For years, McLaren and Mercedes seemingly went together like peanut butter and jelly, but now HWA is stepping in to tune Mercedes' next supercar. The scribes over at Automotive News Europe say the separation stems from Mercedes' dissatisfaction with the performance of the SLR McLaren vs. its primary rivals. This comes as quite a shock since only a few months back, all signs pointed to Mercedes buying McLaren. It's not exactly as though McLaren and Mercedes are splitting up altogether, though, as it's been less than a month since a drop-dead gorgeous SLR McLaren drop-top was announced.
Power for the HWA-tuned supercar will come from a tweaked version of AMG's hand-built 6.2L engine, and if the SLR performance is less than satisfactory, expect HWA's effort to be flat-out ridiculous. Speaking of AMG, the new supercar will be badged as such to make it road-legal, but it will still be a full-blown HWA race-developed product. To make room for its latest project, HWA is tripling the size of its manufacturing facilities to 3,600 sq. ft. to the tune of €4.5 million.
We find it almost comical that McLaren's 3.5 second 0-60 time and 640hp aren't enough to suit the finicky folks in Stuttgart, but with Corvettes and Vipers on the way with the same power for a quarter of the price, Mercedes had to do something to raise the already ridiculously-high bar.
[Source: Motor Authority]
2010 Chevrolet Camaro priced: LS $22,995, SS $30,995
BREAKING: GM and Chrysler talking about merger
Spy Shots: Nissan 370Z again, with interior shots
2010 Mazda3 unveiled ahead of LA Auto Show
Spy Shots: Nissan 370Z caught undisguised
Knight Rider: The Liveblog -- Season 1, Episode 3
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3, return of the "hummer"
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
Paris 2008: Le Day 1 Wrapup
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The Doctor @ May 31st 2007 8:54AM
If Mercedes is unhappy with its performance they only have themselves to blame since they were the ones that insisted on things like an automatic gearbox, air conditioning and golf-bag friendly boot. I doubt that McLaren's engineers are particularly upset about the split.
frondeur @ May 31st 2007 8:55AM
I was under the impression that the SLR was "the world's fastest grocery getter" due to Mercedes' influence, not that of McLaren.
Weren't there reports early on in the life of the SLR that McLaren was disappointed with the way Mercedes took the project?
Considering the SLR isn't selling as well as Mercedes had hoped, perhaps this is a way of saving face. I hope the animosity doesn't trickle down to the F1 team.
Dr. Phil @ May 31st 2007 9:45AM
Mercedes is burning many bridges lately. Sure they are an icon of affordable luxury, and a world leader (for decades with no exceptions) in design.
But quality isn't their strong point and arrogance they've been showing lately would surely bite them in the ass.
No one but their management is to blame in decline of Chrysler. It used to be THE only promising US automaker until three years ago, when decision was made to bankrupt them by releasing hideous unreliable cheap looking-and-feeling vehicles.
Now McLaren. I doubt that it was McLaren's idea to create an overpriced Paris Hilton mover. Sure design is nice, but not the rest.
Proud Japanese @ May 31st 2007 9:57AM
Not sure what Mercedes is on about.
It does a 11.4 in the 1.4 mile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5hK6g0QGVI
It is faster than the 599GTB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GSXZqXU43k
It is as fast/ faster than the Carrera GT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdDKT6B_adY
Plus it sounds like a spitfire.
david @ May 31st 2007 10:07AM
No one should expect a 640 bhp car weighing 3900 lbs to be as quick as cars with similar power weighing 800 pounds less. The fact that Mercedes managed to build a two seat car out of aluminum and carbon fiber and have it come in at almost two tons is a kind of perverse miracle of engineering in itself. I can't imagine the choices that led to that were made by McLaren.
William @ May 31st 2007 11:24AM
"The fact that Mercedes managed to build a two seat car out of aluminum and carbon fiber and have it come in at almost two tons is a kind of perverse miracle of engineering in itself."
Comment of the week...
Frank @ May 31st 2007 10:21AM
If there so disapointed in the performance maybe they can buy the Chrylser ME412 and stick a 3 pointed star on it.
Adam @ May 31st 2007 10:23AM
Hmm. What was that car of Gordon Murray's that McLaren built... Seated three... Pretty quick if I remember... Won LeMans... Just can't place it.
Yeah McLaren is obviously the guilty party here.
PeteL @ May 31st 2007 1:23PM
Wow they are trippling their manufacturing to 3600 sq ft. For 4.5 million euros? I thought the Boston housing market was insane but that's just plain crazy! 4.5 Million euros for 2400 Sq Ft. The place better be made out of platinum.
=)
Ken @ May 31st 2007 1:51PM
I don't think speed/quickness is the issue - I think the issue is the SLR is a great Mercedes, but not a great McLaren. The car is too soft, too civilized, and not a real sports car if you know what I mean.
It would be like if Lexus and RUF tried to build a supercar together - two totally different ideas would cause the final product to be unfocused and weak.
Sherief @ May 31st 2007 1:59PM
It's Mercedes' own fault for insisting the SLR have every luxurious amenity under the sun. If all the engineering and design were left solely to McLaren, it would have come out weight far, far less than its current 3800lb curb weight.
Ben Levy @ May 31st 2007 2:03PM
I agree with david's comments. I was one of those people that thought the car was amazing, but not really up to McLaren's standards. You could tell that the car was just a fast Benz. It doesn't really live up to the standards of the other cars in its price range and the fact that it has a 5 speed auto makes me cry.
I hope they get back with BMW and make a real sports car rather than another GT.
hitbyastick @ May 31st 2007 2:12PM
The SLR McLaren is quite ugly and overwrought, with far too many swoopy details. Kind of like a Pontiac Grand Am.
Mercedes manufactures crap, however I do it twice a day myself.
naggs @ May 31st 2007 2:31PM
the Mc SLR was a dissapponitment because it was too much MB and not enought mclaren. too heavy, they managed to somehow make a supercar that wasnt a sports car. it was an ultra touring car.
HotRodzNKustoms @ May 31st 2007 9:49PM
What is so funny is in this price range less is more. The Porsche Carrera GT had no luxury options compaired to that of the plush Merc. Hell you couldn't even get a automatic in the Porsche. If you are over 200lbs you can't fit in the Porsche but you can in the Merc. You are comfortable in the Merc for long trips but 20 miles in the Porsche you'll be in bed for a week. You have a good sized trunk in the Merc but not so in the Porsche. The Merc was plain better as a car and a tenth of a second faster on Top Gear. Yet in this backwards price range they can't give the Merc away and people were fighting over the Porsche. Go figure.
Pouya @ Jun 1st 2007 5:30AM
This car was a mistake. Like every other MB, the transmission is garbage - a 5-speed automatic transmission on a supercar. Are you serious? I don't care how fast or luxurious this car is, I (and most true enthusiasts) would never consider this car unless it was offered in a manual or, as a compromise, some type of DSG-like transmission, preferably with more than five gears. There are pick-up trucks with more forward gears than that. Or the fact that the brakes have awful brake pedal feel. Then there is the fact that the engine/exhaust lacks the exotic harmonic howl of a Zonda (which ironically uses a AMG motor), Lamborghini, Porsche CGT, or Ferrari or bark of a Aston Martin. The car sounds more like a Ford Mustang Cobra than a Ferrari Enzo. Or the fact that even with its side exhausts, gonzo nose, gullwing doors and fender gills, it still looks too much like a Mercedes SL to have the majority of the population to drool over it. Or the fact that it costs almost half a million dollars. In other words, you could buy yourself an SL 65 AMG, which comes with four more cylinders, two more turbos (instead of a SC), more torque and enough money left over to buy a Murcielago, which, most people find more exotic to begin with (and performs pretty well to boot). Or if you are really that concerned with luxury and comfort, you could buy yourself a Rolls Royce Phantom (which puts the SLR to shame in luxury) with enough money left over to pay someone $50,000 a year to drive you around for the next 3 years. Or, you could buy a house in most states, or at least a decent pad in the more expensive states.
At the grand opening of one of Silicon Valley Auto Group's Los Gatos shops, there was a mint metallic grey SLR with bright red seats with the gullwing doors open, begging to be drooled over . . . guess what? No one cared. Not one person sat in the car, took pictures of it, inquired about it, gathered around, etc. Nothing. People were not only much more interested in its competitors cars, but also cars about 1/4 its price. It is one thing to convince people that you engineered a nice car, and another thing to convince them to pay you almost half a million dollars for it.