This edition of the Mercedes SLR Class McLaren is the 6 speed / Paddle Shift version and was first brought out in 2003. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2004 Westfield Sport 2000S and the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 400.This particular Mercedes SLR Class has a 5439cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.
The SLR Class shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the SLR Class's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.
Weighing in at 1618 kgs (3567 lbs) this makes the Mercedes SLR Class McLaren in the same weight category as the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.
In terms of power the 5439cc 32V V8 engine produces 617 bhp (460 kW) @ 6500 rpm similar to the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (611 bhp) or the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (616 bhp).
The Naturally Aspirated V8 throws out 575 lb-ft (779.5 Nm) @ 5000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (568 lb-ft) or the 2023 McLaren 750S Spider 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (590 lb-ft).
If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Mercedes SLR Class you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.
The 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series 6.2 V8 (401.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mercedes SLR Class.
The Mercedes SLR Class has a Power to weight ratio of 381.3 bhp per ton and 355.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2003 SLR Class competing with the 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series 6.2 V8 (401.2 bhp per ton) or the 2004 Noble M400 3.0 V6 (400.9 bhp per ton).
If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Mercedes SLR Class generating around 355.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Stradale 4.0 V8 Hybrid (380.1 lb-ft per ton) or the 2022 KTM X-Bow GT-XR 2.5 Turbo (379.6 lb-ft per ton).
With a 0-60mph time of 3.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 3.9 secs, this made the Mercedes SLR Class McLaren as fast as the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (3.80 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 (3.80 secs) the 2021 BMW i4 M50 (3.80 secs) the or the 2021 Mercedes SL Class 55 4Matic+ 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (3.80 secs). This Mercedes SLR Class McLaren is also faster than the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo (3.90 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 Steptronic (3.90 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Sport Classic 3.7 Turbo 992 (3.90 secs) the and the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (3.90 secs).
When talking about the performance of the Mercedes SLR Class on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 11.48 secs @ 119.1 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 (11.43 secs), the 2019 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 300 Trophy-R (11.44 secs), and the 2005 Vauxhall-Opel Monaro 6.0 V8 VXR (11.45 secs).
Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2003 version of the Mercedes SLR Class McLaren has a maximum speed of 208mph.
If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2003 Mercedes SLR Class McLaren then how about the 2022 Mercedes AMG One 1.6 V6 Turbo Hybrid (219 mph), the 2023 Pagani Utopia 6.0 V12 Twin Turbo (220 mph), or the 2011 Aston-Martin One77 7.3L V12 (220 mph).
Chevrolet Chevelle-Malibu SS 454 Coupe 4 Speed 2nd Gen
Engine: Naturally Aspirated Petrol | 7443cc 16v V8
Top Speed: 116 mph
0-60mph: 7.50 seconds
BMW 3 Series M3 E36
Engine: Naturally Aspirated Petrol | 2990cc 24v St6
Top Speed: 260.7 kph
0-100kph: 5.6 seconds