If at first you don't succeed, make a bunch of model variants and hope people buy them. Well, that sounds good and all but, for Mercedes and their SLR supercar, it hasn't really done much to get volume where it needs to be.
You remember SLR? The thoroughly exotic supercar, developed alongside F1 partner Mclaren, made a splash when it debuted in 2003. Since then, special edition models 722 and Roadster have debuted and apparently not performed well enough to maintain the Benz/Mclaren relationship. Automotive News Europe [sub required] recently reported that the companies are parting ways after having moved just 1,600 SLR units to date. But why not go out with a bang right? Say hello to Speedster, the third and final SLR.
Think it looks fast in the rendering? It's even better on video...
Word on the street for Speedster is that it will be, well, speedy.
Not like the 617 HP SLR Roadster was slow by any means, but thanks to lots of carbon fiber and the loss of any kind of roof, traditional windshield, A/C system and power windows, the Speedster should weigh about 440 pounds less than the Roadster. With this lighter curb weight,
Speedster should be good for about 217 MPH, 11 MPH more than the
Roadster.
Spy shooters recently captured a Speedster, camouflaged in zebra livery, undergoing testing in Europe. Its minimalist design approach resembles the Veritas RS3 recently caught at the 'Ring.
A tiny pair of windscreens is all that separates the bugs from your teeth but who cares because this thing is sick! The lack of A-pillars normally surrounding the windshield means that the roadster's butterfly doors had to be rethought. They operate more like scissor doors now, with a single hinge responsible for raising the door forward. The double humps seen in back are likely a throwback design cue meant to pay homage to the 300 SLR Silver Arrow historic racers.
Pictured above is a rendering from illustrator Jon Sibal, who took a crack at what Speedster might look like when all that camouflage comes off. We sure hope he is right.
It is rumored that F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton is consulting on this project and that he will be officially launching the Speedster at an event in Germany sometime soon. Hey Lewis, if you're reading this, please be sure to drop us one of those invites.
Only 75 Speedsters will be produced and price should be in the neighborhood of $700,000.
Rendering from JonSibal.com. Used with permission.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMrl3t_iyCo
