Manufactured between 2003 and 2010, their new supercar allowed Mercedes-Benz and its then-Formula One partner McLaren to showcase their collective experience in the development, construction and production of high-performance sports cars. The heart of any car is its engine, and that of the SLR McLaren is truly outstanding. Produced at Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance division, it is a 5.5-liter, 24-valve, supercharged V8 producing 617 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful engines ever found in a series-produced road-going sports car. Impressive though this peak horsepower figure is, it is the torque produced by this state-of-the-art “blown” motor that is its most remarkable feature. The torque curve is almost flat: There is already 440 lb-ft by 1,500 rpm and well over 500 lb-ft between 3,000 and 5,000 revs.
Needless to say, the SLR McLaren delivers performance figures that are still among the best in its class. Taking just 3.8 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph), it passes the 200-km/h (125 mph) mark after 10.6 seconds and from a standing start takes just 28.8 seconds to reach 300 km/h (186 mph). The 2-seater has a top speed of 334 km/h (207 mph).
Reflecting the long-term technological collaboration that Mercedes-Benz and McLaren enjoyed in Formula One, the SLR’s carbon-fiber composite monocoque body and chassis structure was produced in the latter’s then-all-new facility in Woking, England. The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was introduced for the 2005 model year, priced at $455,000, although choosing from the lengthy list of options could add considerably to the total.
The stylish roadster offered here is an example of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition. This roadster variant of the 722 Edition was unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show as the 722 S. The latter used the same engine and running gear as the coupe, together with the standard SLR roadster’s folding-roof mechanism. Its performance was on a par with that of the closed coupe. The model went on sale in January 2009 and production was limited to 150 units.
