Mercedes & McLaren to produce final run of 75 lightweight SLR speedsters

Mercedes and McLaren are preparing to head their own separate ways for the next batch of supercars – including the Mercedes SLC, SL65 AMG Black Series and McLaren P11 – but not before one last hurrah. Emerging reports from Germany indicate that the two companies, which are anticipated to continue collaboration on the race track, will soon unveil one last special edition of the SLR before the controversial supercar speeds off towards the horizon and into the setting sun.

The final iteration of the SLR is reported to be a lightweight speedster with neither roof nor windscreen, just a small deflector. Thanks in part to the removal of air conditioning and power windows (neither of which are needed when you don't have a roof anyway), curb weight has been trimmed by about 200 kilos (approximately 440 pounds), and promises to rip your head right off with a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph), some 13 km/h over the previous top-dog SLR 722's maximum velocity. Only 75 examples will be produced, at a price of €450,000. Oh, and Lewis Hamilton is said to have something to do with the project, which is inspired by the legendary 1955 300 SLR Silver Arrows. Stay tuned for more details, with initial images reportedly due to surface tomorrow.

[Source: AMS via Autoblog.com]

Wuuuuuuuuut?
im shocked...

http://www.germancarzone.com/slr-mcl...tml#post289953 (Mercedes Ends SLR Production in 2009)

I knew of this long time ago that there will be a final edition of the SLR..

What i heard of that its going to be a coupe Limited Edition..

Interesting development. Can't wait to see it. The weight reduction is what the SLR should have had from the start. The SLR is the most expensive work in progress on the road.

M

Is this what Mercedes 220 Mph face-ripping rocket will look like?

^hardcore

Why bother?!

I do wonder why Mercedes and McLaren spent all these money to come up with the 722 edition, the roadster, the GT, and now this hideous speedster edition.

Why didn't Mercedes and McLaren did the right thing at the very beginning and build a car with all the ingredients (better steering, better brake feel, better handling, lighter weight , a better gearbox, and a nicer interior) that would have made it a much much better car? Instead, they dropped the ball and the SLR became nothing but the most uncelebrated and unloved supercar ever................

I hope the Mercedes-AMG SLC will be better than the 599GTB Fiorano. But I don't think it would be the case. The forthcoming McLaren F430-fighter will most definitely fail to beat the F430 Scuderia.

You think I'm pessimistic? Guess what? I'm a Mercedes and McLaren fan!

Left to it's own, I have no doubt McLaren can build a Scuderia beater, but I doubt MB will have the foresight do that.

Sunny, you have more faith than I do.

Let's hope McLaren can do it.

But it will be interesting to compare the SLC and the McLaren P8. Two very different cars achieving the same objectives.

It looks like Mercedes-McLaren have big plans for its SLR farewell party! With the Mercedes supercar coming to the end of its production life, the German manufacturer has no plans to send the thoroughbred off quietly. Speculation has been growing about a final special edition speedster version of the SLR 722 - and it looks like the rumours were true. Despite the confusing disguise these exclusive spy shots, taken somewhere in the heart of Germany reveal Mercedes and McLaren have one last trick up its sleeve and it appears to be quite a special one.

Germany’s auto motor und sport has also revealed that 75 examples of the final SLR will be produced and can confirm it will be light-weight speedster versions of the purebred supercar. The limited edition car will pay homage to the silver 300 SLR driven by Stirling Moss in the mid fifties and will have no roof and only a small wind screen in place of the car’s windshield.

Further deletion of the air conditioning system and power windows plus the use of composite materials in the body panels will shave about 440 pounds off the SLR’s kerb weight. The end result will be a car that can accelerate from 0-186 mph in just 26 seconds, on its way to a blistering top speed of about 217 mph, 8 mph faster than any previous SLR.

Sources can also reveal the limited edition SLR is expected to retail from about 450,000 euros if you can manage to get one.


Source: McLaren SLR Speedster | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express