September marks 20 years because the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was offered on the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. 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 Technology Centre (MTC).
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Celebrations marking the anniversary embody a automobile show, worker shows at MTC, and a 21 car-visit by members of the SLR Club. McLaren Special Operations (MSO) continues to work with the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, offering homeowners with bespoke commissions and improve packages. McLaren is marking twenty years because the 2003 debut of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren with a vary of actions on the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, UK.
Born out of a Formula 1-inspired collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren, the pioneering super-GT is a unique chapter within the McLaren story. The actions on the McLaren Technology Centre replicate this, recognising the automobile and the individuals who introduced it to life, a substantial variety of whom are nonetheless with McLaren.
Four 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 – have been showcased on the MTC Boulevard, alongside gadgets from the automobile’s improvement story. A go to to MTC by the SLR Club – a world group of Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren homeowners – added color to the occasions, with the fanatics assembly some McLaren crew that labored on the mission to rejoice twenty 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 associate with Mercedes-Benz to take the Mercedes-Benz SLR Vision idea proven earlier that 12 months on the Detroit Auto Show from present stand to the street as a full manufacturing automobile developed underneath the identify of ‘Project 7′.
McLaren and Mercedes-Benz have been companions in Formula 1 between 1995 to 2009, throughout which McLaren received 4 Formula 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 could be replicated for homeowners of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
The first Project 7 prototype was constructed by a crew of ex-Formula 1 McLaren mechanics who then joined with automotive engineers to type the core crew that may 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 have been stored as near Mercedes’ necessities – and the design expressed by the Vision SLR idea – as doable. This was solely realised by means of ground-breaking engineering, leveraging McLaren’s experience in carbon fibre composites discovered by means of a long time of expertise in Formula 1 and the McLaren F1 street automobile.
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Allied to the modern 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 automated 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.
Production of the automobile that started its life as Project 7 resulted in December 2009, however this didn’t finish McLaren’s involvement with the automobile. In 2010, the newly created McLaren Special Operations (MSO) launched the McLaren Edition SLR, an enhancement bundle for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren created by means of invaluable suggestions from SLR homeowners and MSO clients. This model of the SLR, restricted to only 25 examples, featured vital bodywork alterations with the adoption of a 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 Special Operations revised the suspension and energy steering help alongside the modifications.
Subsequently, MSO developed additional enhancement and redesign packages. In 2019, MSO launched the SLR by MSO – a new complete improve programme pushed by suggestions from homeowners within the decade because the automobile went out of manufacturing. A brand new aerodynamic bundle, weight-saving measures, and new luxurious appointments, akin to distinctive quilted leather-based upholstery. These can be found as a complete bundle or as particular person components.
In May 2023, MSO accomplished the client handover of the primary SLR High Downforce Kit (HDK) conversions. These vehicles include bodywork alterations impressed by the 722 GT racer, a track-going model. With the automobile’s monitor elevated by 60mm entrance and rear, the HDK vehicles have an much more imposing stance, emphasised by a complete physique equipment with flared wheel arches and a rear wing impressed by the one fitted to the McLaren F1 GTR. Weight is additional lowered, and exhaust quantity is elevated by deleting silencers from an exhaust system with massive, single exits on each side of the automobile. MSO will produce 12 SLR HDKs, all of which have already been bought.
