New Mclaren Mercedes Supercar

[Coventrysucks]

There is a good article in this week's Autocar about the proposed new Mclaren Mercedes supercar aimed at the 360, Gallardo, and new Audi Le mans.

It says that the new car code named P8, would go on sale at the end of 2007, priced at about £150,000, with between 800 to 1500 cars produced a year.

It would have a lightweight carbofibre monocoque, and will be available as a coupe, with a convertible "highly likely". Target weight is 1400kg

The P8 will be powered by the all new AMG M156 unit, a naturally aspirated 6.3 litre V8, all ready in development for the E, CLS, S, CL, and SL class Mercedes, and produces 500bhp, and 400lb ft torque. The transmission has yet to be decided, although they indicate a reworked version of the Mercedes 7G-Tronic, with paddle shift, but no fully manual option.

There will be pleanty of hi-tech gadgets, including carbon ceramic brakes, cast magnesium wheels, an airbrake similar to the one on the SLR, as well as new Michelin developed dual compound tyres.

Performance is estimated as 0-60 in 4 seconds, and a top speed of 198mph (320km/h), against 4.2 and 184 for the 360, 4.1 and 192 for the Gallardo, and 4.0 and 200 estimated for the Le Mans.

As it is still in the concept phase there are no good ideas as to what it will look like, I don't think that the visuals produced for Autocar are very accurate, although from what it says about Mclaren's position as a brand in the Mercedes empire, it will have Mercedes styling.

[SL500]

Good info,thanks

[Dino Scuderia]

To compete with the 360? That would be going backwards, even the Stradale is beat on the track by Porsche GT3. The GT3's advantage is mostly traction out of corners.

[bum-man]

didnt i post something liek this earlier, it was on a magazine cover with the BMW M2 or something like that.

i forgot to add they are supposed to make something to take on the likes of the Enzo and Carrera...the SLR just didnt do it for them

the SLR is more like a GT (the ultimate GT) kind of like the 575