Mercedes' New R8 Rival - Geneva Showing

[Street_Dreamer]

If there was any reason for doubt, i can now be certain that I'm going to Geneva.

As has been so heavily publicised, Mercedes will be doing it with HWA - the company who make their racing cars. This will be very different to the current £70-90,000 Mercs, this will be the 360 (and then 430) rival we have waited so, so long for...Quite likely to be the "Vision" concept version of it.

Mercedes and McLaren have parted ways, and development of the new M.B. supercar has been assigned to HWA AG, an operation directly connected to AMG.

We're already aware that the new Mercedes' halo will be sporting a 6.2-liter V8 – the same engine employed in several other AMG-massaged vehicles – but what we didn't know is that Mercedes and HWA plan to unveil their lovechild at the Geneva Motor Show next March, and they expect it to compete with the R8.

That last bit left us a trifle confused, as the R8 was built to compete with other high-end sports cars, including the Porsche 911 and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Mercedes already has several vehicles that flirt with that price point, although some may argue none are capable of the visceral thrills the others offer.

We'll be on hand to see the concept coupe unveiled next year, but in the meantime, we'd invite you to speculate about what HWA and Mercedes have planned.

Sure to be wicked About time...

[dydzi]

if HWA is doing this it'll have to be sensationally good, i'm eager to see it

[Ferrer]

It hasn't been presented yet and I already don't like it...

[The_Canuck]

Who thinks it'll be damn close to 4000 pounds?

[NSXType-R]

This is fitting in a weird spot. Doesn't the CLK 63 AMG sort of compete in this sector?

I don't mind extra sports cars, but I find it weird to fit on the line-up. Still, I'm interested to see what they cook up.

Actually, it could be lighter than 4000 pounds because Mercedes isn't the only one working on it.

[Ferrer]

This is fitting in a weird spot. Doesn't the CLK 63 AMG sort of compete in this sector?

I don't mind extra sports cars, but I find it weird to fit on the line-up. Still, I'm interested to see what they cook up.

Actually, it could be lighter than 4000 pounds because Mercedes isn't the only one working on it.

If you are wondering HWA is the more extreme department in AMG, resposible of cars like the A32 AMG, so in reality it's being done by Mercedes-Benz on its own.

[Street_Dreamer]

This is fitting in a weird spot. Doesn't the CLK 63 AMG sort of compete in this sector?

This will be much more sporty and lighter than the CLK63BS is my guess. It will be more low slung, faster, sportier all round...

[aiasib]

yeah

it'll have crap 0-60
it'll weigh two tons
but it'll sound GREAT

[Kitdy]

When is the auto show in Geneva?

[dydzi]

This is fitting in a weird spot. Doesn't the CLK 63 AMG sort of compete in this sector?

it's not a two-seater mid-engined exotic

If you are wondering HWA is the more extreme department in AMG, resposible of cars like the A32 AMG, so in reality it's being done by Mercedes-Benz on its own.

when somebody says HWA, CLK GTR is the first thing that comes to my mind...

[Ferrer]

when somebody says HWA, CLK GTR is the first thing that comes to my mind...

The A32 is better...

[F1_Master]

it's not a two-seater mid-engined exotic

But is the V8 Vantage not, either?

[ScionDriver]

There are only 2 Mercedes I can think of in the last ten years that I would qualify as hardcore sports cars: The CLK DTM and the CLK GTR. Mercedes has the whole luxo thing going on, they make great touring cars, don't get me wrong, and I'm not knocking the SLR but for them to make something LIGHT and more of a hardcore sports car would amaze me, if they do that, bring it, otherwise just forget it, if it weighs 4000 pounds that kind of defeats the purpose.

[Ferrer]

But is the V8 Vantage not, either?

But it's a lightweight-ish 2-seater sportscar with a manual gearbox. Much more focused than any current Mercedes-Benz.

[Street_Dreamer]

When is the auto show in Geneva?

Early March - generally the first 2 weeks...