Mercedes' flashy new toy

What's with all the supercar fervour of late? With more corporations going bust, industries grinding to a halt and people hiding in bunkers, you'd think that the last thing on people's minds would be spending a whole lot of moola on a supercar.

Well, that's the car business for you - always going against the grain. With Porche's Carrera GT, Ferrari's F60 and Ford's GT40 not far off, it's no wonder Mercedes wants in.

But here's the interesting part.

Mercedes is working together with Formual One partner McLaren to create the next supercar, something which is sure to delight fans of all things go-fast. The McLaren F1 is still officially the world's fastest production car, though the new Mercedes SLR is keen to change that.

The Mercedes SLR is more a celebration on the respective company's successes in motor sport, but at the same token, the new coupe looks set to re-ignite the "world's fastest car" debate.

From the start, Mercedes said it wanted to build an agile and lightweight two-seater supercar. As McLaren was given the task of creating much of the car, it decided to use a lot of carbon fibre. At first, about half of the chassis was to be made of carbon fibre, while the roof section was to be constructed with alloy.

But to keep the car under a 1400kg limit, the McLaren lads decided to use CF all the way. Other weight saving materials include carbon fibre seats and ceramic brakes coupled with an intelligent braking system. Using microprocessors, it can determine an ideal (and efficient) amount of brake pressure to suit the situation.

Another interesting fact about the new SLR is that it will be the first ever Mercedes-badged vehicle completely designed and built outside Germany. McLaren's new design/manufacturing plant is located in England, Surrey, where it is expected about 500 of them will be shipped off each year.

The SLR is set for a 2003 release date and while many of the systems and technologies mentioned in this article sound cool, there's a chance a few of them won't make final production. Then again, with an asking price of about £250,000 ($678,000) it's fair to say that the SLR will set new trends in terms of equipment and technology.

Taking a good look at the new supercar, the exterior design has hints of the old-school, taking cues from the much-loved Mercedes 300 SL of the 1950s, complete with gullwing doors. The front end is easily recognisable as a Merc, with four distinct headlights, though take a closer look at the front double-spoiler and nose and you'll notice F1 cues creeping in.

The bonnet incorporates a lovely power bulge, leading to the nose, with big side vents flanking the edges, allowing the hot air in the engine bay an easy escape. The original concept from the 1999 Detroit Motor show incorporated headlights that tracked in the direction of the car, so we assume these will still be included.

Inside the SLR will offer the usual Mercedes gloss, such as leather everything, a myriad of telemetry readouts and even carbon fibre racing seats. Is there anything carbon fibre can't do?

Perhaps the most important aspect of the new SLR is the under the bonnet - what lurks beneath is going to have to be pretty special to make this a true supercar.

Mercedes and AMG have donated what was originally a 5.5-litre supercharged V8, though rumour has it that the engine fitted could actually be a slightly larger capacitied 6.0-litre mill. Mercedes is talking about 410kW @ 6,500rpm and an insane 720Nm of torque @ 4,000rpm.

Factor such a powerplant into a wind-cheating, aerodynamically styled body and you have a vehicle capable of hitting 100km/h in about four seconds. Top speed will be a hot topic, but the press releases are saying about 320km/h in ideal situations. The supercharger is quite a piece of work too, incorporating what Merc is calling a "water-based charge air cooler." We think they mean it's an intercooler.

Worldwide interest in the new Mercedes McLaren car is huge, with many already plonking down their £25,000 deposit as far back as early 2000. Expect the 500 SLRs built each year to be snapped up quick-smart by those who can afford them. For the rest of us - just think of how much it would cost to run such a... oh who are we kidding, drool and drool some more!

Prof. Jürgen Hubbert, the DaimlerChrysler board member responsible for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars had this to say of the SLR: "By designing and producing the Mercedes-Benz SLR, we will once again underline our globally leading position in the field of technical innovations. The Mercedes-Benz SLR is an incomparable combination of the brand's characteristic design, future-oriented innovation and unparalleled safety, quality and performance - in this way, it will become the benchmark for 21st Century sports cars. McLaren is the ideal partner for us to develop and produce the Mercedes-Benz SLR in close cooperation."

No secrets there, save for the fact that the company is keen on creating a Ferrari/Porsche rivalling supercar that involves the driver. Next up, Ron Dennis, MD of the TAG-McLaren group. Here's what he imparted: "It is, of course, our intention to bring the same level of focus to bear on this project which has seen us achieve success with Mercedes-Benz in Formula One. I am sure the SLR will reflect the total commitment to excellence that both our companies constantly strive to achieve."

So, does that mean engine failures, transmission drop outs and sticking throttles?

In all seriousness, though, Mercedes is putting real muscle behind it's new supercharged venture and, if the project is as successful as McLaren and Mercedes anticipate, it could start off a whole new supercar war, where the victor could be one of a dozen different marques. Indeed, the plot is already thickening...