The Successor to the SLR McLaren

[vexor]

WOKING, England — McLaren is working on a successor to the slow-selling Mercedes SLR — and the replacement could be called a McLaren, not a Mercedes. Motorsports Web site GrandPrix.com quotes McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh as saying that the company is working with Mercedes-Benz to develop a new model that will follow the Mercedes-Benz SLR, which is produced at Woking, west of London. Whitmarsh said: "The level of interest in McLaren from Mercedes-Benz is higher than it has ever been. There is a clear commitment to be in F1 in the long term and refreshed interest in road-car activities. I think it is increasingly likely that there will be a range of sports cars designed in Woking in the future." McLaren's Woking center was only opened three years ago. It houses both the McLaren Formula One team and the factory that makes the SLR. What this means to you: The SLR is a superb car but a commercial flop, especially compared with the previous McLaren road car, the F1. A future McLaren is expected to be a true "supercar" like the F1.

- Inside Line

[Ghostbat]

Hope McLaren get their will through this time and can make a focused supercar.

[DeMoN]

hope they keep the mercedes heavy crap away. Oh and MAN A PROPPER MANUAL GEAR!

[nthfinity]

The SLR is a superb car but a commercial flop, especially compared with the previous McLaren road car, the F1. A future McLaren is expected to be a true "supercar" like the F1.

wasnt the previous McLaren a flop?? they only sold what... 67 of them, and an addiontal 31 race versions, and a LM road car?

they originally intended to build 400 i do believe... so with the SLR, they intended 1500... so based on previous mclaren not-floppage, it ought to sell 371 SLR's altogether... i think they did better then that

[yg60m]

The target for the SLR was 3500 (500/year during 7 years) I don't know if they are close to this.
But the F1 was supposed to be sold at 300 cars so it wasn't a success either ... at the time because now you can't get one for less than 1.500.000 € and even more :shock:

[coloradosilver]

It would be an awesome thing to build a successor to the F1. Just a newer version with updated technology, new looks, and more power of course. Center seating would be a must to maintain the F1 spirit. That would be the car to own.

[Evo]

I think it would sell a lot more if they lower their prices.. Ford Focus price range maybe.. ..

But seriously how come the SLR not selling I see atleast 2 a week over here which are new and ever week or so I see a new one in MB dealers over here so I really don't think they are not selling..

But it's good that Mclaren will be doing the next car I hope they make it as close as possible to the original Mclaren F1 road car.. Pure racing car for the road. And I hope they put a proper V12 engine N/A preferably for that wonderful sound.. The new V8 from AMG is 6.3 so maybe we will see V12 7.3 same as the one on the Zonda.. with more power..

[Shinigami]

Come to think of it, it's interesting to note that both BMW and MB still lack another company under their rule which produces "supercars". Ok, so MB has Maybach, but currently they only make a luxurious saloon type car. BMW worked with McLaren for the F1, whilst MB worked with them for the SLR, but will these two companies one day have their own supercar company?

Ford has Aston Martin. Fiat has Ferrari. Audi has Lamborghini. etc...

[nthfinity]

Originally Posted by Shinri_Shiogami Come to think of it, it's interesting to note that both BMW and MB still lack another company under their rule which produces "supercars". Ok, so MB has Maybach, but currently they only make a luxurious saloon type car. BMW worked with McLaren for the F1, whilst MB worked with them for the SLR, but will these two companies one day have their own supercar company? Ford has Aston Martin. Fiat has Ferrari. Audi has Lamborghini. etc...

it is true that Ford consulted Aston to some during pre-production of the FGT, but not nearly to the degree that they worked with Saleen, and Roush to a lesser degree.

last time i checked, the GT is faster (less luxury) then any Aston

[ae86_16v]

Interesting, because last time I heard, relationship between the two companies aren't fairing too well.

[RAMMIUS]

McLaren needs to come back to its roots, with a mid-engined, mid-seater supercar

True , but do you think Stuttgart would resist the temptation to put all their comfort gadgets on the car ?

[dutchmasterflex]

Glad to hear they will be keeping MB away from the engineering and design rooms..

[DeMoN]

Originally Posted by RAMMIUS McLaren needs to come back to its roots, with a mid-engined, mid-seater supercar True , but do you think Stuttgart would resist the temptation to put all their comfort gadgets on the car ?

that is the problem =(