Vehicle Overview

Inspired by the legendary 300 SLR Coupé of the 1950s, the new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is the perfect synthesis of tradition and innovation.

Highlights

Front

The centrepiece of the front hood is an arrow-shaped nose reminiscent of the Mercedes McLaren Formula One race cars that won World Championships in 1998 and 1999. Another distinctive F1 element can be found under the arrow-shaped nose - a twin-fin front spoiler that is more than just decoration. The fins create aerodynamic downforce that contributes to the car's sure-footed, race-car-like handling. Above a large intake for engine cooling air, four elliptical headlights are arranged in a fresh treatment of the familiar face that has identified Mercedes-Benz cars for nearly a decade. On each side, two ovals form single units that house powerful xenon projection lights under clear covers that resemble high-quality camera lenses.

Doors

In the 1950s, the trademark of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe was its spectacular gullwing doors. Today, the wide-door sill design of the SLR cockpit demands a contemporary version of the gullwing mechanism: swing-wing doors. Thanks to the innovative positioning of the hinges, the doors swing up and forward from the front roof post, gliding effortlessly into position and requiring very little space.

Profile

The SLR features powerful proportions: a long, broad front hood, a compact passenger cell, and a short trunk section. Just behind the front wheels, finned "gills" reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz sports cars and racers from the 1950s serve as vents for the all-important cooling air that exits the engine compartment. The sidepipes allow the underside of the car to be entirely smooth, which plays a crucially important role in the car's excellent aerodynamics and high-speed stability.

Performance

A front-mid-engine producing 617 hp rockets the SLR from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, on up to a top speed of 344 km/h. With performance figures like these, it is good to know that beneath the car's characteristic nose there is a sophisticated engine and charge-air cooling system, ensuring optimum cooling management. At the same time, the dry sump lubrication ensures a steady supply of oil to the engine, even under extreme conditions.

Rear

At the rear, the SLR has a wide, muscular character, a visual effect reinforced by the expressive brake and tail lamps. As is the case with Motorsport cars, the upper waistline kicks up at the rear end and takes on central aerodynamic functions. The combination of the air brake and the diffuser, with its aqueduct-style air ducts rising up from the underbody, results in the kind of traction comparable to an F1 racing car. At the same time, the striking curves conceal a trunk that is uniquely spacious for a high-performance sports car.

Interior

The SLR combines the driving sensation of a high-performance sports car with the comfort of a Gran Turismo. The on-board atmosphere is shaped by a striking contrast between cool aluminium and luxurious leather, while made-to-measure carbon-bucket seats embrace you with comfort and style. Finally, a 7-speaker Bose® sound system, specifically tuned to the unique spatial acoustics of the SLR, ensures extraordinary sound quality.

Body

One dramatic example of technology transfer from Formula One racing is the carbon-fibre composite construction of the SLR's body. This groundbreaking material structure is not only lightweight but also provides rigidity and strength never before achieved in road-going vehicles. The SLR's smooth underbody, its six-channel diffuser and special spoilers at the rear, and additional diffusers at the front all work together to ensure that negative lift, or downforce, is created, especially at higher speeds.

Engine

The AMG-built, intercooled, supercharged V-8 engine delivers prodigious power and high-tech features drawn from the racing world. The bottom line is impressive - its maximum torque of 575 ft-lb begins at 3,250 rpm and continues undiminished to 5,000 rpm. This muscular torque curve combined with agile throttle response and a peak output of 617 horsepower at 6,500 rpm makes the SLR one of the most powerful production engines in a modern street car.

Safety

The SLR is the world's first production car with a front crash structure made entirely of carbon-fibre and a rigid passenger cell separated from the front and rear crumple zones. In a serious collision, the crash structures absorb over four times more crash energy than conventional steel or aluminium. In addition, the SLR's cutting-edge restraint system features six air bags, seat belt tensioners, and belt force limiters.

Brakes

The SLR offers a unique combination of different high-performance braking components including SBC™ and ceramic brake technology. Fitted with huge eight-piston calipers up front, the SLR is one of very few production cars to use ceramic brake discs, which boast astounding stopping power, high heat resistance, and outstanding structural strength. The braking system can decelerate the SLR at a rate of up to 12 m/s² while an innovative air brake - an adaptive rear spoiler built into the trunk lid - automatically flips up to increase air drag and provide greater down force.

Transmission

The 5-speed automatic transmission and rear final-drive unit, already in use in several high-performance Mercedes-Benz models, has been further modified to handle the high torque of the SLR engine. The automatic transmission and the AMG SPEEDSHIFT R transmission management system offers three different shift programs: "Comfort", "Manual", and "Sport", the latter of which provides higher-rpm shift points and crisper shifts. In the "Manual" setting, the driver can shift with buttons on the steering wheel or by using the side-to-side Touch Shift feature on the shift lever. Another knob on the right side of the console can select any one of three modes of progressively sportier shifting: stage I is "Sport", stage II is "SuperSport" and stage III is "Race".

Specifications