Mercedes Gullwing

Merecedes confirms plans for thrilling new gullwing model at Geneva Motor Show

It’s official! Mercedes has finally confirmed its plans to launch a new AMG supercar at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

The all-new machine, called the Mercedes SLS AMG is said to represents ultimate in AMG driving dynamics and performance, according to company chairman Volker Mornhinweg.

Smaller and lighter than the McLaren-Mercedes SLR, the SLS is based on a new aluminium spaceframe chassis.

Developing around 570bhp at 6800rpm, Mercedes claims the 6.3-litre V8 machine will sprint from 0-60mph in 3.8seconds while top speed is electronically limited to 196mph.

Drivers will get a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (first seen in the SL63 AMG and located in the rear transaxle) while the engine is dry-sumped in order to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible.

Supension matches conventional coil springs with twin aluminium wishbones at each corner, lightweight ceramic brake discs are an option.

There;s still no clear word on price, however the car is due to go on sale in summer 2010.

A source close to the project suggested drivers could expect to pay around 150,000 euros - less than half the price of the outgoing SLR.

McLaren SLR Speedster

It looks like Mercedes-McLaren have big plans for its SLR farewell party! With the Mercedes supercar coming to the end of its production life, the German manufacturer has no plans to send the thoroughbred off quietly. Speculation has been growing about a final special edition speedster version of the SLR 722 - and it looks like the rumours were true. Despite the confusing disguise these exclusive spy shots, taken somewhere in the heart of Germany reveal Mercedes and McLaren have one last trick up its sleeve and it appears to be quite a special one.

We can also reveal that 75 examples of the final SLR will be produced and can confirm it will be light-weight speedster versions of the purebred supercar. The limited edition car will pay homage to the silver 300 SLR driven by Stirling Moss in the mid fifties and will have no roof and only a small wind screen in place of the car’s windshield.

Further deletion of the air conditioning system and power windows plus the use of composite materials in the body panels will shave about 440 pounds off the SLR’s kerb weight. The end result will be a car that can accelerate from 0-186 mph in just 26 seconds, on its way to a blistering top speed of about 217 mph, 8 mph faster than any previous SLR.

Sources can also reveal the limited edition SLR is expected to retail from about 450,000 euros if you can manage to get one.

Mercedes-Benz will end McLaren collaboration

Mercedes-Benz will end its partnership with British sports car manufacturer McLaren when its current agreement expires next year.

The German automaker and the British sports car manufacturer built the SLR premium roadster together.

"The partnership ends in 2009 and it will not be renewed," a Mercedes spokesman said.

Media reports say a new flagship premium roadster called the SLC will replace the SLR in 2010. It will be built by Mercedes' in-house performance unit AMG at the automaker's Sindelfingen plant, near Stuttgart, Germany.

Colin Couchman, a London-based auto analyst for Global Insight said that the German automaker needs this "halo" model to emphasize its reputation for engineering excellence.

"The Mercedes ethos has always been to be at the forefront of technology. In the past few years, the company has been distracted by other areas of its business while neglecting the top end of its lineup. They want to make up for lost time," Couchman said.

Couchman said the SLR's high price limited sales. The car starts at 452,200 euros in Germany. Mercedes has sold 1,577 SLRs worldwide since the car's launch in 2003, according to Global Insight.

The car has also suffered from technical problems. The SLR was one of the models affected in a recall of 680,000 Mercedes cars in 2004, after the electronic braking system failed on some vehicles.

In 2006, Mercedes-Benz USA recalled 433 SLRs that had developed overheating problems.

Hamilton In A Class Of His Own In Montreal Qualifying

Not even a flying Robert Kubica and a track that was breaking up in places could stop Lewis Hamilton in Montreal on Saturday afternoon, as he planted his McLaren on pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix.

BMW Sauber’s Kubica had actually taken provisional pole away from him with a lap of 1m 18.498s compared to 1m 18.886s when Hamilton began his final run, but even though there were marbles in Turns Two, Seven and 10, the Briton somehow found another six-tenths of a second to put pole beyond reach with 1m 17.886s. He described himself as extremely comfortable with the car.

Neither of the Ferraris really got going in qualifying, as Hamilton dominated every session. In the end, Kimi Raikkonen placed his third with 1m 18.735s, but an unhappy Felipe Massa was only sixth on 1m 19.048s. In between them came Fernando Alonso with 1m 18.746s, but the Spaniard may again be using the light first-run strategy that Renault employed in Spain. Behind him, Nico Rosberg placed his Williams fifth, with a strong 1m 18.844s best.

Heikki Kovalainen was seventh in the second McLaren, with 1m 19.089s, leaving Nick Heidfeld eighth on 1m 19.633s for BMW Sauber and Rubens Barrichello ninth for Honda on 1m 20.848s.

Mark Webber will start 10th, but did not run in Q3 after spinning his Red Bull exiting slippery Turn Seven and damaging the right front suspension at the end of Q2.

That session saw Timo Glock out-qualify Toyota team mate Jarno Trulli for the first time, with 1m 18.031s to the Italian’s 1m 18.327s. Trulli had two spins, and will start 14th. Separating the TF108s are Kazuki Nakajima, who lapped his Williams in 1m 18.062s and David Coulthard with 1m 18.238s for Red Bull.

Sebastien Bourdais was 16th overall on 1m 18.916s for Toro Rosso, but was the fastest runner to be eliminated in Q1 and will start at the back after needing his gearbox changed this morning. Team mate Sebastian Vettel will be with him. He didn’t run at all in qualifying as his STR3 needs a new monocoque after his crash this morning.

The Force Indias of Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella will thus start 16th and 17th on 1m 19.108s and 1m 19.165s respectively. Jenson Button was 19th overall and will start 18th, his troubled Honda recording only 1m 23.565s thanks to gearbox problems.

The track surface is already occupying everyone ahead of a race in which safety cars are also expected to play a crucial role, such is the unforgiving nature of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s walls.