The long-running partnership between Mercedes-Benz and sports car arm of British company McLaren will not be renewed when it expires in 2009. The primary collaboration between the two was the SLR supercar, due to end production at the expiry of the current contract. The partnership between the motorsports divisions of the two companies, which fields the McLaren-Mercedes Vodafone F1 team, will not be affected.



The next generation of Mercedes’ super sports cars are currently under development by the carmaker’s racing arm, HWA, as well as its in-house tuner, AMG. McLaren is also reported to be moving on with its own successor to the original F1. Mercedes’ next flagship sports car, a new roadster called the SLC, will arrive in 2010 and will be built by AMG at a plant in Sindelfingen, Germany.



End of SLR cooperation does not rule out future joint efforts

A Mercedes spokesman confirmed to Automotive News that the current partnership would end next year and there are no plans to bargain for a continuation: “The partnership ends in 2009 and it will not be renewed,” said the spokesman.



The closure of this chapter in Mercedes-McLaren history does not necessarily rule out future projects between the two. The SLR supercar is simply becoming outdated and continued production doesn’t make sense. Given the intimate motorsports ties and strong history, it would not be surprising to see another tie-up in the future.



Special edition SLR to mark end of partnership

Furthermore, it was revealed yesterday that Mercedes would mark the occasion with a limited run of 75 special edition SLR ‘Speedster’ supercars. The new model is expected to boast more power and a lighter kerb weight, and will be differentiated by an open top design and unique lifting doors.



The driver and passenger will only be protected from the buffeting wind by a small deflector, but the new design means the car will be able to accelerate from 0-300km/h in just 26 seconds and reach a top speed of 350km/h – 13km/h faster than the SLR 722 model.



Adding to the performance is a lighter kerb weight, which could be up to 200kg lighter than the standard model. The weight saving will come from increased use of carbon-fiber for the body, new carbon-ceramic brakes and a new exhaust system



It will cost about $736,650 and is expected to be presented to the media at the end of the month by Lewis Hamilton, who is also expected to be given one of the cars as a gift from the Mercedes-McLaren F1 team.



Because the SLR does not comply with Australian Design Rules and was never sold locally it’s highly unlikely this modified version will ever reach our shores.

[ Source :  CarCental ]