Mercedes SLR McLaren Edition: sometimes they come back - Sportscars
AMONG ALL SUPERCARS that saw the light of day at the beginning of the new millennium, perhaps the most misunderstood was Mercedes SLR McLaren... She didn’t seem to know who she wanted to be: by the name it was clear that she was eternal indecision. And so, even though she had a fabulous look and performance Incredible, combined with a lot of technology, ease of use and low weight, it has failed to win over fans of this sector, who have always preferred the seductive Ferrari 575 and the sublime Porsche Carrera GT.
But even if SLR it failed and did not live up to the huge expectations of its creators (the English Formula 1 team and the House of the Star, which supplied the engine), its owners highly appreciated what it had to offer. Numerous organized events have helped create a sense of belonging and community, and the continuous evolution of the SLR has resulted in many selling the former to buy the next version, or throwing both of them in the garage.
Today, taking advantage of the offers on the net a little, you can find one of the first SLRs for 180.000 250.000-320 euros. Interesting numbers for an all-carbon car that accelerates to XNUMX km / h, especially if this car has a rocket look, quality and stability Mercedes and sports pedigree McLaren. Now that the SLR has been discontinued in all its versions due to this weird justification process meant for cars that aren't quite perfect - like the enigmatic McMurck - the SLR's luck may finally be turning around: today it's time for a revival.
In order not to be mistaken, McLaren MSO (which means McLaren Special Operations, The "armed" division of the British company) used the entire repertoire to create the automotive equivalent of the reliable blockbuster, and the result was a package SLR McLaren Edition.
As with all MSO creations, in this case, the center of the SLR rework is the maximum customization available, in addition to the added value of being able to take advantage of the mechanical and aesthetic enhancements McLaren has developed over the years for its car. This means there will be no SLR McLaren Edition like the other. So the car we tested is just an example of what a new one might look like. SLR... This sample was based on Roadster 722 S, with a good body repair: new front end (with one splitter the front ones are much more protruding) the air intakes in front of the front wheels are restyled, lo and behold spoiler and a new more aggressive speaker. Livery, interior upholstery, details were created according to the exact instructions of the customer, as well as points.
Mechanically SLR edition does not go too far because McLaren does not want to compromise its reliability and Type Approval compliance with production SLRs. But this did not stop MSO from improving the new SLR Edition, both by applying elements of later versions to the first versions, and by simple and logical improvements that do not require deep processing of the car. Some of these improvements, such as rear diffuser and the new system охлаждениеtaken from limited edition variant Sterling Moss 2009, while others such as amendments to power steeringwere developed directly by MSO. Many people at MSO were working on the design of the original cars at the time, so no one knows them better than they do.
While no one dares to say it out loud, now that the official partnership between Mercedes and McLaren ended, the guys from Woking can't wait to finally have a hand in what was initially not so much a result of cooperation as a collision. Even the details were solved by fighting with teeth and nails: for example, pincers brakes which now have the McLaren logo. Or ventilation holes the side that now has the English House brand is such a Nike-style comma. Between that and the bright orange color of the exterior and interior, it is clear that McLaren features are emerging more and more, eclipsing those of a Mercedes.
This machine is ready to ship to the owner, who has kindly allowed us to test it on the Millbrook test track before we receive it. It took an MSO technician half a day to cover the most delicate parts of the car with protective tape so that we could safely start the Mac on the track, and it took us an hour and a half out of four to get it done. and take decent photos: the longest striptease in history ... We didn't want to risk ruining the paint because of a few pebbles, so we waited for the laps to finish on the track, but all this time my hands were itching to see her the way my mother did it.
To be honest, I don't know what I expected from the first time with the Edition. Even if I'm not a fan of SLR, I have to admit that she has a lot of charisma. It is surprisingly small, and with its unusual barrel (longer, wider and sharper) it looks like Wacky Races. I think Edition will look better with circles with 20 or even 21 than 19 out of 722, but McLaren wanted to use only homologated components, including wheels.
Hiding under the hood is a monstrous V8 5.4 s compressorinstalled one meter behind the front end: it is identical to that of the donor 722, which means 650 hp. and 820 Nm of torque. There is no need to increase the power: the 722 already has 24 hp. more than the standard 626 hp SLR ... The diehard SLR fan will surely notice the new designs in carbon who host the system охлаждение fixed and will not elude him either high school graduation lightweight, which saves 20 kg and makes the sound deeper to a minimum.
The interior is dominated by orange - the carbon sections on the front panel have been painted according to the customer's request - and it's really impressive, despite the buttons. Mercedes a little too common. However, it is not common for the view from behind a sloping windshield or even engine a few centimeters away from you. Just extend your leg to hit one of the cylinders ...
Lo steering revised harder, especially at low speeds, but also less jittery and more linear in his reactions, creating a greater sense of connection. The exhaust sound is penetrating and deep, especially when accelerating, but when you do not pull it by the neck, the sound shifts a little to the side so as not to compromise the convenience of using the car over long distances. The standard SLR was already in good shape, but changes to styling, soundtrack and steering improved its character, correcting one of the original's biggest dynamic flaws.
Today, ten years later, as it is SLR? I would say epic. There couple abundant, the accelerator is very responsive, the thrust is sharp and sound looks like a fighter bomber. Between the pulsing noise of the cylinders emitting their sound from the squat side exhaust pipes and the whistle of the compressor, it seems to be sitting inside the engine. The steering simplifies the task by allowing you to easily pick and hold the best trajectory in corners, instead of resorting to constant adjustments trying to figure out what this front end is doing so far.
Electronics have come a long way since the debut of the SLR - this version of the MSO unfortunately follows its basic setup - so you can forget about the intricacies of the latest traction and stability control or steering schemes, accelerator and replacement for more modern cars such as the Ferrari F12. SLR has hydrotransformer five-speed automatic, so the changes are certainly not lightning fast. But what the SLR clearly lacks is incredible acceleration, great traction, great traction, and a dual personality that allows you to safely get to Monte Carlo, Munich or Montevideo, stopping only to refuel.
Unfortunately, among the changes made McLaren Special Operations not included in this SLR Edition brakeswhich are very effective when needed, but also difficult to adjust smoothly or precisely when you are not going to use the maximum. They are disappointing, although once you get to know them, you can at least partially correct their shortcomings.
But how much does all this cost? Well, the McLaren Edition conversion package (excluding customization) costs 176.000 euros. A lot, but when you consider that McLaren is asking between 30 and 35 thousand euros just for repainting the body, the total cost of MSO processing is not so exaggerated. Obviously, to this figure must be added the cost of the base car, say at least 170.000 euros: so if you don't already have an SLR in your garage, in the end this car will cost you more than an F12 or Aventador. But maybe that's not the point. For many - especially for those who at that time fell in love with SLR original - the idea of an updated and customized SLR is squared.
