Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren 2008 Pictures

Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren 2008 Pictures

Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren 2008 Pictures

With it’s unique butterfly doors and carbon-fiber body, the rear-wheel drive, 2008 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster is the result of a partnership between Mercedes Benz and McLaren cars. Modeled after its sister the SLR coupe, the two-seater Roadster comes in with a MSRP at almost a half a million dollars ($495,00 for base model), and can go from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 206 miles per hour.The 2008 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster’s body is made exclusively of carbon-fiber over reinforced plastic. A powerful 5.5 liter supercharged, 24 valve, V-8 engine delivers 617 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque. Its transmission features an AMG Speed shift-R, which is a five-speed automatic transmission. Fuel efficiency is rated at 12 mpg in city driving conditions and 16 mpg in highway driving conditions.

Mercedes Benz C63 AMG 2008

Mercedes Benz C63 AMG 2008

We have our first C63 dyno report to come in. With just 100 miles on the odometer, a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG put down a solid 380.67 horsepower and 364.30 pounds of torque to the rear wheels on a DynoJet dynamometer. Using an 18% driveline loss, this puts the C63 at around 464 HP and 443 pounds of torque, just a bit higher than the 451 HP and 443 lb-ft torque rating from Mercedes.

The C63 AMG has the same hand-built 6.3L 32-valve V-8 AMG engine that appears throughout the AMG lineup where it outputs as much as 518 HP. We have an E63 dyno run that put shows 408 RWHP and 363.05 RWTQ. Not too far off from the C63’s horsepower numbers while the torque is just about the same.

By looking at the C63’s dyno graph, it’s pretty clear where the de-tuning from AMG occurs to keep the lowest priced AMG from leaving it’s more expensive cousins in the dust. It’s only a matter of time before the tuners start unleashing the true potential of this motor to 500+ HP, allowing the C63 AMG to really tear up the roads.

Vector Supercars Gallery

Vector Supercars Gallery

Who doesn't remember Vector Supercars and the original aerospace-inspired Vector domestic supercar? What about the W2, the W8, WX-3 and the swan song of the M12? Besides the Corvette, the Vector at most times during the '80s and early '90s was the only exotic car on the world market that was born and bred in the good old U.S. of A. Hardly any were ever sold and they remain rare pieces of our domestic auto history, but rumor that original Vector founder Gerald Wiegert is working on a new supercar have been hanging around the past few years. Whether or not that's true, we found these concept renderings of a Vector V8 Biturbo concept on a Romanian auto site and just had to share. They show off the angularity of the original Vectors in a thoroughly modern form, complete with scissor doors that feature the Vector's trademark below-the-beltline ancillary side windows. Who knows how much power this twin-turbo V8 makes or any other details about the rendered concept, but the fact these frames were even produced should tell Wiegert that there's definitely pent up interest for a Vector revival. If any one knows the artist who produced these renderings, drop us a line in the comments as we'd love to give credit where credit's due.