Stuttgart teases with an early glimpse at its long-awaited supercar, which will receive itsworld premiere at September's Frankfurt show.
This modern SLR, all curves and gills, draws its inspiration—in style and function— from Mercedes' hugely successful 1955 SLR racer.
Mercedes says the SLR McLaren—which packs a 557-hp supercharged 5.4-liter V-8—will sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds, and press on to a top speed of 210 mph.
The car features a race-inspired structure of carbon fiber composite and aluminum—feather-light yet extraordinarily strong.
Unlike its prime rivals, the Ferrari Enzo and the forthcoming Porsche Carrera GT, the SLR McLaren is still available for 2004 or 2005 delivery. If you have the motivation (and the means), get in touch with your friendly Mercedes-Benz dealer.
The SLR is expected to command some $350,000, but we won't have a final figure or complete technical details until Frankfurt. Stay tuned to Automobilemag.com.