A Racecar for the Street

A Racecar for the Street
Launched for the 2005 model year and continuing unchanged for 2006, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was developed and is manufactured jointly with the automaker’s Formula One racing partner, McLaren.
It has a full carbon fiber monocoque shell with fanciful styling that includes lots of slats, vents and scoops; doors that open upward; and a nose that looks like a cross between a Formula One race car and a Mercedes-Benz SL on steroids. Only 500 are hand-built per year by a team of highly trained technicians at the McLaren Technology Center in Woking, England. SLR McLarens sell for more than $450,000.

Performance is truly staggering: zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200 mph.

Such blazing acceleration and speed comes from a 671-hp, supercharged 5.5-liter V8 engine tuned by Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance division. It’s mounted to a lightweight aluminum frame behind the front wheels in a front, mid-engine configuration for optimal weight distribution. Its dry-sump, racing-inspired lubrication system is said to help shorten the engine so it can be mounted lower in the frame for better aerodynamics, and for a lower center of gravity to aid handling and high-speed stability.

A five-speed automatic is the only available transmission. It includes “comfort” and “sport” modes with different shift parameters and can be taken through the gears manually via steering-wheel-mounted paddles or the console gearshift lever.

Bringing a 3,732-lb. supercar safely and expediently to a halt from 200 mph is an engineering challenge that Mercedes-Benz and McLaren engineers solved with ceramic composite brake discs, making the SLR one of the few production vehicles to use such technology. These special rotors offer better heat resistance, are stronger and have a longer service life than conventional brakes.

A retractable spoiler mounted in the trunk lid aids deceleration and stopping. Slamming on the brakes at speeds over 59 mph triggers the spoiler to deploy at a steep, 65-degree angle, acting as an air brake.

The SLR McLaren is the first production car with a front crash structure made entirely of carbon fiber, which is said to offer exceptional energy absorption in a collision. Other safety measures include front, knee and side airbags, as well as an Electronic Stability Program that controls braking and throttle to ensure proper traction.

Carbon-trimmed sport seats with deep side bolsters embrace occupants. The interior is swathed in leather and aluminum trim and features a cleaner central-control panel, compared with other Mercedes-Benz models, which are bedecked with many buttons and knobs. The SLR McLaren is not wanting for features, including a standard navigation system.

As if owning a handcrafted $450,000 street-legal race car isn’t exclusive enough, McLaren buyers can take advantage of an “SLR Unlimited” program that offers customization via 15 interior leather upholstery colors and 13 exterior paint treatments in monochrome or metallic finishes. Larger, 19-inch asymmetrical turbine-look wheels can be swapped for the standard 18-inch rims, and brake calipers (visible behind wheel spokes) can be finished in either red or gold. No other options are available.

Only 500 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren sports cars are hand-built each year for those who can afford and appreciate its mind-boggling performance