Categories: This Day

July 17, 2007 – Mercedes-Benz announces SLR McLaren Roadster

Just as McLaren was becoming the favorite to win the driver and constructor F1 titles in 2007, Mercedes-Benz

announced the release of a roadster edition of its SLR McLaren on this day in 2007. The car would hit the market the following September for a cool £200,000. 

The roadster offered astonishing performance for a road-going car. It was built in the same factory as its F1 racing siblings, which allowed for a pleasant mix of F1 technology and the expected comfort features of a true touring car. Carbon fiber can be found throughout the car as a main ingredient, including its body, carbon fiber enforced disk brakes and carbon suspension components. Its AMG V8 kompressor engine produced 626 hp, pushing the car to a top speed of 332 km/h (206 mph). 

Above: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster. By Thesupermat – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Top: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. By Alexander Migl – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

At the end of the Formula One season, it was Ferrari who claimed the driver and constructor titles. Mercedes-McLaren drivers did finish in second and third. In any regard, Mercedes had a winner on their hands with their new roadster. A total of 2,157 roadster and coupes left the factory between 2005 and 2009.

Brian Corey

Recent Posts

November 20, 2011 – Famed Ferrari designer Sergio Scaglietti dies

Scaglietti, left, in his body shop Sergio Scaglietti opened Carrozzeria Scaglietti, an auto repair and…

2 days ago

November 19, 1959 – Ford announces the end of Edsel

Too much money. Too much hype. Too much of the same old thing. Designed to…

2 days ago

Rare 1955 Mercedes Truck for Sale

This 1955 Mercedes-Benz 170 S-D Diesel pickup truck appears to be an exceptionally rare find,…

2 days ago

November 18, 1960 – End of the line for DeSoto

1961 DeSoto Less than a week after Chrysler acquired Dodge Brothers, it debuted its new…

4 days ago

November 17, 1986 – The Assassination of Renault CEO Georges Besse

Georges Besse (Renault) On this day in 1986 Georges Besse, the 58-year-old CEO of French…

5 days ago

November 16, 1904 – The history of auto theft in Los Angeles begins with first recorded stolen car in the city

1905 White steam car. Not the first stolen car, but similar. This one is known…

6 days ago