Mercedes confirms McLaren partnership will end next year

[Zafiro]

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that its partnership with British sports car manufacturer McLaren will come to an end when the current agreement to build the SLR supercar expires next year. 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, and McLaren is also reported to be moving on with its own successor to the original F1.

Speaking with Automotive News, a Mercedes spokesman confirmed the partnership would end next year and that there are no plans to renew it. “The partnership ends in 2009 and it will not be renewed,” the spokesman said.

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. It will cost about €450,000 ($712,605) and is expected to be presented at the end of the month by Lewis Hamilton, who is also expected to be given one of the cars.

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.

Automotive news

 

[klier]

Its own successor to the original F1? I hope they ring BMW, and ask for a Motorsport engine

They cannot make a car like the SLR on their own. They need a big company like BMW or MB backing them up and helping them out.

 

[Merc1]

Oh well such is life. We knew it was coming.

M

 

[Pagani]

If Zonda or Koenniggsegg can make world class cars, then how in the world can't McLared do it? They already have a ready supply of engined from Mercedes, that has not changed with the end of the partnership. What has changed is MB engineers meddling in and undoing McL work to insest front engine design, motorized seats, and multiple airbags.

 

[LaArtist]

Good luck to all 3
Mclaren
AMG
HWA..

May the best win

 

[Sunny]

If Zonda or Koenniggsegg can make world class cars, then how in the world can't McLared do it? They already have a ready supply of engined from Mercedes, that has not changed with the end of the partnership. What has changed is MB engineers meddling in and undoing McL work to insest front engine design, motorized seats, and multiple airbags.

Yeah, all Mercedes needs to do is supply the engine they ask for and get out of the way.

 

[Wunderkind]

Its own successor to the original F1? I hope they ring BMW, and ask for a Motorsport engine

They cannot make a car like the SLR on their own. They need a big company like BMW or MB backing them up and helping them out.

Actually much of the engineering work of the SLR was done by the McLaren side..................................

So is McLaren capable of producing a F430 Scuderia fighter? Performance is going to be quite close perhaps. But is the product going to be as good and as aesthetically pleasing as the F430? I don't think so.

 

[SDNR]

Yayy!!

The SLR was a major disappointment. I honestly thought we would never see another car like the F1 from McLaren again -- this is great news.

 

[SDNR]

Actually much of the engineering work of the SLR was done by the McLaren side..................................

That is true, but they were very restricted by DaimlerChrysler ....it was never going to be a proper follow up to the F1 with DCX breathing down their necks.

 

[Wunderkind]

That is true, but they were very restricted by DaimlerChrysler ....it was never going to be a proper follow up to the F1 with DCX breathing down their necks.

Yes, Mercedes did demand the addition of toys and gadgets into the interior that added significant weight to the finished product.

But a lot of the things demanded by Mercedes was also correct. The Mercedes people were surprised by the poor packaging of the carbon fibre tub. This was partly due to the side exhaust design that was crammed into the throat of the AMG engineers by Gordon Murray. The AMG engineers complied and delivered, but they did so under protest.

AMG later went to Mercedes kicking and screaming and told the Mercedes board that they could have done a better job themselves in Germany. The board gave them the approval to go ahead after the de-merger of Daimler and Chrysler.

Regarding the engine of the forthcoming McLaren car (P11), neither McLaren nor AMG-HWA wanted Mercedes to supply a Mercedes-badged engine for the P11. It's a case of mutual detestation. But the engine will be based on the AMG 6.2L V8.

 

[Family Guy]

Its own successor to the original F1? I hope they ring BMW, and ask for a Motorsport engine

They cannot make a car like the SLR on their own. They need a big company like BMW or MB backing them up and helping them out.

I read in Wheels mag Mclaren is working with Mahle to produce a blueprint merc engine.

i agree with u kiler, Mclaren needs a massive corperation to help them. working with mahle might work but i think they need a company bigger than Mahle.

100!

 

[Wunderkind]

I read in Wheels mag Mclaren is working with Mahle to produce a blueprint merc engine.

i agree with u kiler, Mclaren needs a massive corperation to help them. working with mahle might work but i think they need a company bigger than Mahle.

100!

Yes, Mahle (who is a big engine component supplier to Mercedes) bought the Cosworth business from VW. Cosworth can modify the AMG 6.2L V8 powerplant for the McLaren and badge it as a McLaren engine.