The long-running partnership between Mercedes-Benz and sports car arm of British company McLaren will not be renewed when it expires in 2009, but before it ends the two will collaborate on one final project, a speedster version of their SLR supercar. These high-resolution photographs and a video of a prototype testing at Germany's benchmark Nurburgring test track reveal a car that will please purists and collectors alike.

To replace the SLR once the current partnership with McLaren is over, 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.

Until then, however, the SLR Speedster will remain at the top of Mercedes' model line-up, unique in its extremely limited-production status and its rare, completely topless body style.

The driver and passenger will only be protected from the buffeting wind by a small deflector, but the new design, which cuts wind resistance, 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.

Also adding to the performance is a lighter kerb weight, which could be up to 200kg below the standard model. The weight saving will come from increased use of carbon fibre 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.

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 The SLR supercar is simply becoming outdated and continued production doesn’t make sense.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, however.

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