The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Show in September and we have undisguised pictures of the 414 kW gull-winged supercar – set to go on sale later this year.
The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Show in September and we have undisguised pictures of the 414 kW gull-winged supercar – set to go on sale later this year.
As these pictures of production-ready SLRs show, the design is a futuristic interpretation of styling elements from the original 300SLR (circa 1955) and from the latest MP4-18 McLaren-Mercedes car.
The car, which weights just over 1,36 tons due to the use of aluminium and carbon fibre in the frame and a lightweight composite folding roof, has ceramic disc brakes, adaptive headlights, brake-by-wire and Mercedes’ latest accident prevention technology, Pre-Safe.
Earlier this year, CARtoday.com reported that production of the hand-built two-seater had been delayed twice; first last year when it was pushed back from March to September, and again last month after the parent company reorganised McLaren Cars and its managing director, Andrew Walmsley, resigned. The car, which is expected to retail for between R2,5 million and R3 million, was set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but the launch had to be delayed.
CARtoday.com recently quoted AMG president Ulrich Bruhnke as saying that the SLR’s 5,5-litre V8 engine was being tested at the Affalterbach-based company’s test facilities.
The SLR has a front mid-engine configuration and the supercharged powerplant, fitted with a dry-sump lubrication system, will deliver around 414 kW and 700 N.m of torque and top speed of 320 km/h (unless electronically restricted on production versions).
