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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Hearkens To Past RacecarsBack in 2007 the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was released as a type of tribute to past racecars from the automaker. Those who didn’t understand that that super sports car wasn’t designed to be the fastest on the planet might have been disappointed at the perceived lack of performance chops.
Someone swiped a classic Formula One racecar’s steering wheel at Silverstone.
Those people can be forgiven because even left in a parking lot, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren looks fast. But those striking design elements are callbacks to some motorsports legends.
Image via Mercedes-BenzThe arrow shape of the front pays tribute to the mighty Silver Arrows produced by McLaren-Mercedes. They absolutely dominated Formula One in the late 90s, helping to capture two Drivers’ World Championships and one Constructors’ World Championship.
Moving on, the side exhaust pipes which terminate just before the doors, along with the air brake near the rear of the super sports car are callouts to the Mercedes 300 SLR racecar.
Those iconic engine exhaust vents configured in diamond patterns with narrow fins in the arrangement are somewhat like what was featured on the Mercedes 300 SL starting in 1954.
Image via Mercedes-BenzAlso incorporated into the design of the vehicle was modern F1 technology from the time, developed by Mercedes-Benz in concert with racing partner McLaren. Perhaps the most prominent example of this is the carbon-fiber reinforced plastic body panels and chassis.
The passenger cell is a monocoque. All that combines to shed about 30 percent of the weight which a more traditional design would’ve incorporated.
Another high-tech feature is the brake system. The discs are made of carbon-fiber reinforced ceramic, a truly exotic thing at the time. Those work with an electro-hydraulic system for superior stopping performance.
Image via Mercedes-Benz What’s crazy is that while some complained the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren wasn’t enough of a performance powerhouse, it serves up an experience which is still impressive today. The supercharged V8 has 626-horsepower on tap and in concert with the automatic transmission can rocket the super sports car from 0 to 60 in a mere 3.8 seconds.
While there are about 2,000 of these cars made in five different variations, seeing one can be a bit of a rarity.
Images via Mercedes-Benz
