1990 mercedes c11

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CLASSIC SICKNESS

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Every once in a great while, I like to have a profound philosophical insight that changes the way I think about the world and how I see my place in it. In today's insight, however, it was perhaps the way I see Speedriven's place in the world that's changed.

That said, I won't share exactly what that insight was; but I will hint at it.

Watch and learn.

new-for 2011 mclaren slr (video)

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WHAT IS OLD IS NEW AGAIN

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That's right, kids - there is a new-for-2011 SLR McLaren!

Redesigned with a more sculpted nose and swoopy-er flanks to look more like its kid brother (the unfortunately named McLaren MP4 12C), the new SLR carries on with the 626 hp. 5.5 L supercharged V8 from the previous 722, but features some new aero and suspension tricks from the 722GT project.

I haven't seen any performance numbers, yet, but with production limited to just 25 units and honest-to-goodness McLaren badges, all I can say is "make mine orange".

pretty slr moss is pretty

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WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF

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I am a big, Big fan of Mercedes' discontinued SLR supercar, and none of the SLRs are more super than the ultra-rare Sterling Moss speedster.

In their bid to sell 75 of the permanently topless speedsters, Mercedes allowed for wild amounts of customization - which (along with boatloads of cash) allowed Teamspeed poster N Althani the freedom to build this gorgeous bi-color example of the carbon fiber exotic.

Heady stuff.

CLICK HERE for photos and the original post.

UPDATE!!

The car's owner just posted this video (below) showing the car from a bunch of angles, at night, in the middle of the day, inside, outside, and so on.

Take a look ...

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I NEED MORE MONEY

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... I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did.

kobayashi thrills in valencia

KO KO B YEAH SHEEEE !!!

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Kamui Kobayashi is one quick little dude, and he continues to impress me.

Why?

I'm glad you asked. See, Kobayashi drove his Sauber almost all the way to the end of this weekend's European Grand Prix in Valencia on a single set of tires. That feat alone would be impressive enough, but Kobayashi was keeping his (seriously out-gunned) Sauber ahead of (2009 world champion) Jenson Button's McLaren-Mercedes and just behind Sebastian Vettel's Newey-designed Red Bull and (2008 world champion) Lewis Hamilton.

With seven laps to go, Kobayashi came in for a mandatory stop, switching out to fresh rubber. He re-joined the action just behind (2005 and 2006 world champion) Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Buemi, who were battling each other for 7th spot.

7th place is a good position for a Sauber driver, but the man from Japan wasn't done ... just watch.

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WATCH CLOSELY AND YOU MIGHT SEE A TORCH BEING PASSED

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That was Kamui Kobayashi putting an authoritative pass on Fernando Alonso, widely considered to be among the best Grand Prix drivers in history, and the guy who finally drove the stake into Schumacher and Ferrari in their prime.

Great stuff, Kamui - AMAZING! I can't wait to see what the future holds.

mp4-12c

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MEH.

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Last week, Woking-based McLaren Cars released photos of the much-anticipated "spiritual successor" to Gordon Murray's landmark McLaren F1 - the McLaren MP4-12C shown, above. The Woking boys dug deep into their Formula 1 mythology on this one, calling upon the spirit of the great MP4 series of racecars, and (somewhat less directly) the relatively forgettable 1997 F1 contender of the same name.

On the surface, the MP4-12C ticks all the right boxes ...

- Monocoque tub? Check.
- Swoopy, rakish lines? Check.
- Powerful, high-revving engine? Check.
- Lightweight, negative-lift bodywork? Check.
- High-tech electronic wizardry? Check and double-check.

... and yet - something is missing, isn't it?

We've seen the basic shape of the MP4-12C before, back when it was being called the P11. We saw the car's outline almost a year ago, heavily camouflaged on public roads. Surely, then, we must have known what was coming.

We KNEW, didn't we?

Why, then, is this MP4-12C such an overwhelming disappointment? I can't pin it down, myself. Certainly, though, the problem lies not in what this newest road-going McLaren is, but in what it is not.

Simply, I knew the McLaren F1, and the MP4-12C is no McLaren F1.

We weren't promised a new F1. That's not the problem. We were, however, promised a new McLaren, and McLaren cars are simply something else. Murray's F1 redefined the supercar genre. The MP4-12C ... does not.

McLaren's MP4-12C has a funny name. Its looks already feel dated, like one of those late-90's Lotus Esprit concept sketches by Mark Sterehnbereger you'd find at the front of Motor Trend or Car and Driver. It's got "normal" side-by-side seating, not the three-across layout of the F1, that made you feel like you were driving a formula car. In short: rather than set a new standard for modern supercars, this new McLaren does nothing more than what McLaren's F1 team has been doing for years: chase Ferrari.

The MP4-12C might have had an edge over the F430, but Ferrari's new 458 Italia will raise the bar over the 430 - exactly what McLaren obviously hoped this car would do. The only question that really matters now: did McLaren steal the blueprints for the new Italia, as well?

top speed | russia

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Between posting some incredible, techno-tastic video of his Switzer-tuned 997tt tip obliterating most of Moscow's exotic cars and posting pictures with such creative titles as "SPI Bitches UGLY" (above), Mike from TTR is quickly becoming one of my favorite people.

These pics are from a "top speed" event held in Russia this past weekend, where Michael claims he "killed" a any number of tuned Benzos, Vipers, and even a Heffner-built turbo GT similar to the one pictured HERE.

Given this pic (below), I can believe it.

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Keep in mind, Mike's driving a Switzer 700/750 997TT Tip car that, earlier this month, ran a 10.4 second 1/4 mile on 93 octane. On a 10.6 second run stateside, a similar car pulled 1.5 g's at launch.

So, yeah - I'm a believer! You can see more great pics of Russian exotics (and not-so ugly girls) from this event HERE, HERE, and HERE.

epic run - 750 hp renn slr on switzer dyno

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The video above shows a fantastic Switzer-prepared SLR McLaren coupe putting out 600 hp at the wheels - that's almost 750 hp at the crank!

This SLR makes use of RENNTECH's SLR PKG1 performance upgrades and the latest version of the RENN's SLR McLaren software. Each SLR engine is assembled by hand at AMG, of course, and there are sometimes slight variances, but this is still one STRONG build - Switzer (the RENN's primary Ohio dealer) did a fantastic job getting all the ponies out of the car on pump gas (RENNTECH claims 722 hp at the crank, or just under 580 hp at the wheels).

Dyno sheet (below) provided by SPI.

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spi launches new site

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Tym Switzer just launched a new website to promote his SPI tuning products for Porsche.

Tym first appeared on my radar years ago when he and the EFi Dudes were working on Yamaha Raptor ATVs, then again a few years age when he signed on a the RENN's primary Ohio dealer and installer.

I've had my hands in the site's HTML for the last month or so, and have to say that working with the guys at SPI is still fun, even 3 years in. CLICK HERE to take a look around their new site - and tune in again soon, as we'll be posting some pics and videos from their RENNTECH 722 SLR build in the coming weeks.

new slr is made of win!

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See that? That super-sexy, extra-long hood over-compensating slice of automotive heaven up there?

It's not a dream. I see it, too.

These press shots are the most exciting pictures (of a car) I've seen in months ... maybe years.

In short: what you see here are Mercedes' first official photos of the new, 650 hp, limited-edition, million-dollar Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Sterling Moss speedster. Named for the famous racing driver who took the original Mercedes SLR to its historic Mille win back in 1955, this new SLR is the lightest, fastest, and most powerful factory SLR to date; and, at 750,000 Euro, the SLR Sterling Moss is also the most expensive car yet from either McLaren and Mercedes.

I've covered this car before (HERE, HERE, and HERE) and have to say, MB does not disappoint.

Also not disappointing: I've gotten confirmation that at least two (2) are coming to the RENN for the full 722 hp PKG. I'll post dyno figures as soon as the first one lands.

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EDIT: FUN FACT

Sterling Moss is also the indirect namesake of the SLR 722 (Moss' SLR wore "722" on its doors during the race).

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mclaren p11 on autoexpress

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The lads at Autoexpress' UK site are calling the upcoming McLaren P11 "the next F1" ... we'll see about all that soon enough, but my advice: don't bet on it (my money's on Ferrari F430/Porsche Turbo performance numbers).

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Previous P11 posts HERE; CLICK HERE for original article.

zomgitsanorangeslr722gt!!

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ZOMG! A bright, SCREAMING orange Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722GT track car!!

I have never wanted to be Bruno Senna more in my life ... or at all, actually.

Not the point.

Anyway, the "see it from space" SLR appears about halfway in, wearing a NASCAR-friendly no. 3. Enjoy!

slr 722gt video

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Our friends at Autofiends just posted some new video of Mercedes' ultimate trackday car, the SLR McLaren 722GT, which you-know-who is heavily involved in.

More information on McLaren's 680 hp, 2900 lb track-rat is available HERE and HERE.

Enjoy!

the last slr

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Just for the record: We know this is NOT the end of the line for Mercedes-McLaren's SLR platform (see HERE, HERE, and HERE for evidence to support these claims).

That said, the MotorAuthority site (among others) has posted news of the last US-bound Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren roadster being auctioned off to benefit the St. Jude Children's Hospital.

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CLICK HERE for the original article.

p11 spy pics

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I may be a rabid, frothing Alonso fan who thinks Ron Dennis is a tool - but I am also a well-documented sucker for all things that are both road-going and made by McLaren (see chart, below).

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CLICK HERE to see the new Autoexpress spy pics of (what they claim is) the upcoming McLaren P11 sportscar.

ever so close to crashing out

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Hello, dear reader! It's been some time since my last post - looks like about 2 weeks, I think? Feels like more.

70-hour work weeks are like that.

Anyway: what a miserable, chaotic, Horror of a fortnight it has been for me and the RENN! After this weekend's FOS insanity and last week's GLK SEMA drama, I was almost ready to curl up under the blankiis and cry until my (laughable) savings account dried up.

Maybe longer.

All that changed a few hours ago, however, when I got news that Alonso won in Japan.

It's one of the silly quirks of the male gender that when your horse wins - you win, when your team wins - you win, and when Fernando Alonso wins in a Renault, it is God's love shining down on us and mother Earth delivering her bounty. And this was some really Real love and shining, let me tell you!

See, when Alonso won in Singapore 2 weeks ago, it was the happy highnote that let me survive a blistering Monday filled with threats and treachery - but it was one of those Insane results we've come to expect from F1's 2008 season (a season that has been thus far, filled with tricky corners, bizarre shadows, and blinky-light safety cars).

Alonso's win in Japan was different: Alonso and the newest incarnation of Renault's F1 contender are for real Legit, and I feel great.

It's been a busy few weeks, but if that spic-y little bastard can turn that boat-anchor Renault into a real Winner then THIS spoiled, spic-y little bastard can certainly get his act together enough to get the 'blogs rolling again.

So, to the entire Renault team: thanks for that shot in the arm. Now, go BURY the opposition in China!

For my part, I'll be posting new pics from the GLK build, pics from this weekend's Festivals of Speed in Orlando, and saying goodbye to Yanni - the best intern ever.

Stay tuned!

slr 722 roadster

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It should be obvious, by now, that I am an absolute sucker for all things SLR, and this latest variant - the SLR McLaren 722 Roadster - will probably be my favorite for another week or so, when the press embargo on the SLR Speedster is expected to break.

Until then: soak it in, people. As soon as we get our grubby little mittens on one, we'll post the dyno figures.

CLICK HERE for the original Jalopnik article.

qatari desert vs. slr

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You never want to see your SLR like this - especially when you live and breathe for the things they way I've been for the past few months!

All the same, the guys at Jalopnik have put together a gallery of photos covering the crash, as well as a quick article. CLICK HERE for the link.

slr speedster gallery

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Adding to my already obsessive collection of SLR Speedster spy pics, Autoblog posted a fantastic gallery featuring 11 hi-res KGP photos of the Speedster 'mule lapping the 'Ring. CLICK HERE for the link.

As for me: the official reveal can't happen soon enough. Tick tock ...

slr speedster getting serious

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Sweet zombie Jesus! Now there's a video!

slr speedster spy pics make me all tingly

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This isn't it - let's get that out of the way first. The ultra-exclusive, ultra-exotic, ultra-lightweight SLR McLaren ultra-speedster that *was* shown to the SLR.Club members at Paul Ricard several weeks ago still hasn't officially been shown to the unwashed masses of teeny-boppers and 40-year-old prepubescent egomaniacs who litter the online forums. THEY will have to wait ...

... but someone snapped these shots of a development mule undergoing testing, and you can clearly see the "edgier" side vents, front intakes, and updated taillights.

As soon as it's officially official, I'll post what pics I have on the flickr site (not that I have any, of course). Until then, CLICK HERE to see more pics.