It all began in 1999 as a concept (I remember cause I wrote about it in my SPM English paper), and in 2004, the Mercedes-Benz and Mclaren love story began. The two legendary companies set out to produce a memorable supercar and came up with the SLR (Sport, Light, Racing). The SLR spawned two coupe’s, two roadster’s and one Stirling Moss edition which was the final edition of the SLR range. In a span of five years 2,000 SLR’s were built but only 75 would ultimately be badged Stirling Moss, making it even more exclusive than the already very exclusive coupe and roadster SLR.
The SLR is powered by a 5.5-liter supercharged V8 powerplant that makes 626hp in the Coupe and Roadster models. The same engine makes 650hp in the 722 and Stirling Moss editions. The latter has a blistering speed that does the 0-100 run in 3.5 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 350km/h. With no roof, windscreen or side windows, a helmet for the driver and passenger of the Stirling Moss, is highly recommended.
The original 300 SLR racing cars was piloted by Moss himself and went on to a succession of victories in the 50s. The legendary Juan Manuel Fangio later became a five time Formula One World Champion in the cars too.
So it is in fact a sad day for the SLR legacy that goes back decades but with such a glittering history, we’re sure there will be future models of the SLR. Meanwhile, members of the SLR.CLUB (open to anyone who owns a SLR) will keep the history alive by getting together regularly and continue organising club events such as drives on famous racing circuits and participation in the Mille Miglia.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Mercedes Mclaren SLR: Production Ends After 2000 Units
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Mclaren To Buy Back 40% Stake Held by Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler AG will have stakes in two Formula 1 teams next season, with a majority shareholding in Brawn GP coming into effect while its 40% stake in McLaren Racing is set to be bought out by the McLaren Group over the coming year.
“In a transaction structured so as to be completed by 2011, the McLaren Group will undertake a phased purchase of the 40 per cent shareholding currently owned by Daimler AG. As a result, the McLaren Group will become a fully independent stand-alone corporate entity,” the company confirmed in a statement on Monday.
This year’s championship-winning Brawn GP team will be renamed Mercedes Grand Prix, and Daimler AG’s statement confirming the purchase used the term ‘Silver Arrows’ to describe its future single-seaters.
However the collaboration with McLaren will continue beyond the buyout of Mercedes’ stake, since the German manufacturer will maintain its supply of engines to McLaren until 2015, at which time a prolonging agreement may come into place.
“The team will continue to be known as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, its distinctive silver-with-red livery will remain unchanged, and Mercedes-Benz will continue as both an engine supplier and a partner,” read the McLaren Group statement.
By the time the new engine-supply agreement reaches its term in 2015, the working relationship between McLaren and Mercedes-Benz will have reached its 21st year. “By which time it will have become by some margin the longest such association in Formula 1 history,” McLaren pointed out.
“For the benefit of both Mercedes and McLaren, we will continue our partnership cooperation in the future,” said Dieter Zetsche, Daimler CEO and head of Mercedes-Benz, in a separate statement. “We will be rivals on-track but, off-track, we will cooperate with McLaren and the other teams in order to create the best possible product for spectators worldwide.”
Mercedes-Benz Motorsport boss Norbert Haug looked back at the 60 Grand Prix victories, four titles and ten runner-up positions gained with McLaren Racing since 1995 in the drivers’ and constructors’ championships: “We thank our partner and will continue to work with McLaren based on an excellent partnership.
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“The reaffirmation of the two companies’ commitment to each other is the result of many weeks of careful and cooperative discussion,” the McLaren Group statement explained, adding that the agreement “covers both parties’ continued involvement in the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 partnership as well as a shared intention to act in the overall best interests of the sport of Grand Prix racing.
“It also reflects the independent vision of both companies with regard to their automotive production strategies,” the press release indicated, referring to McLaren Automotive’s intention of building “its own range of high-performance production sports cars” starting in 2011.
“This is a win-win situation, for both McLaren and Daimler,” said Ron Dennis, the Executive Chairman of McLaren Automotive and founder of the McLaren Group.
“I’ve often stated that it’s my belief that, in order to survive and thrive in 21st-century Formula 1, a team must become much more than merely a team,” Dennis explained. “The next few years will be a very exciting time for McLaren, during which period we intend to become an ever-stronger technological and economic force.
“Over the past two years we’ve analysed in great detail the challenge of entering the high-performance production sports car market,” he continued, however underlining that “Formula 1 will always be a core activity, for sound business reasons as well as for historical sporting reasons.
“All of our partners will of course continue to play a crucial role in our Formula 1 programme,” Dennis said. “For that reason, and because the engines they produce are very competitive, we’re delighted that Mercedes-Benz has committed to continue not only as an engine supplier but also as a partner of ours until 2015 – and perhaps thereafter.”
Monday, September 7, 2009
New Mclaren Set To Be Revealed
Come Wednesday the 9th of September McLaren Automotive will unveil one of the most anticipated supercars of the year, if not this decade. Following months of many spy shots and some official details, the MP4-12C will be presented.
Previously known by its codename P11, the car will go on sale in 2011 and will be a spiritual successor to the McLaren F1 supercar going head-to-head with the Porsche 911 Turbo and Ferrari 458 Italia.
It is expected to lead the field in technical innovation thanks to its Formula One association. Details obtained by WCF state the MP4-12C will have a carbon-fiber monocoque body structure. However, the big innovation is in direct correlation to its namesake, the MP4-12 F1 racecar from 1997. First seen on this racecar, but subsequently banned by the FIA, the MP4-12C will incorporate technology known as a “brake steering” system. It will allow the driver to brake either rear wheels via a selectable second brake pedal resulting in reduced wheelspin and the elimination of understeer.
Power will be sourced from a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V8 petrol engine and accessed through a 7-speed gearbox which will reportedly pump out 600 to 700bhp. Although the MP4-12C is meant to be a supercar worthy of the tag, its makers are not skimping on its everyday usability. As such the 320kmh-plus road runner will have goodies like wi-fi connection, an onboard computer and self-adjusting suspension. Apparently it also comes with vertically opening doors.
As already stated in previous reports this car will not be an only child. CEO Ron Dennis stated that his company is not just building one car but is actually building a brand. Therefore expect to see a total of three models over the next six years, culminating in annual sales of about 4,000. In comparison Ferrari produces about 6,000 cars a year while Porsche is said to be facing a culling of its high-selling non-sports car models under its new VW home.
Of the three upcoming cars the MP4-12C is the midsized one, said to have a future price tag of £150,000 (US$246,000). A 911 rival will launch for about £60,000 (US$98,400) and a Lamborghini Murcielago competitor will round out the initial lineup.
Looking at the rendering posted above, a source states it is very close to the real thing except the headlamps which are more boomerang shaped. Perhaps an early design draft.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
ASMA Perfectus Mercedes McLaren SLR
ASMA Design from Germany has unveiled its latest custom car based on the Mercedes McLaren SLR. The ASMA Perfectus Mercedes McLaren SLR was originally developed for the Royal Family of Abu Dhabi but will eventually available for any SLR owners. The exterior of the SLR consists of new grille and front bumper combination, new side sills and extended rear fenders, a boot lip spoiler and a new rear bumper with rear diffuser.
For the performance , the ASMA Perfectus Mercedes McLaren SLR’s 5.5-liter supercharged engine capable to produce 700 hp (522 kW) and 855 Nm (630 lb-ft) of maximum torque which need to give credit to the superchargers, a high-flow catalytic converter, ASMA racing mufflers and a reprogrammed ECU. With all these upgrades, the car now able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds with the top speed of 350 km/h, 10 km/h more than the SLR 722.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Mansory Mercedes-McLaren SLR Renovatio
Mansory has revealed its second appearance kit for the Mercedes-McLaren SLR Renovatio with a two-tone, black and white, color scheme. The car is equipped with lighter components such as the ultra-light forged wheels and lighter carbon fiber body parts to reduce the weight. Besides that, the car is also equipped with new side skirts and rear wheel arch extensions. While for the front apron, it is designed to channel the air to the intercoolers and the rear apron with an integrated diffuser provides additional downforce.
For the interior, the car comes with leather and carbon fiber trim and new aluminum pedals and illuminated door tread plates.
Performance wise, the car is powered by a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that produces 700 hp (522 kW) and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque. The power increase is made possible with the installation of Mansory custom supercharger, high flow exhaust system and a reprogrammed ECU. With all the performance parts added in to the car, it is able to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h faster than the stock model and capable to have a top speed at 340km/h.
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Limited Edition SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S by McLaren
McLaren, the German automaker is releasing the SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S limited edition version. The rag-top SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S which features an upgraded 5.5-liter V8 engine developing 650 HP as well as a more dynamic suspension tuning and improved aerodynamics will be produced in a limited number of 150 vehicles.
For the performance, a tuned version of the supercharged 5.5-litre V8 engine that develops an output of 650 HP and 820 Nm (605-lbs/ft) of torque compared to the standard SLR McLaren Roadster’s 626 HP and 780 Nm respectively is equipped to the car. The car able to acclerate from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) comes in just 3.7 seconds, and 200 km/h (123 mph) is reached in 10.6 seconds while the maximum speed is 335 km/h or 208 mph.
For the suspension, a sportier setup with stiffer spring and shock absorber configurations while the body has been lowered by 10mm at the front and rear. Furthermore, Merc’s engineers added a carbon fiber body kit to improve aerodynamics. The 722 S sits on a new set of lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels.
A limited new sports bucket seats upholstered in a combination of semi-aniline leather/Alcantara highlighted by contrasting red seams, embossed 722 S lettering on the head restraints and the likewise red seat belts. Besides that, the shift and parking brake levers are lined in suede leather while Mercedes-Benz also added plenty of carbon-fibre details.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
McLaren F2 concept
Recently a website named Avtomanija has published a group of photos of what seems to be a prototype version of the forthcoming McLaren F2 supercar that’s scheduled to be launched in late 2010.
McLaren’s new pure-bred two-seater will be based on the P8 mid-engined supercar project that was initially co-developed by the British automaker and Mercedes-Benz as a smaller and lower-priced successor to the SLR but was abandoned by the Germans in 2004. The F2 will rumors that to be equipped with a mid-mounted V8 powerplant from Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division.
via: Avtomanija 
Saturday, May 10, 2008
New Details for Next Mclaren
Next year sees the end of production of the Mclaren SLR and also signals the end of the the collaboration between Mercedes and Mclaren as each will create their own successor. Mclaren has been very secretive around the project, codenamde P11.
The new mid-engined car will directly compete with the Ferrari F430 although the McLaren will be lighter and more compact. Power is said to come close to 550 bhp produced by a V8 engine, which will be produced in England.
Besides, the P11 project will then provide the base for the legendary Mclaren F1 Supercar where the code name is P12. According to internal McLaren documents finalised last year, a V10 engine delivering over 600bhp will power the P12. The rest of the car will be stripped down and re-engineered for ultimate weight saving.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
End of production for McLaren SLR coupe and roadster
Last year, McLaren had decided to end the production of SLR coupe. Besides that, SLR roadster will end their production life as well. P11 will become the new own supercar for McLaren company. McLaren has the ability to build this new supercar in their own McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey, England.
