McLaren is marking 20 years for the reason that 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 System 1-inspired collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren, the pioneering super-GT is a novel chapter within the McLaren story. The actions on the McLaren Know-how Centre replicate this, recognizing not solely the automobile but additionally the individuals who introduced it to life, a powerful 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 homeowners – added additional coloration to the occasions, with the lovers assembly among the McLaren staff that labored on the venture to have a good time 20 years of the automobile.

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren venture 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 12 months on the Detroit Auto Present from present stand to the street, as a full manufacturing automobile developed underneath the title of ‘Challenge 7’. McLaren and Mercedes-Benz have been companions in System 1 between 1995 to 2009, throughout which McLaren gained 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 fiber know-how with Mercedes engine energy could be replicated for homeowners of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

The primary Challenge 7 prototype was constructed by a staff of ex-System 1 McLaren mechanics who then joined with automotive engineers to type the core staff that will 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 realized by way of ground-breaking engineering, leveraging McLaren’s experience in carbon fiber composites realized by way of a long time of expertise in System 1 and the McLaren F1 street automobile.

Allied to the modern carbon fiber developments was a 5.5-liter 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 supercars of the period, with 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and a most pace of 208mph.

Manufacturing of the automobile that started its life as Challenge 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 way of invaluable suggestions from SLR homeowners 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 facet intakes, a bigger rear wing, and a revised rear diffuser, in addition to lighter wheels. Alongside the adjustments, McLaren Particular Operations revised the suspension and energy steering help.

Subsequently, MSO developed additional enhancement and redesign packages. In 2019, MSO launched the SLR by MSO – a brand new complete improve program pushed by suggestions from homeowners within the decade for the reason that automobile went out of manufacturing. A brand new aerodynamic package deal mixed with new weight-saving measures and new luxurious appointments, reminiscent of particular quilted leather-based upholstery. These can be found as a complete package deal or as particular person components.

In Might 2023, MSO accomplished the shopper handover of the very first SLR Excessive Downforce Package (HDK) conversions. These vehicles include bodywork alterations straight impressed by the 722 GT racer, a track-going model of the automobile. With the car’s monitor elevated by 60mm entrance and rear, the HDK vehicles have an much more imposing stance, emphasised by a large physique package 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 with the deletion of silencers from an exhaust system that options giant, single exits on either side of the automobile. MSO will produce 12 SLR HDKs, all of which have already been bought.