McLaren: With the star to success
PARTNERSHIP The sports and racing car manufacturer McLaren celebrates the development and construction of the powerful two-seater Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren over many successful years at the Technology Centre in Woking.
The SLR McLaren GT model, which emerged from a Formula 1-inspired collaboration between Mercedes and McLaren, represents a chapter of its own in McLaren's history. This is now also reflected in the McLaren Technology Centre, where not only the car but also the people who brought it to life are honored.
Four examples of the Grand Tourer designed to supercar standards - an SLR Stirling Moss, an SLR MSO, an SLR HDK and the SLR 722 GT prototype - will be on display on the boulevard in front of the company's headquarters, along with items from the cars' development histories.
Chassis development and carbon technology
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren project was presented at the 1999 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. At the same time, it was confirmed that McLaren decided to cooperate with Mercedes-Benz to bring the Mercedes-Benz SLR Vision concept, which was shown at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, to the road as a production vehicle under the name Project 7. McLaren and Mercedes-Benz were partners in Formula One from 1995 to 2009, during which time McLaren won four world championships. This successful combination of McLaren chassis development and carbon technology with Mercedes engine performance was also to be offered to buyers of a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
5.5-liter V8 supercharged engine with 626 hp
The first prototype of the Project 7 was developed by a team of former McLaren Formula 1 mechanics, as the first car to be assembled by hand at the then newly opened MTC. The shape and design of the car were kept as close as possible to Mercedes' requirements and the design of the Vision SLR concept.
In addition to the new carbon developments, a 5.5-liter supercharged V8 engine developed by Mercedes-AMG was used, which delivered 626 hp and 780 Nm of torque. In 2010, the newly formed McLaren Special Operations (MSO) introduced the McLaren Edition SLR, an optimized package for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
