Two decades ago, Mercedes-Benz premiered a new sports grand tourer developed with British automobile manufacturer McLaren Automotive, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. It was produced until 2010, and 2,157 units left the production line. On this occasion, the company organized an exhibition of these cars, and the most attention was attracted by SLR Stirling Moss, SLR by MSO, SLR HDK and SLR 722 GT Prototype.
McLaren organized a series of events at its McLaren Technology Center (MTC) in Woking, UK, not only to pay tribute to the car but also to the people behind its creation, with several members of the original team still working for McLaren.
Cars appeared on MTC Boulevard with displays showing the evolution of supercars. The event was also attended by enthusiasts from the SRL Club (the global association of Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren owners), along with members of the McLaren team who contributed to the creation of the legendary model.
The story begins in 1999 when the Vision SLR concept was presented, and a year later the SLR concept. A team of former McLaren mechanics from Formula 1 worked on it, and it was also the first hand-assembled car at the MTC (McLaren Technology Centre). The design is closely linked to the Mercedes vision, which has been brought to life through innovative engineering and the use of McLaren’s expertise in carbon composites.
The car is powered by a 5.4 L supercharged M155 SLR V8 engine with 617 hp (460 kW) and 575 lb-ft (780 Nm) of torque. power is sent to the rear wheels via the AMG SPEEDSHIFT R five-speed automatic transmission with three manual modes. It reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 207 mph (333 km/h).
In 2009, the Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss arrived on the market, a limited edition variant with speedster styling that does not include a roof or a windscreen. It was powered by a supercharged 5.4-liter SLR AMG V8 engine with 641 hp (478 kW). It accelerated to 62 mph in 3 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h).
In 2011, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) announced a bespoke program for the SLR, introducing the Mercedes SLR McLaren Edition. The car features revised bodywork and interior parts, upgraded steering and suspension components and a new titanium sports exhaust.
Last year, McLaren Special Operations introduced the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren HDK (High Downforce Kit), a road-going version of the SLR 722 GT. The car arrives with many improvements, but also a modified variant of the M155 V8 with 680 hp (507 kW).
Source: Mercedes-Benz
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