German Car Forum

Merc1 · 05-02-2007, 01:23 AM

Supertruck to supercar

After these super-sized driving thrills, we nearly forgot that Mercedes has provided a supercar for us to drive, too. Parachuting down from the Actros' cabin, we hoof it to the SLR, scale the wide sills and settle into the snug sport seats.

With no time for ergonomic ponderings, we jab the glowing red starter button that's located under a cool little flap on the knob of the shift lever. While the Actros rumbles, the SLR absolutely roars. The exhaust note coming from the pipes in the rocker panel would not sound out of place on the starting grid for the Daytona 500. The gullwing doors shut with a solid ker-thunk, and we aim the pointy prow of the SLR toward the opposite end of the track.

A treacherous sprinkling of rain has us cautiously pressing the gas. After getting up to a steady 60 mph, we finally floor it. The 626-hp 5.5-liter supercharged V8 releases a frightening bellow. Three-digit speed arrives in a heartbeat. Slamming on the carbon-ceramic disc brakes, the ABS kicks in and the rear airbrake pops up.

During it all, the five-speed automatic transmission is seamless, blurring upshifts and offering delightful blips of the throttle during downshifts. The 575 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm might be dwarfed by the almighty Actros, but in the 3,734-pound SLR this is more than enough torque to keep you happy. Even with the traction control on, we were still able to kick out the tail on this carbon-fiber-bodied exotic before the electrical nannies politely hauled in our hooligan behavior.

The ultimate cruisers

The Actros Black Edition and SLR McLaren are poles apart in size and performance. Neither makes much sense, and that's the appeal.

The SLR is a performance powerhouse with mind-boggling acceleration and braking ability. Even though it's not the newest exotic car on the block anymore, the SLR still stands apart because it provides supercar thrills with a luxurious interior and then adds safety features that are welcome for real-world cruising.

But if it's cruising you want on a Love Boat scale, then the Actros Black Edition certainly fits the bill. Driving controls that don't require the strength of Hercules and that 317-gallon fuel tank mean this big brute can take you nonstop to most anywhere you want — so long as there are no bridges overhead that are lower than 12.3 feet above the ground.

The 626-hp SLR McLaren Meets the 612-hp Mercedes-Benz Actros

M

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