Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Manufacturer	McLaren Automotive
Parent company	Daimler AG
Production	2003–2009
Assembly	Woking, Surrey, England
Class	supercar/grand tourer
Body style(s)	2-door coupé 2-door roadster
Layout	Front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine(s)	5.4 L supercharged V8 (M115 ML55)
Transmission(s)	5-speed Automatic
Wheelbase	2700 mm (106.3 in)
Length	4656 mm (183.3 in)
Width	1908 mm (75.1 in)
Height	1261 mm (49.6 in) 2006–08: 1252 mm (49.3 in)
Curb weight	1768 kg (3898 lb)

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is an Anglo-German supercar jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive, built in Portsmouth and the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. Daimler AG, owner of Mercedes-Benz, also owns 40% of the McLaren Group.

Due to the presence of the automatic gear box, front mid-engined arrangement and its driving characteristics lead some commentators to classify the SLR McLaren as a GT whose rivals can be considered to be e.g. the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish and Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Mclaren Mercedes decided to drop the SLR due to lack of sales in late 2007.

SLR stands for "Sport, Leicht, Rennsport" (sport, light, racing). Mercedes-Benz has stated that they will build 3500 SLRs in a span of 7 years, with an annual production of 500 cars.^[1] The car's base price is GB£300,000 (approx. US$495,000 or €475,000, c. 2007).^[2] However demand was insufficient to meet targeted sales numbers, production will end in 2009 as planned.^[3]

Contents 1 History 2 Technical Highlights 2.1 Brakes 2.2 Aerodynamics 2.3 Engine 2.4 Transmission 2.5 Performance 3 Comparison 4 Variants 4.1 722 Edition 4.2 Roadster 4.3 722 S Roadster 4.4 722 GT 4.5 Stirling Moss 5 Sales 6 References 6.1 Notes 7 External links

[edit] History

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is inspired by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR of 1955, based on the W196 F1 car, yet named after the road-going 300SL Gullwing. On 4 April 2008, Mercedes announced they will cease production of the SLR. The last of the coupes rolled off the production line at the end of 2007 and the roadster version is due to be discontinued in early 2009.

[edit] Technical Highlights

[edit] Brakes

The SLR features Sensotronic, a type of brake-by-wire system^[4]. The brake discs are carbon-ceramic (in the front only) and provide better stopping power and fade resistance than steel discs when operating under ideal working temperature. Mercedes-Benz claims these discs are fade resistant to 1,200 °C (2,200 °F). The front discs are internally vented and 370 mm (14.6 in) in diameter. 8 piston calipers are used. Rear discs are 360 mm (14.2 in) in diameter with 4 piston calipers. During wet conditions the calipers automatically skim the surface of the discs to keep them dry.

To improve braking performance there is an automatic air brake, when engaged the rear elevation angle of the rear spoiler is set to 65 degrees. The additional rear downforce in addition to the markedly increased aerodynamic drag increases peak deceleration ~90%.

[edit] Aerodynamics

The SLR features active aerodynamics; there is a spoiler mounted on the rear integral air brake flap. The spoiler increases downforce depending on its angle of elevation (angle of attack). At speeds above 95 km/h (59 mph) the spoiler/brake automatically raises to 10 degrees (15 in 722 edition), when demanded via the driver's switch, the elevation can be increased to 30 degrees (35 in 722 version) for increased rear downforce, at the cost of increased steady state drag.

[edit] Engine

The SLR sports a 232 kg (511 lb) hand-built 5.4-litre (5,439 cc (332 cu in)), supercharged, all-aluminium, SOHC V8 engine. The cylinders are angled at 90 degrees with three valves per cylinder and lubricated via a dry sump system. The compression ratio is 8.8:1 and the bore and stroke is 97 millimetre (3.82 in) and 92 millimeters (3.62 in), respectively. The Lysholm-type twin-screw supercharger rotates at 23000 revolutions per minute and produces 0.9 bar (13 psi) of boost. The compressed air is then cooled via two intercoolers. The engine generates a maximum power of 626 bhp at 6500 revolutions per minute and a maximum torque of 780 N·m (575 lb·ft) at 3250 revolutions per minute.^[5]

Unlike most of its contemporaries, its engine is front-mid mounted. McLaren took the original concept car designed by Mercedes and moved the engine 1 metre (39.4 in) behind the front bumper, and around 50 centimetres (19.7 in) behind the front axle. They also optimized the design of the center firewall.

[edit] Transmission

The SLR uses a traditional 5-speed automatic equipped with a torque converter but featuring Tiptronic style paddle-shifters, unlike other high-performance road cars equipped with manual or semi-auto transmissions. For durability Mercedes selected a 5-speed transmission rather than their 7-speed gearbox which was more complex and used more parts.

[edit] Performance

The car uses carbon fibre for its entire body construction in an attempt to keep the weight low. Despite CFRP materials the total curb weight is 1,768 kg (3,898 lb). The following tests have proven that the SLR can achieve a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in times less than the claimed 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 334 km/h (208 mph)^[6].

Car and Driver achieved a 0-60 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.6 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 11.6 seconds at 125 mph (201 km/h) C&D suggests the times may be even lower if temperatures were lower. Motor Trend tested the SLR and achieved a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds in April 2006. Car and Driver achieved top gear acceleration 30-50 mph and 50-70 mph times of 1.7 and 2.4 seconds, which are the fastest ever recorded by the magazine in a production car. The SLR also pulled 0.97 g on the skidpad.January 2005

Road and Track tested the car in their July 2005 Road Test and reached 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 3.5 seconds. The 0 - 100 mph (160 km/h) sprint was achieved in 7.5 seconds and a quarter mile run was completed in 11.5 seconds at 126 mph (203 km/h).

In June 2004 the SLR was tested at Nardo and performed the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) exercise in 3.8 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 10.3 seconds and 0-300 km/h (186 mph) in 30.4 seconds.^{[citation needed]} Their 400 metre and kilometre times were 11.4 seconds at 128 mph (206 km/h) and 20.6 seconds at 270 km/h (168 mph) respectively. They also reached its claimed topspeed 334 km/h (208 mph).

[edit] Comparison

Despite its near 2-ton weight, the fuel economy is generally better than the lighter Lamborghini Murciélago, and even its lighter, less expensive, less powerful sibling, Gallardo.^[7] Still, on the Episode 1 from Season 11 of BBC car show Top Gear the Lamborghini Murciélago performed better than the SLR during a race on the track. Also, the same show put the SLR and the Porsche Carrera GT on its track, and after multiple attempts, the Porsche beat the SLR-McLaren by just over a second (1:19.8 vs. 1:20.9^[8]). However, on a separate race around their short track, the SLR was fractionally quicker than the Carrera GT. In a straight line, the SLR is quicker throughout the range.

[edit] Variants

[edit] 722 Edition

A new version was introduced in 2006 called the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition. The "722" refers to the victory by Stirling Moss and his co-driver Denis Jenkinson in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with the starting number 722 (indicating a start time of 7:22 a.m.) at the Mille Miglia in 1955.

The "722 Edition" boosts power to 650 PS (478 kW; 641 hp) and 820 N·m (605 lb·ft) of torque at 4000 rpm, posting a top speed of 337 km/h (209 mph) (just 3 km/h faster than the standard SLR). 19-inch light-alloy wheels were used to reduce unsprung weight, while modifications were also made to the suspension, with a stiffer damper setup and 10 mm (0.4 in) lower ride height introduced for improved handling. Larger 390 mm (15.4 in) diameter front brakes and a revised front air dam and rear diffuser were fitted.^[9]

Exterior changes, other than the larger 19-inch (480 mm) black light-alloy wheels, include red "722" badging, hearkening back to the original 722 racer, and slightly different taillights and headlamps.

The SLR 722 can go from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) km/h in 3.6 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) in 10.2 seconds and 300 km/h (186 mph) in 21.4 seconds and can reach a top speed of 337 km/h (209 mph).

[edit] Roadster

A roadster version of the SLR went on sale in September 2007 for £350,000 ($711,065 U.S.). It uses the same supercharged V8 AMG power plant as its coupé siblings, developing 626 PS (460 kW; 617 hp), to propel it to a top speed of 332 km/h (206 mph) and enable 0-100 km/h dash time of 3.8 seconds.^[10] However, being a convertible the roadster will have to be burdened with extra weight and this will affect performance and handling. The Roadster's roof, however, is made from a "newly developed material" and hence will not take the form of a folding metal arrangement, as is now common on many modern cars. Following a manual unlatching, it takes a mere 10 seconds to fold away electrically. According to an official document from Mercedes, the cabin of the roadster is capable of allowing conversation between driver and passenger up to a speed of 124 mph (200 km/h) with the roof retracted. This roadster is aimed to compete against other sports cars such as the Pagani Zonda F Roadster.^[11]

[edit] 722 S Roadster

A roadster version of the 722 version was released in 2009. The 722 S roadster develops the same power as the 722 version. It includes the roof off of the SLR roadster and the upgrades on the SLR 722. It can reach 60mph from standstill in 3.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 208mph.

[edit] 722 GT

The 722 GT is a tuned version of the SLR 722 which is developed for a one-make racing series. The cars are built by Ray Mallock Ltd. with approval from Mercedes-Benz. The car features new wider bodywork to accommodate 19-inch (480 mm) OZ racing wheels. The front grill vents are removed and larger, free flowing air extractors sit on the hood and flank the side of the car. The rear now has a racing wing and diffuser.

Under the body, the car has shed 398 kg and reduced its dry weight to 1,300 kg (2,866 lb) . The engine remains in relatively stock specification but now produces 680 PS (671 hp/500 kW) and 830 N·m (612 lb·ft) at 1.75 bar (175 kPa) boost. Inside, the car is stripped out with only the essential functions being controlled from a carbon fiber binnacle. New carbon fiber door panels and full roll cage complete the transformation.

Renntech announced 21 SLR McLaren 722 GT would be available to the North American market exclusively through RENNtech, for €795,000 (1.2 million USD).^[12]

[edit] Stirling Moss

The SLR Stirling Moss is a limited (75 vehicles) edition of the series, which uses a speedster styling that does not include roof or windscreen. The design is based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR race car. It is the last series of the McLaren SLR built under the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren.

The supercharged V8 engine is rated 650 PS (641 hp/478 kW). The car's top speed is 350 km/h (217 mph) with acceleration from 0-100km/h under 3.5 seconds. The car is approximately 200 kg (441 lb) lighter than the regular model.^[13]

The SLR Stirling Moss was set to begin in June 2009, after SLR Roadster's production ended in May 2009. By December 2009 all 75 cars will be produced. SLR Stirling Moss has MSRP of €750,000.^[14]

The vehicle was unveiled in 2009 NAIAS.^[15]

[edit] Sales

Calendar Year	United States Sales
2003[16]	n/a
2004	45
2005[17]	200
2006	141
2007[18]	104
2008	106

Total 2006 sales were 261 units and 2007 sales were 275 units. Well below Mercedes-McLaren goal of selling 500 units annually.^[19]

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

• SLR on Mercedes-Benz website
• RENNtech SLR McLaren 722 GT

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Class	Body	Model	1980s										1990s										2000s
			0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Small family	Hatch	A																			W168							W169
Compact MPV	Hatch	B																										W245
Compact executive	Saloon / Estate	C			W201											W202							W203							W204
Executive	Saloon / Limousine / Estate	E	W123					W124										W210							W211							W212
	Coupé	CLS																										W219
Luxury	Saloon / Limousine	S	W126											W140								W220							W221
Sports	Roadster	SLK																			R170								R171
	Roadster	SL	R107									R129														R230
Compact	Coupé	CLC | C																													CL203
Executive	Coupé / Cabriolet	CLK | E																			W208					W209						W207
Luxury	Coupé	CL | S			C126										C140							C215							C216
Supercar	Coupé / Roadster / Speedster	SLR																										C199
	Coupé	CLK																			GTR
Utility	SUV	G	W460											W461
	SUV	G											W463
Compact	SUV	GLK																													X204
Executive	SUV	M																			W163								W164
Luxury	SUV	GL																											X164
Small	MPV	Vaneo																							W414
Executive	MPV	Viano																	V-Class								Viano
Luxury	MPV	R																											V251
Utility	LCV	Vito																	Vito										Vito
	LCV	Sprinter																Sprinter