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September marks 20 years because the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was introduced 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).
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Celebrations marking the anniversary embody a automobile show, worker displays 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 house owners 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 Formula 1-inspired collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren, the pioneering super-GT is a singular 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 – have been showcased on the MTC Boulevard, alongside objects from the automobile’s improvement story. A go to to MTC by the SLR Membership – a world group of Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren house owners – added color to the occasions, with the fanatics assembly some McLaren staff that labored on the challenge to have fun 20 years of the automobile.
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren challenge 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 highway as a full manufacturing automobile developed beneath the identify of ‘Undertaking 7′.
McLaren and Mercedes-Benz have been companions in System 1 between 1995 to 2009, throughout which McLaren received 4 System 1 World Championships (Constructors’ Champions in 1998, Drivers’ Champions in 1998, 1999 and 2008). This profitable mixture of McLaren chassis improvement and carbon fibre expertise with Mercedes engine energy could be replicated for house owners of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
The primary Undertaking 7 prototype was constructed by a staff of ex-System 1 McLaren mechanics who then joined with automotive engineers to kind the core staff 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 saved as near Mercedes’ necessities – and the design expressed by the Imaginative and prescient SLR idea – as potential. This was solely realised by means of ground-breaking engineering, leveraging McLaren’s experience in carbon fibre composites discovered by means of many years of expertise in System 1 and the McLaren F1 highway automobile.
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Allied to the revolutionary carbon fibre developments was a 5.5-litre supercharged V8 developed by Mercedes-AMG, producing 626PS and 780Nm of torque. Driving the rear wheels through 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 velocity of 208mph.
Manufacturing of the automobile that started its life as Undertaking 7 resulted in 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 means of invaluable suggestions from SLR house owners and MSO prospects. This model of the SLR, restricted to simply 25 examples, featured important bodywork alterations with the adoption of a brand new, aerodynamically sculpted entrance apron with a bigger entrance splitter, new aspect 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 house owners within the decade because the automobile went out of manufacturing. A brand new aerodynamic package deal, weight-saving measures, and new luxurious appointments, similar to distinctive quilted leather-based upholstery. These can be found as a complete package deal or as particular person parts.
In Might 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 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 giant, single exits on either side of the automobile. MSO will produce 12 SLR HDKs, all of which have already been bought.
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