September marks 20 years because the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was offered on the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Present. McLaren’s unparalleled experience in composite development delivered a pioneering super-GT with an F1-inspired carbon fibre monocoque. The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was the primary automobile assembled on the McLaren Know-how Centre (MTC).
Click on right here to subscribe to our print version!
Celebrations marking the anniversary embrace a automobile show, worker shows at MTC, and a 21 car-visit by members of the SLR Membership. McLaren Particular Operations (MSO) continues to work with the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, offering homeowners with bespoke commissions and improve packages. McLaren is marking 20 years because the 2003 debut of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren with a variety of actions on the McLaren Know-how Centre (MTC) in Woking, UK.
Born out of a Components 1-inspired collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren, the pioneering super-GT is a novel chapter within the McLaren story. The actions on the McLaren Know-how Centre mirror this, recognising the automobile and the individuals who introduced it to life, a considerable variety of whom are nonetheless with McLaren.
4 examples of the grand tourer designed and engineered to supercar requirements – an SLR Stirling Moss, an SLR by MSO, an SLR HDK and the SLR 722 GT Prototype – had been showcased on the MTC Boulevard, alongside objects from the automobile’s improvement story. A go to to MTC by the SLR Membership – a global group of Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren homeowners – added color to the occasions, with the lovers assembly some McLaren crew that labored on the mission to have a good time 20 years of the automobile.
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren mission was introduced on the 1999 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, with affirmation that McLaren would accomplice with Mercedes-Benz to take the Mercedes-Benz SLR Imaginative and prescient idea proven earlier that yr on the Detroit Auto Present from present stand to the street as a full manufacturing automobile developed beneath the title of ‘Undertaking 7′.
McLaren and Mercedes-Benz had been companions in Components 1 between 1995 to 2009, throughout which McLaren received 4 Components 1 World Championships (Constructors’ Champions in 1998, Drivers’ Champions in 1998, 1999 and 2008). This successful mixture of McLaren chassis improvement and carbon fibre expertise with Mercedes engine energy can be replicated for homeowners of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
The primary Undertaking 7 prototype was constructed by a crew of ex-Components 1 McLaren mechanics who then joined with automotive engineers to kind the core crew that might take the automobile into manufacturing as the primary automobile to be hand-assembled on the then-newly opened MTC.
The form and styling of the automobile had been stored as near Mercedes’ necessities – and the design expressed by the Imaginative and prescient SLR idea – as potential. This was solely realised by way of ground-breaking engineering, leveraging McLaren’s experience in carbon fibre composites discovered by way of a long time of expertise in Components 1 and the McLaren F1 street automobile.
READ MORE: Sergio “Checo” Perez shuts down the streets of Madrid
Allied to the progressive carbon fibre developments was a 5.5-litre supercharged V8 developed by Mercedes-AMG, producing 626PS and 780Nm of torque. Driving the rear wheels by way of a five-speed computerized transmission, the efficiency of the front-mid engined super-GT greater than matched as much as the period’s supercars, with 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and a most pace of 208mph.
Manufacturing of the automobile that started its life as Undertaking 7 led to December 2009, however this didn’t finish McLaren’s involvement with the automobile. In 2010, the newly created McLaren Particular Operations (MSO) launched the McLaren Version SLR, an enhancement package deal for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren created by way of invaluable suggestions from SLR homeowners and MSO prospects. This model of the SLR, restricted to simply 25 examples, featured vital bodywork alterations with the adoption of a brand new, aerodynamically sculpted entrance apron with a bigger entrance splitter, new facet intakes, a bigger rear wing and a revised rear diffuser, in addition to lighter wheels. McLaren Particular Operations revised the suspension and energy steering help alongside the adjustments.
Subsequently, MSO developed additional enhancement and redesign packages. In 2019, MSO launched the SLR by MSO – a brand new complete improve programme pushed by suggestions from homeowners within the decade because the automobile went out of manufacturing. A brand new aerodynamic package deal, weight-saving measures, and new luxurious appointments, corresponding to distinctive quilted leather-based upholstery. These can be found as a complete package deal or as particular person components.
In Could 2023, MSO accomplished the client handover of the primary SLR Excessive Downforce Package (HDK) conversions. These vehicles include bodywork alterations impressed by the 722 GT racer, a track-going model. With the automobile’s observe elevated by 60mm entrance and rear, the HDK vehicles have an much more imposing stance, emphasised by a complete physique package with flared wheel arches and a rear wing impressed by the one fitted to the McLaren F1 GTR. Weight is additional decreased, and exhaust quantity is elevated by deleting silencers from an exhaust system with giant, single exits on either side of the automobile. MSO will produce 12 SLR HDKs, all of which have already been bought.
