Busy busy...

The CLK-DTM is go, but only 100 will be built. Deliveries start in the Autumn.


The McLaren P8 supercar project is under going feasibility studies. Company directors spent May giving a 360 and a Gallardo a damn good thrashing.
There are doubts as to whether the carbon fibre body will be given the go ahead. The SLR body work takes 200 hours to prep and finish - this along with the costs associated with the construction could be too costly to meet the target price of £110,000.

The car may or may not be a three seater, with either a similar cockpit layout to the F1, or with the third seat behind, in a 2+1 configuration.
The P8 will have too be built by Mercedes on the continent, as McLaren are a bit short of space at their new 22,500 sq m plant. Most of the space taken up by the new McLaren Technologies Crazy Golf course, and Ron's office, leaving only 4000sq m for SLR production. (I jest, the remaining space is occupied by the F1 team, McLaren Electronic Systems, McLaren Marketing and Mclaren Applied Technologies.)


The SLR was originally planned as a 550 rival, but then it turned out to be too fast.
The unusual side exit exhausts were neccessary to protect the carbon fiber body of the car from the intense heat. Similarly, the gull wing doors were used to keep the hinges away from the exhausts.
The outer skin of the boot lid is GRP, so that the GPS and radio antenna can recieve a signal.

The CL65 is now available on special order. 612bhp and 738 lb ft are expelled from the 5980cc V12 bi-turbo, although 885lb ft of torque can be produced by the engine - but the 'box can't take it.
For £1700 (2550 EUR, $3100) the AMG techs will reset the ECU, allowing the top speed to reach 186mph, the highest speed the Michelin tyres will allow for prolonged running. Get yourself some ContiSportContact 2's, they're good for 224mph.
They also make a thorough check of the car, to make sure nothing will break, and ensure the tyres are at the correct pressures for Vmaxxing your Benz auf der Autobahn.