Mercedes-Benz SLR

1999 September, the Vision SLR Roadster "design study" was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
1999 July, "the DaimlerChrysler AG Board of Management gave the green light for production of the sports car."
1999 January, the SLR Coupe was shown.

The closed SLR coupe and open roadster feature doors that hinge forwards and upwards, recalling the gull-wing doors of the 1954 300 SL and the 1955 300 SLR coupe, but perhaps more closely resembling those of the Lamborghini Diablo.

The soft-top's top is made of polyester mesh which is aluminium plated and allows light through. To compensate for the naturally poorer aerodynamics of an open car, the boot lid is higher than on the coupe and a diffuser is fitted under the rear body, F1 style, to improve down-force.

Brakes are controlled by a `Sensotronic' brake by wire system in which "brake power is calculated for each wheel and precisely metered in order to ensure optimum track-holding and braking stability...". It is said to give more rapid brake response and to have an ability to compensate for brake fade, say. The brake discs are made of fibre-reinforced ceramic which is lighter than conventional cast iron and can withstand higher temperatures.

The engine is a 5.5 litre V8 with 3-valves per cylinder. The makers claim a whopping 410 at 6500 and 720 at 4000, partly due to a supercharger (kompressor) and a water-cooled inter-cooler. The supercharger can be "switched off during partial-load" to reduce fuel consumption. Mercedes-Benz has been going kompressor-mad lately, recalling their racing cars and grand-tourers of the 1930s.
- 4wd.sofcom.com/Mercedes/Mercedes.html

Mercedes Benz SLR

• open sports car, roadster, 2-seats, 2-doors
• loa: 4564mm, width: 1878mm, height: 1247 (coupe 4499mm x 1812mm x 1293mm) LI weight: xxx (unladen), GVM: xxx, towing: xxx (unbraked) -->
• 5496cc, petrol, V8, mpfi, supercharged and inter-cooled, 3-valves/cyl xxxGear --> LI bore: xxx, stroke: xxx, c.r.: xxx --> LI transmission: xxx -->
• suspension: 4-link / multi-link, brakes: disc/disc Sensotronic electro-hydraulic system, fibre/ceramic discs (right), ABS, ESP
• tyres: 245/35 ZR 19 & 285/30 ZR 20

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