Mercedes & McLaren to produce final run of 75 lightweight SLR speedsters
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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: Auto Motor und Sport]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ovidiu Miron 10:53AM (7/02/2008)
Lewis Hamilton has a lot of credibility. It's important because a great project needs to be sustained by important people. I am waiting for new details.
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john 11:18AM (7/02/2008)
I think Lewis needs to spend less time on projects like this and more time concentrating on winning races. His driving is really down this year.
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martin 11:44AM (7/02/2008)
217mph and no windscreen just sounds like a bad idea, this wind deflector better be amazing
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Mobius_1 12:23PM (7/02/2008)
James May once said on the SLR Roadster "At that (SLR top speed) speed, if a fly hits you squarely in the middle of your forehead, it will go straight through...
... its own arse." Would be even more true in this car
HotRodzNKustoms 3:42AM (7/03/2008)
Formula 1 cars have no real windscreen to speak of
Mobius_1 12:20PM (7/02/2008)
SLR Black Edition? As if SLR isn't awesome enough already
Oh, and the SLR gets its own fridge on my "Cool Wall" for doing this:
http://kenvsryu.blogspot.com/2007/11/i-love-paris-hilton.html
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tankd0g 3:05PM (7/02/2008)
For a discontinued model they sure have been pumping out a lot of these things.
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tankd0g 3:06PM (7/02/2008)
I think we all know what Hamilton has to do with the project, he'll be allowed/forced to be seen driving one around London. Pray for clear skies.
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ET 3:37PM (7/02/2008)
Hmm, so Lewis Hamilton had development input. So at every red light it'll simply plow right into the back of the car in front of you?
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porschedevotee 5:48PM (7/02/2008)
"The final iteration of the SLR is reported to be a lightweight speedster with neither roof nor windscreen, just a small deflector."
So... it's like a Callaway C16 Speedster?
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