Mercedes supercars

By Tim Pollard

29 July 2008 09:00

The SLR is the fruit of a strange motor industry marriage. Collaborating as they do in motorsport, Woking and Stuttgart decided to build a road car that showcased their full-bodied technical know-how. Perhaps the mixed messages from F1-centric McLaren and luxury brand Merc, or the untold pressure of the seminal F1, were too much, for the SLR has failed to worm its way into our affections. Still, you can't totally snub a £300k coupe capable of sprinting to 60mph in less than 4.0sec...

Make and model

Year

Price

Engine

0-60mph

Top speed

2003

£317,610

5439cc V8, 626bhp, 575lb ft 

 3.8sec

208mph 

For 

 Thunderous soundtrack and genuine 200mph performance 

Against 

 Cramped cabin, looks too much like a 70-grand SL

Verdict 

 Titanic performance, but maybe more GT than supercar
 in intent

Another Gordon Murray supercar, but this one was hamstrung by Merc's insistence on a front mid-engined layout. True, it boasts 626bhp, but it's just a V8. Only the roadster is now hand-built at Ron Dennis's Bond-lair factory in Woking,with a Speedster to follow

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By Tim Pollard