Friday 11th August 2006

Merc supercar drops its top

SLR convertible arrives very shortly

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McLaren Mercedes SLR

Mercedes is planning a convertible version of the SLR supercar.

Auto Express reckons that the McLaren Mercedes SLR is to lose the roof and buyers a cool £350,000 for the drop-top variant. The story is that it'll be ready in about six months.

Hand-made at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren has a carbon fibre composite body making it stiff and strong, as well as relatively light.

Power comes from a 5.5-litre supercharged V8 Mercedes-AMG engine developing 626hp at 6500rpm and 575lb-ft between 3,250-5,000rpm. This means it can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds, reaching its 208mph top speed shortly afterwards. It drives via five-speed automatic gearbox and uses speed-sensitive power-assisted steering. The SLR McLaren has the braking performance to match its power, with internally ventilated fibre-reinforced ceramic discs all round, aided by a boot-mounted airbrake.

We'd still rather have a Porsche Carrera GT....

[dinkel]

Not me!



She's got taste for a change!

Droptop would be the ultimate roadster.

[r988]

Dunno, the McMercs never really done it for me, I guess with the roof off it shows it true self as the ultimate bling posermobile of choice for the well heeled but bereft of driving skill. Ms Hilton wouldn't have looked through a car magazine and said 'oh I think I'll by that because it's fast and I like the fact it is 200kg lighter than the SL55 thanks to it 's extensive use of carbon fibre'. No, she would have gone to the local Merc dealership and said 'I want the most expensive, fastest, most impressive car you have'. That is why she has one, she has less taste than unflavoured pot noodles. You wont see her in a Carrera GT because that is a manual and requires skill to drive, the Merc is an auto and easy to drive hence it's popularity amongst the rich and clueless.

[The Wiz]

Will be an amazing car undoubtedly .. but the ultimate roadster ... no ... I'd vote for this ..

Edited by The Wiz on Friday 11th August 12:45

[xjib]

I thought McLaren/Mercedes were quoted saying when SLR was launched that they would never do a convertible SLR?

[v8owner]

The Wiz said:

Will be an amazing car undoubtedly .. but the ultimate roadster ... no ... I'd vote for this ..

Edited by The Wiz on Friday 11th August 12:45

ditto.. thats the pagani winning on votes already then.....

[lap_time]

The Wiz said:

Will be an amazing car undoubtedly .. but the ultimate roadster ... no ... I'd vote for this ..

Edited by The Wiz on Friday 11th August 12:45

I second that motion, or third it I guess

Edited by lap_time on Friday 11th August 13:39

[NickFRP]

dinkel - She looks damn fit gettign out of the SLR though!

[dinkel]

In the front-engined league I'd say there's not much competition.

And it sounds like a Spitfire.

Edited by dinkel on Friday 11th August 14:21

[The Wiz]

dinkel said:

In the front-engined league I'd say there's not much competition.

And it sounds like a Spitfire.

Edited by dinkel on Friday 11th August 14:21

Far cooler I reckon to be honest ...

[Dr S]

If McLaren, then an F1 prlease. As roadster I'd prefer the Carrera GT. If I want a Merc, I take a taxi...

[sneijder]

I've always prefered the simpler lines of the 190SL :



I know it's doing a different job to the aforementionend continent eaters, but it's still nice !

[Frik]

xjib said:

I thought McLaren/Mercedes were quoted saying when SLR was launched that they would never do a convertible SLR?

They also said they'd sell 3500...

[dinkel]

Dr S said:

If McLaren, then an F1 please.

M6GT for me . . .

[sprinter885]

dinkel said:

Not me!



She's got taste for a change!

Droptop would be the ultimate roadster.

How much without the car?? Does the top REALLY drop??

[sprinter885]

lap_time said:

The Wiz said:

Will be an amazing car undoubtedly .. but the ultimate roadster ... no ... I'd vote for this ..

Edited by The Wiz on Friday 11th August 12:45

I second that motion, or third it I guess

Edited by lap_time on Friday 11th August 13:39

..And one more.

[Jonny Mayne]

The All-New Lamborghini Murcielago is Here Baby!
I bought this car 3 weeks ago, and believe me, this is puts the ROOAAA in roadster, and my Mrs looks fantastic naked in the passenger seat!

[The Wiz]

Looking for that Useless Without Pictures Smiley ..

[paulie-mafia]

The Wiz said:

Looking for that Useless Without Pictures Smiley ..

Yeah please can we have some pics of your Murcielgo Roadster! That gets my vote along with the Zonda.

[cy88]

gratuity...

Edited by cy88 on Friday 11th August 16:12

[dinkel]

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=141&t=296833



I knew it was going to happen . . .