2006 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Specifications

Horsepower: 617 bhp at 6,500 rpm

Torque: 580 ft-lbs at 3,250-5,000 rpm

Transmission: 5-Speed AMG Speedshift R automatic transmission with 3 manual modes

A Little History

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a grand tourer car jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive, built in Portsmouth and the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England, and sold from 2003 to 2010.

Facing stiff competition from the Porsche Carrera GT and Ferrari Enzo, Mercedes-Benz enlisted the help of its then Formula 1 partner McLaren to produce the stunning SLR. The vehicle’s namesake is shared with the celebrated 300 SLR endurance racer of the 1950s. Like the race car, sustaining high speed over the course of hundreds of miles remained the focus of development, and so Mercedes–McLaren carved out a specific niche among its contemporaries by focusing more on grand touring than on out and out performance.

That is not to say the SLR was a slouch, however; a 5.5-liter all-aluminum V-8 fitted with a twin screw supercharger feeding 13 psi of boost produced a mightily impressive 617 horsepower and 580 foot-pounds of torque. Testing conducted by Car and Driver Magazine proved the SLR to be a world-class performer. The 0–60 sprint was over in just 3.4 seconds, while a 11.2-second quarter mile was achieved at a final speed of 130 mph. Given enough room, the Mercedes–McLaren topped out at an impressive 208 miles per hour.

In order for the SLR to perform through the corners, Mercedes and McLaren employed all of the latest technologies. A state-of-the-art carbon fiber monocoque provided the vehicle with incredible strength and rigidity, but with the added benefit of being lightweight. Carbon-ceramic disc brakes measuring 15 inches in the front and 14 inches in the rear were fitted as standard and provided far superior stopping power and fade resistance. In addition, the vehicle was fitted with an active rear spoiler that, through varying degrees of elevation, could act as an airbrake or increase downforce. All of these factors working in conjunction with each other resulted in supreme handling characteristics and an incredible 1.13 g around the skidpad.

Quite possibly the most brilliant aspect of the SLR was its everyday usability. For a 200 mph supercar, the ride was relatively cushy, and there was even a functional trunk making it an uber grand touring car. Inside, custom-fit leather seats, high-end speakers, and automatic climate control reinforced the grand touring ambitions Mercedes envisioned when it initially began the project. SLR stands for “Sport Leicht Rennsport” (Sport Light Racing), an homage to the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR which served as the McLaren’s inspiration.

Specifications
One of 141 Examples Sold in the US in 2006
5,439 CC SOHC V-8 supercharged M155 SLR engine with Port Fuel Injection with Twin-Screw Lysholm Supercharger