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Manufacturer Technical Specifications
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General
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Tuner
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McLaren
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Year Of Introduction
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2007
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Transmission
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Rear Wheel
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Length
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183.301 in | 4655.8 mm. |
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Width
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75.101 in | 1907.6 mm |
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Height
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1250.001 mm | 49.2 in
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Wheelbase |
2700.001 mm | 106.3 in. |
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Front Track
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64.501 in | 1638.3 mm |
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Rear Track
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61.801 in | 1569.7 mm. | | |
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Engine
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Configuration
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V-8 AMG
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Displacement
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5439.00 cc | 331.9 cu in. | 5.4 L.
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Power
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626.00 HP (460.7 KW) @ 6500.00 RPM
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Torque
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780.00 NM (575.1 Ft-Lbs) @ 3250.00 RPM
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BHP / Liter
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115.9 BHP / Liter
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Performance
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Top Speed
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332 km/h | 206.3 mph
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0 - 62 mph
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3.8 sec | |
0 - 100 mph
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N.A
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0 - 250 mile
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N.A
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Skidpad
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N.A
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Braking, 62-0 mph
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N.A
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Slalom Speed
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N.A
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Sponsors
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Wallpaper Gallery: 1600x1200
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Manufacturer Press Release
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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition: Motor-racing blood coursing through
its veins
The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition displays thoroughbred
motor-racing credentials. Featuring more than 300 modified components, the
super sports car serves up a boost in output, more dynamic chassis tuning,
improved aerodynamics and distinctly sporty interior appointments to thrill
even the most demanding of sports-car enthusiasts.
The flawless roads which today lead through the desert next to Dubai are
ideal for demonstrating the pedigree sporting performance that characterises
the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition. Dubai is the up-and-coming
business centre of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is the setting for the
world's most ambitious construction projects, including the man-made "Palm
Jumeirah" island, and over the course of recent decades many wealthy sheikhs
have become avid automobile aficionados. It is this flair for the
exceptional that links the desert city on the Persian Gulf and its
inhabitants with the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition premium sports
car.
The new SLR 722 Edition model variant from Mercedes-Benz evokes memories of
a particularly special victory achieved in 1955 by the British motor-racing
legend Stirling Moss and his co-pilot Dennis Jenkinson at Mille Miglia – the
classic Italian endurance race – behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz 300 SLR
with start number 722 (denoting the car's start time of 7.22 a.m.). Boasting
an impressive output of 478 kW/650 hp, the new SLR McLaren 722 Edition super
sports car not only outperforms its historic forefather, it even outstrips
the scintillating peak performance of the current SLR model. The new
limited-edition series – only 150 models are being produced, for the most
part handcrafted, at the McLaren Formula 1 works in Woking – is the brand's
response to calls from highly discerning SLR customers for even more
sportiness combined with the same high level of everyday practicality.
At the heart of the SLR 722 Edition is a 5.5-litre supercharged V8 assembled
by hand at the Mercedes-AMG engine workshops in Affalterbach, Germany, based
on the "One man, one engine" principle. Among the high-performance
powerplant's major strengths are its exceptionally spontaneous response to
accelerator pedal movements, high torque and that unmistakable V8 sound.
Crankcase with dry-sump lubrication
The powerplant's entire engine block with its enclosed crankcase sump is
made from cast aluminium. Each crankshaft is precision-weighted and revolves
in five bearings made from a high-durability material to enable sustained
transmission of the tremendous forces emanating from the supercharged
engine.
The forged pistons are only manufactured in extremely small numbers. Just
like the forged lightweight connecting rods, the pistons are measured and
weighed with utmost accuracy before being assigned to individual engines.
This keeps any mass balancing tolerances to an absolute minimum. The pistons
slide inside extremely durable, wear-resistant, low-friction cylinder
barrels made from a special compound which is otherwise only found in race
car engines. Twin oil injection is used for effective piston cooling.
The oil cooling technology employed for the power unit as a whole also draws
on the brand's racetrack experience: a sophisticated dry-sump lubrication
system with a capacity of around eleven litres combines with a five-speed
oil suction pump and a two-speed oil pressure pump to guarantee reliable
lubrication under all driving conditions. One important knock-on effect of
this dry-sump lubrication technology, which is again normally exclusive to
race cars, is that the engine height can be kept low, allowing it to be
installed deeper down in the engine compartment: the result is a low centre
of gravity that fosters dynamic handling.
Screw compressor power
Efficient cylinder charging is the task of a belt-driven compressor with two
screw-shaped aluminium rotors that are Teflon-coated in the interests of
keeping friction low. In order to keep the engine running as efficiently as
possible at all times, the AMG engineers have devised an intelligent engine
management system which independently determines when to deploy the screw
compressor as the engine's rev speed and load change. Consequently, the
supercharger is only called into action when it is really needed.
Notwithstanding this, however, maximum power is always available the instant
the driver summons it by opening the throttle.
Apart from the compressor, the engine's electronics monitor all of the other
variables which are relevant to its operation. At the same time, they ensure
optimum operation of the intercoolers' water circuit. After all, efficient
cooling of the charge air is a vital ingredient for high performance.
The intercoolers operate based on the extremely efficient air-to-water heat
exchanger principle: the air which has been compressed by the compressor,
causing it to heat up, is directed through a separate water circuit to cool
it down again. This enables the eight-cylinder powerplant to maximise its
output and torque delivery.
Manual transmission mode for shift times worthy of a race car
High performance has also been ingrained into the five-speed automatic
transmission, which was developed in-house at Mercedes-Benz and has already
featured in a number of exceptionally powerful models. It has been optimised
to enable it to handle the awesome torque on tap and also offers drivers the
possibility of varying the gearshift characteristics. The transmission
directs the engine's power to the differential and the rear wheels via a
precision balanced drive train made from aluminium and steel.
The interplay of the engine with the gearshift was also subject to
modification. For each of the individually selectable transmission modes – M
(Manual) and S (Sport) on the one hand and C (Comfort) on the other – there
is now a different accelerator pedal characteristic curve, which has been
optimised in line with the varying operating conditions.
The end result is an extremely impressive set of performance figures, even
by high-end super sports car standards: the SLR 722 Edition completes the
sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a breathtaking 3.6 seconds (SLR 3.8 seconds),
with the speedometer needle proceeding to pass the 200 km/h mark in a mere
10.2 seconds (SLR 10.6 seconds) and the 300 km/h mark in just 28.0 seconds (SLR
28.8 seconds). Plus, the top speed of 337 km/h is even higher than that of
the current SLR (334 km/h).
New chassis set-up for further enhanced handling dynamics
One of the main driving forces behind the enhanced performance of the SLR
722 Edition is the retuned chassis. Development work at McLaren's Formula 1
headquarters was based on the set-up of the SLR's proven aluminium chassis,
that is itself the handiwork of experienced race car developers: wheel
guidance is the task of double wishbones at both the front and rear. The
bottom links are arranged in such a way that the wheels receive a negative
camber when the springs compress or when cornering at speed. This guarantees
optimum contact with the road in any situation. Meanwhile, the axle
technology also minimises the degree of diving and squatting while braking
heavily and accelerating respectively.
The axle's wishbones are made from forged aluminium, while cast aluminium is
used for the wheel carriers. This lightweight material boasts a host of
advantages compared to conventional steel constructions, including the far
superior response of the suspension and damping that results from the
reduced weight.
The relatively long wheelbase of 2700 millimetres likewise contributes to
the exemplary handling characteristics, with the most notable benefit being
the outstanding straight-line stability, while the wide track combines with
the low centre of gravity to enable high cornering speeds.
The chassis construction has the anti-roll bar positioned above the front
axle where it is controlled via rocker arms, just like on a Formula 1 car.
With this set-up, the anti-roll bar does not take up any additional
installation space. In this way, the smooth lines of the underside of the
vehicle are not disrupted, which is vital for the sports car's outstanding
aerodynamic characteristics.
In the first phase of chassis development for the Mercedes-Benz McLaren 722
Edition, various combinations of chassis parameters, such as springing and
damping, underwent a series of tests on the Formula 1 dynamometer in Woking.
Then the Mercedes-Benz and McLaren engineers made further refinements and
finalised the new set-up by performing an extensive series of tests on the
road and, above all, on the race track.
The stiffer spring rates and shock absorber characteristics of the chassis
as well as the lowering of the body by 10 mm at both the front and rear are
what gives the SLR 722 Edition its increased directional stability and
noticeably further enhanced handling dynamics. Body roll on bends has been
reduced by over 20 percent, allowing the new SLR 722 Edition to corner at
even greater speeds.
New 19-inch forged aluminium wheels also help to improve the handling
dynamics of the special-edition model, their unique, palladium grey design
highlighting the car's motor-racing heritage. Their lower weight compared to
conventional wheels reduces the unsprung masses, making the responsiveness
of the SLR 722 Edition all the sharper. Plus, the 19-inch wheels allow
larger brake discs with a diameter of 390 mm to be fitted on the front axle.
Hailing from the Italian manufacturer "Brembo", the new braking system
combines with the carbon-fibre-reinforced ceramic discs to provide
formidable decelerating power which is fully in keeping with the SLR 722
Edition's scintillating all-round performance. Exhaustive testing was
carried out to develop a new ESP® control system for this new brake
configuration.
High-tech material for exemplary safety and maximum strength
The high-performance sports car's bodyshell bristles with high tech. The
entire bodyshell, including the crash structures at the front and rear, the
occupant cell, the swing-wing doors and the bonnet, is made from carbon-fibre-reinforced
plastic (CRP). This lightweight yet, at the same time, extremely rigid
material is a technology borrowed from the aviation and space travel
industry and has already proven its worth in ultra-sophisticated Formula 1
race cars. Despite the weight-saving of 50 percent that this high-tech
material represents compared to steel, it is just as strong, which allowed
the engineers to focus on achieving the body's enormous strength.
Plus, in the event of an impact, carbon fibres have a specific energy
absorption that is some four to five time higher than steel or aluminium.
Mercedes-Benz has capitalised on this material property by also fitting two
620-millimetre-long side member elements made from carbon fibre in the front
structure of the SLR 722 Edition; these are capable of absorbing all of the
impact energy in a head-on collision without exceeding the maximum levels of
deceleration that the occupants are able to withstand. In the event of an
impact, the fibres of these two elements tear from front to rear to crumple
in a carefully predetermined manner and thereby produce a constant rate of
deceleration.
The super sports car's occupant cell is likewise made from this high-tech
material, offering passengers a very rigid and therefore safe survival space
in an accident. At the rear of the car, the task of absorbing energy in a
crash falls to two internal side members made from laminated carbon fibre
and a sturdy cross member, which together ensure that the occupant cell
remains virtually intact. The occupant protection system also encompasses
adaptive front airbags, which are deployed in two stages depending on the
severity of the impact, head/thorax bags and knee bags, as well as seat belt
tensioners and belt force limiters.
An aerodynamic work of art: even more downforce and an improved cd figure
Around 100 hours of meticulous work in the wind tunnel also helped boost the
performance of the SLR 722 Edition. Here the developers performed yet
another technical masterstroke by increasing downforce whilst at the same
time reducing the cd (drag coefficient) figure. It's all thanks to the
air-splitter at the front end of the SLR 722 Edition. Consisting of carbon
with a clear-coat finish, the distinctively shaped spoiler lip not only
enhances aerodynamics, it also increases the downforce at the front axle by
128 percent. Small wheel spoilers, also finished in carbon, reduce air swirl
at the rear axle, making for a smoother airflow and optimising road feel.
The spoilers combine with the airbrake at the rear to produce a further
substantial gain in the downforce acting at the rear axle of the new SLR 722
Edition. The result is even more precise handling and turn-in at high
speeds.
The rear-mounted airbrake is designed to optimise directional stability and
braking power: when the speed exceeds 120 km/h, it automatically rises up at
an angle that has been adjusted in line with the extremely dynamic
performance of the new model. If the driver hits the brakes hard at high
speed, the airbrake tilts up into the airstream automatically. This dynamic
modification increases rear-axle downforce within a fraction of a second,
thus partially compensating for the dynamic axle load distribution during
braking, which presses towards the front axle.
A further factor which contributes to the distinctly sports-oriented
configuration is the weight of the SLR 722 Edition, which the engineers have
managed to reduce by around 44 kg. A lighter oil tank and damper bodies made
from aluminium, which have the added benefit of improving the vibration
response of the unsprung masses, contribute to this weight loss. Last but
not least, optimised panelling and insulating materials also have a positive
effect on the vehicle weight. Yet for all these measures, the high levels of
comfort, safety and practicality that have become Mercedes hallmarks remain
unaffected.
Sporty design through and through
In terms of exterior design, the SLR 722 Edition features discreet sporty
touches, thereby satisfying the desires of keen gentleman drivers and
affluent sports-car collectors – the core target group – to the letter. The
new-look 19-inch light-alloy wheels afford a perfect view of the red-painted
brake callipers and the large brake discs, emphasising the sheer power and
performance that underpins every aspect of the SLR 722 Edition. In addition,
individual components in carbon with a clear-coat finish highlight the close
ties with Formula 1. Plus, the grille-style design of the black-painted air
outlets on the bonnet, not to mention the front and rear light clusters with
their palladium grey surrounds, blend in perfectly with the carbon-fibre
look. The SLR 722 Edition is available with a crystal antimony grey paint
finish which creates a vivid impression of depth and produces an extremely
intensive-looking surface structure.
Moving inside, the sports bucket seats, upholstered in a combination of
semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, offer excellent lateral support, while
the colour contrast provided by the distinctive "300 SL red" stitching
throughout the interior, the 722 insignia on the head restraints and the red
seat belts is designed for added visual impact. The attractive material mix
comprising semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, which gives the interior its
characteristic look and feel, also features prominently on the roof lining
and door panels. Frequently used controls, such as the shift lever and
handbrake lever, are trimmed in easy-grip, moisture-absorbing suede. The
sporty design philosophy that is at the heart of the SLR 722 Edition is also
reflected by the widespread use of carbon throughout the interior. This
material, straight from the world of Formula 1, lends the centre console an
extremely puristic look.
The restyled instrument cluster focuses the driver's attention on the key
vehicle data, comprising classic-style round dials with a signal-red
background. The functionality of the multifunction display is given an extra
sporty touch in the form of the AMG RACETIMER. Finally, the designers paid
special attention to the steering wheel as the key link between driver and
car: with its combined leather/suede trim, the rim is extremely easy to grip
and helps the driver to stay in complete control when performing high-speed
manoeuvres, as do the new aluminium shift paddles.
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