Mercedes just unleashed the long-awaited SLR McLaren Roadster which will go on sale from September 2007. Like the 1999 Vision SLR concept on which it's based, the production version of the SLR McLaren Roadster retains the scissor-type doors of its coupe counterpart. Unlike the SL and SLK roadsters, the SLR features a retractable soft-top which is available in three different colors. The roof opens and closes semi-automatically in less than ten seconds, with the driver having to a little “dirty” work by unlocking the roof from the windscreen frame and briefly raising it, after which it folds away electrically. We have to say that, while we love the SLR McLaren Roadster’s appearance with the top down, we’re not so enthusiastic about the cars looks when its roof on.

Disproving rumors that Mercedes would prefer the upgraded 650Hp V8 of the SLR McLaren 722 Special Edition, the Roadster retains the “stock” 626Hp turbocharged V8 which is coupled to an AMG Speedshift R five-speed automatic transmission. According to Mercedes, the Roadster sprints from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in just 3,8 sec while it reaches a maximum speed of 332km/h (206mph) which identical to the Coupe’s performance figures -3,8 sec & 334 km/h (207mph) respectively.

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Lord that is Beautiful! However the doors, somewhat orginal but still lambo. I would have kept them standard.

The doors are supposed to pay homage the the 300SL gullwing doors.

/drool

Very nice car. I like the placement of the exhaust tips and it doesn't look too shabbly with the vertical doors.

The doors are supposed to pay homage the the 300SL gullwing doors.

exactly.

Absolutely beeuuuuuutifooooolll!! God please let me win the lottery so I can get me one of those!

hmm...i wonder what it looks like with the top up
"We have to say that, while we love the SLR McLaren Roadster’s appearance with the top down, we’re not so enthusiastic about the cars looks when its roof on."

The doors are supposed to pay homage the the 300SL gullwing doors.

Didn't know that. Fantastic car nevertheless :)

:Eyecrazy: Sick.

I must be the only one, but I think it is an eyesore. Everytime I see one in person - frequently during the summer - I can't imagine who would buy one.

i dont know, but it must be only me. but i dont find this car good looking at all.

love to see one in person! I the only one that cant see the different between this model and the previous?

love to see one in person! I the only one that cant see the different between this model and the previous?

yeah, this one is convertible. the last one wasn't

-Steakboy

RX-8 vs SLR McLaren Roadster lolololol

I must be the only one, but I think it is an eyesore. Everytime I see one in person - frequently during the summer - I can't imagine who would buy one.
I think it looks ugly too. It looks to be 47 feet long. And soft tops ruin everything.

I LOVE this car!

I think it looks ugly too. It looks to be 47 feet long. And soft tops ruin everything.

Seriously, last summer there was a silver one (hard top) parked in front of my condo building. There was a crowd clammering around it so much that I couldn't see what car it was. When I saw it, I said something like "oh, that...who cares." In person, it's really small.

Half the crowd looked at me when I made that comment like they were going to lynch me.

+1 for the fugly car

this car is sick. convertible batmobile!

i guess i have seen pictures of both online and didint realize it (but non in person, that would leave a lasting inpression)

Seriously, last summer there was a silver one (hard top) parked in front of my condo building. There was a crowd clammering around it so much that I couldn't see what car it was. When I saw it, I said something like "oh, that...who cares." In person, it's really small.

Half the crowd looked at me when I made that comment like they were going to lynch me.
Same thing happened to me at an auto show where they had a BMW M6 on display. There were dozens of people starring at it wide-eyed like it was the most exciting car they'd ever seen. People who don't even know what "hp" stands for looked at the BMW logo and $100k sticker and immediately became enamored. It's depressing. I made a comment or two to my friend and pissed off all the middle-aged men with their business casual attire and failing marriages. Someone shoot me if I ever become that.

i guess i have seen pictures of both online and didint realize it (but non in person, that would leave a lasting inpression)

Seriously, last summer there was a silver one (hard top) parked in front of my condo building. There was a crowd clammering around it so much that I couldn't see what car it was. When I saw it, I said something like "oh, that...who cares." In person, it's really small.

Half the crowd looked at me when I made that comment like they were going to lynch me. lol i like the last remark you made also. but i do agree wtih you.
its cars like this one that i get all googled eyed over,

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/alfy27/5991.jpg


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/alfy27/599.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/alfy27/astonroad1.jpg

The vert looks so much better then coupe, but the SL65 AMG is the much better buy.

this car is sick. convertible batmobile!
This my freind, is the batmobile version:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/480321122_3c65b49a30_b.jpg

I'm just not diggin' the gills.

This my freind, is the batmobile version:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/480321122_3c65b49a30_b.jpg

Sick that is fraggin sick! I'm diggin it!

i still dont know. this mercedes sorta reminds me of the crossfire. im not sure if its the lines or what, or just to goti looking like the crossfire which i hate.

i luv the dark blue, and those are the biggest side strakes ever. I would def have a hard time choosing between this, a convertible mucriolago(spelling), and a convertible ferrari 430.

It's such a poseur car in my eyes. Sure, I'd take one if given one, but it would be WAY down my list if I could afford one.

I'm just not diggin' the gills.

The mufflers are behind them. They are necessary.

I've seen the SLR (not the vert) in person. It's a beautiful piece of work. I don't see anything poseur about it at all. Nothing more poseur than a Porsche GT, Enzo or any of the other very few cars in it's class. It's just different. It's a supercar that can be driven comfortably on the street unlike the other 2. Not that I'd complain about the other 2 in any way mind you. I love all of those cars. The Porsche definitely sounds the nicest IMO. Any car that can kick 99.9% of the cars on the roads asses is not really anything that anyone can call a poseur unless they own a car in that last .1%.

My only real complaint about the SLR is the exhaust note. The engine is a big V8 and it sounds like one. I've never liked the sound of V8's and this one sounds like it's straight out of Detroit. That totally ruins it for me. If it had a flat plane crank V8 exhaust note, then it would sound perfect. I'm sure the American car lovers would like the sound but I have yet to hear an American V8 that didn't sound like total ass in a coke can and unfortunately the SLR engine sounds more like this than a true supercar engine should. Aside from the exhaust note I love the car. That's my only gripe about it.

OMG, that black one is SOOOOO sexy.

RG: if that's the only gripe you can come up with, this is one HELL of a car. :)

The mufflers are behind them. They are necessary.

I've seen the SLR (not the vert) in person. It's a beautiful piece of work. I don't see anything poseur about it at all. Nothing more poseur than a Porsche GT, Enzo or any of the other very few cars in it's class. It's just different. It's a supercar that can be driven comfortably on the street unlike the other 2. Not that I'd complain about the other 2 in any way mind you. I love all of those cars. The Porsche definitely sounds the nicest IMO. Any car that can kick 99.9% of the cars on the roads asses is not really anything that anyone can call a poseur unless they own a car in that last .1%.

My only real complaint about the SLR is the exhaust note. The engine is a big V8 and it sounds like one. I've never liked the sound of V8's and this one sounds like it's straight out of Detroit. That totally ruins it for me. If it had a flat plane crank V8 exhaust note, then it would sound perfect. I'm sure the American car lovers would like the sound but I have yet to hear an American V8 that didn't sound like total ass in a coke can and unfortunately the SLR engine sounds more like this than a true supercar engine should. Aside from the exhaust note I love the car. That's my only gripe about it.

I was mainly reffering to the vert as being a poseur car, but I feel the same way about the Coupe when compared to cares like the Carrera GT. IMO, supercars are supposed to be raw and dangerous, not something for some douche bag likes the ones in the photos to tooling around in during a casual sunday drive. Don't get me wrong, it's an impressive car, but I can think of dozens of cars I'd rather have, even if they are slower.

sex

The roof opens and closes semi-automatically in less than ten seconds, with the driver having to a little “dirty” work by unlocking the roof from the windscreen frame and briefly raising it, after which it folds away electrically.


This is amazing for such an expensive vehicle. I have the same gripe about the top on the Z3/M roadster. If you have to unlock it and push it back and then hit a button and wait, why bother making it automated in the first place? By the time you have unlocked the top and given it a slight push back in the Miata/MX-5 it has already stowed it self, all without using electronics (and it is much much faster than waiting for some heavy machine to do it).

Glad Mercedes is making a very heavy exotic car even heavier with the convertible.

The mufflers are behind them. They are necessary.

I've seen the SLR (not the vert) in person. It's a beautiful piece of work. I don't see anything poseur about it at all. Nothing more poseur than a Porsche GT, Enzo or any of the other very few cars in it's class. It's just different. It's a supercar that can be driven comfortably on the street unlike the other 2. Not that I'd complain about the other 2 in any way mind you. I love all of those cars. The Porsche definitely sounds the nicest IMO. Any car that can kick 99.9% of the cars on the roads asses is not really anything that anyone can call a poseur unless they own a car in that last .1%.

My only real complaint about the SLR is the exhaust note. The engine is a big V8 and it sounds like one. I've never liked the sound of V8's and this one sounds like it's straight out of Detroit. That totally ruins it for me. If it had a flat plane crank V8 exhaust note, then it would sound perfect. I'm sure the American car lovers would like the sound but I have yet to hear an American V8 that didn't sound like total ass in a coke can and unfortunately the SLR engine sounds more like this than a true supercar engine should. Aside from the exhaust note I love the car. That's my only gripe about it.

Paris Hilton and Donald Trump have one... that is all that needs to be said in regards to it being a poseur car.

They are both also extremely wealthy which says even more or should I say, less about the rest of us. No talent rappers and basketball players own Ferrari's, Lamborghinis, and Porsches. What's that tell you? It tells me that the only prerequisite to buying an expensive car is being able to afford it although I do wish there were standards imposed.

The SLR is absolutely a kick ass car. A poseur car would be an econobox with a turbo that has a new badge slapped on the back. There's a couple of those out there. That's not this car.

its a sick car but the only people who can afford it have more money than brains

They are both also extremely wealthy which says even more or should I say, less about the rest of us. No talent rappers and basketball players own Ferrari's, Lamborghinis, and Porsches. What's that tell you? It tells me that the only prerequisite to buying an expensive car is being able to afford it although I do wish there were standards imposed.

The SLR is absolutely a kick ass car. A poseur car would be an econobox with a turbo that has a new badge slapped on the back. There's a couple of those out there. That's not this car.

It's so cute how you take swipes at me or my car when someone else supports something I say. Thing is, The Donald and Paris wouldn't buy a car like the Enzo or Carrera GT, but they would buy a car like the SLR. It's the wannabe supercar.

lol i like the last remark you made also. but i do agree wtih you.
its cars like this one that i get all googled eyed over,

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/alfy27/5991.jpg




What kind of car is this? It's beautiful. Unfortunately, I don't spend enough time shopping for supercars.

Thing is, The Donald and Paris wouldn't buy a car like the Enzo or Carrera GT, but they would buy a car like the SLR. It's the wannabe supercar.



I do agree with the last sentence. The SLR roadster is an insult to the Gordon Murray name

I've never liked the looks of the SLR. It's the long hoodline that does it for me.. I just can't like that. The proportions make it look just odd.. it's getting better, but it still looks to me like it has that over elongated dodge magnum look to it..

Am I the only one who thinks the SLR rims fall wayyyyy short of the rest of the car in styling? I LOVER the SLR, but have always hated the stock rims. I'd hoped they would have changed them with the new styling.

Anyone else feel the same way?

I love the turbine rims. It's not really a new style of car, just a roadster version. There are other options to choose from of course. Heck, if you can afford that car I would say many swap out the rims anyway. Dub style.

The SLR is absolutely a kick ass car. A poseur car would be an econobox with a turbo that has a new badge slapped on the back. There's a couple of those out there. That's not this car.

I don't see how an econobox with a turbo is a poseur car. If anything it's the opposite. Most people will see an Evo and think -- oh, it's just some sedan. In fact, an RX-8 might even be considered a poseur car since it looks like a much more expensive car than it is.

Bottom line is that if you drive around like a douchebag -- you're a douchebag. Doesn't really matter what kind of car it may be.

I personally think soft-top convertibles are an ugly sin against humanity. I would rather have a Civic than a SLR roadster even if they were both given to me for free (assuming I couldn't just sell the SLR). I would much rather have a Porsche 911 Turbo which would cost much, much less.