exactly 28 degrees (how German is that) to make sure the driving position was sporty whilst being comfortable. According to Mercedes, the SLR was the first production car to feature a full carbon-fiber monocoque, the first production car to have a front crash structure made of carbon fiber, and was the first car to feature an in-house built AMG V8.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren: A Collector’s Favorite
A Total of 2,157 Mercedes-Benz SLR Mclarens were made. The SLR Mclaren were available in the form of a coupe, roadster, 722 Edition, and a 722 S roadster version along with the limited-run SLR Stirling Moss Speedster that came with a windshield delete. One of the reasons why the SLR Mclaren was so expensive back in the day was due to a mix of philosophies wherein Mercedes wanted something luxurious and comfortable and McLaren wanted a lightweight driver's car.
Although this didn’t stop people from buying the SLR though. Post-2008, Mercedes decided to put the curtains on the SLR. The last of the coupés rolled off the production line at the end of 2009 and the roadster version was dropped in early 2010. SLR Mclaren’s have had strong residuals and were trading at a small premium couple of years ago. Now, however, you can find examples of used SLR Mclarens with relatively low mileage at around the $300,000 mark. Though limited-run versions including the rare SLR Mclaren Edition cost a premium.
Sources: YouTube, Top Gear