Frankfurt 2003 SLR

[majaV8]

The breathtaking 334 km/h Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren sports car - to date the fastest production car in the world - will be available in South Africa.


The car, just launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in its final production form, will cost in the region of R4-million. And although DaimlerChrysler SA has no plans at this stage to import it, Mercedes-Benz car division boss Dan Moeletsi says the cars WILL find their way to this country.

"There is already a big demand for the car, and people will find ways to get it," he told me.

The SLR was unveiled amidst much pomp and ceremony at Frankfurt after having been driven across country from Brescia, in Italy, to commemorate the famous victory of its predecessor, the 300SLR racer driven to victory in the Mille Miglia race by Stirling Moss and Dennis Jenkinson.

Indeed, Moss was on hand to show off the famous "number 722" at the start of the epic drive across the Alps by Formula 1 racers Kiki Raikonnen and Alexander Wurtz, and again at the unveiling ceremony.

What's the car like? To quote millions of teenagers, it's simply awesome.

Made of lightweight but strong aluminium and carbon fibre, it has sleek but compelling lines that show a new Mercedes look for the nose, and comes complete with gullwing-type lift-up doors for easy access.

Unlike many supercars, the engine is not mounted amidships, but instead is up front but sits well back in the chassis to give the ideal 50/50 weight distribution.

What an engine!

And what an engine! Developed completely by AMG-Mercedes, it is a V8 of 5.5-litres displacement fitted with a screw-type supercharger to extract no less than 460 kW at 6 500 r/min, together with torque of 780 Nm of torque over a flat plateau from 3 250 r/min to 5 000 r/min.

Amazingly for a car of this type, it is fitted with a 5-speed automatic gearbox specially adapted to suit the engine, complete with AMG's super-crisp pushbutton steering wheel-mounted gearshift.

The drive can choosse between manual, comfort and sport options for the gearshift.

However, when manual is chosen he can further refine the gearshift speed by choosing either Sport, SuperSport, or Race, the latter giving lightning fast gear changing.

With this much power under the bonnet, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren's performance figures are among the best in its class:
0-100km/h: 3.8 seconds
0-200km/h: 10.6 seconds
0-300km/h: 28.8 seconds
Top speed: 334km/h


Fuel consumption is 14.8?litres/100?km (NEDC combined consumption, provisional figure).

What are more, the engineers have given the car the most unbelievable engine note, as we heard in videos and when the car was driven into the DaimlerChrysler pavilion in Frankfurt.

Almost feral in character, it growls and roars like a wild animal, yet at the same time manages to impart a feeling of class-less elegance far removed from the racetrack.

Comfort & speed

Unlike many supercars in this performance bracket, the SLR is not just about speed - comfort and safety are high on the car's priority list.

Included in the extensive features list are individually padded carbon-frame seats, a multifunction steering wheel with race-car-type buttons for manual gear selection, clearly arranged chronometer-style instruments and high-grade materials.

Alongside carbon and aluminium, the Mercedes designers have used "Silver Arrow" leather, specially developed for the SLR, which is available in the distinctive red of the legendary 1950s SLR race car.

The safety features include specially developed carbon fibre struts to absorb the impact of a crash, as well as no fewer than six airbags (remember, this is a two-seater) and the very latest in electronic systems.

These include a device which operates an airbrake at the rear of the car to assist high-speed stopping, together with huge carbon fibre reinforced ceramic-coated brakes, and huge wheels and tyres, plus a sophisticated suspension package, to keep everything under control.

Because they recognise driving a high performance car in traffic is not always easy, the engineers also installed a series of devices operated by the cruise control function (when travelling at below 15 km/h) which assists the driver to pull off slowly and calmly, and similarly slow down and stop, without having to use the brakes, or to have to delicately control the accelerator.

There's even an automatic child seat recognition system, developed by Mercedes-Benz, which deactivates the front passenger airbag if a special child seat from the Mercedes-Benz accessories range is installed on the front passenger seat.

Does that make the SLR the ultimate mom's taxi?

The car is to be launched to the international media in Cape Town during November this year.


Edited by - majaCRX on 23/09/2003 18:06:30