Mclaren SLR is awesome. Viper version would have been better.

[VENOMAHOLIC]

I saw on Top Gear the new Mclaren SLR. Obviously based on the Mercedes SLR it's entire body is made of carbon fibre. The engine had 620 supercharged hp with 5.0 of displacement. It had an automatic transmission. They tested it's 0-60 (3.8 sec) and tested it on a track. It seems DC is playing favorites with the Mercedes brand and not with the Viper. Even though the Mclaren has a Huge price, people will buy the fastest supercar out there. DC could have Mclaren or another company modify a limited run of Vipers targeting the larger American market. Am I the only one that feels that DC doesn't want to promote the Viper as much as the Mercedes brand?

 

[Yellow32]

OK....

Nobody has brought this up so far...at least I have not found it...

But, DC has a new CEO:

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102887

The outgoing CEO (Zetsche) has never been 100% behind the Viper...perhaps things will change now...

-J

 

[Casey 111]

Aren't they the same car? Mercedes and McLaren collaborated but i don't believe theres two different cars?

 

[sween]

your right there is only one.

 

[Casey 111]

your right there is only one.

Thought so, just didnt want to be wrong.

 

[slaughterj]

Saw one in Paris a couple weeks ago, pretty surprising to spot.

 

[Cop Magnet]

They already stopped making them after pouring millions into R&D. Anyone driving one is an idiot...they are purely collector cars. Total service and parts orphans.
Yeah, weird though that none of the brass ever wants to "waste" millions on a product that might actually go somewhere.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

A friend of mine has one. It's very cool, but I bet the average joe would walk right past it and not even realize it's a half mllion dollar MB.
For that money I'd buy an SRT10, twin turbo it and one or two homes.

 

[XS TORQ]

Saw one in Newport Beach CA last week. It is a badass car! It was in front of a nice restaurant right on the beach, and as I was checking it out, about 8 people came up and said "awesome" to the kit car next to it, but very few were checking out the SLR.

 

[sween]

i saw one a black one speeding on the road next to a church. it looks o.k but the viper looks much better

 

[VENOMAHOLIC]

Good article clipping Yellow 32. Hopefully since LaSorda worked for GM at one time he will appreciate and invest more in the American style of a big block V10 car. I still can't believe that they supercharged a 5.0L engine to get 615-20 hp instead of developing a V10. That block must be stressed. I when Ford first was developing the supercharged Cobra they had to use iron instead of aluminum blocks due to failure. I remember the Apex Lethal 750 Viper that got 750hp and 800ft/pounds tq without forced induction. What a waste of money on the Mclaren in my mind. Hopefully LaSorda will recognise the potential instead of leaving the advancement of the Viper to the aftermarket.

 

[Yellow32]

Venomaholic: Thanks, glad to provide the clipping.

I certainly get the impression that LaSorda will be more open to American muscle advancements...of course we'll know in 2 or 3 years

-J

 

[sween]

will have to wait and see

 

[gthomas]

I still can't believe that they supercharged a 5.0L engine to get 615-20 hp instead of developing a V10.

I don't understand why they just didn't develop a 600+hp/700+lb/ft V12....whoops...already got it.
Have you seen what AMG is doing to the V8? At least they didn't use a V6 (XJ220), but then again that V6 with two turbo's will give modern supercars a run for their money.
Mercedes has done a great job over the last years with s/c V8's, I would say it still has more potential.