Mercedes-Benz will end production of its SLR supercar at the end of next year, a new report finds. The coupe version of the SLR ended production rather quietly at the end of last year, and the last SLR roadster is slated to roll off the assembly floor in 2009 — ending the car’s five year production run.
Production of the SLR hit 275 units last year — 14 more than in 2006 — but that figure is still far short of Mercedes-Benz’s original plan to build 400-500 cars per year.
The SLR was co-developed between McLaren and Mercedes-Benz , but both automakers will be parting ways once the last SLR is built.
It is believed that McLaren is developing a new V8 supercar under the codename P11. The P11 will reportedly slot in (in size) between the Audi TT and R8 and is intended to do battle with the Ferrari 430 and Porsche GT2. Despite the divorce from Mercedes on future supercars, the P11 will likely use a Mercedes-sourced 6.3L V8.
Mercedes-Benz is currently working on the SLR’s successor — the SLC – but will instead develop the new car with AMG and H.W.A. Little is known about the SLC — including the vehicle’s powertrain — but sources have indicated the new car will sport a retractable hard top. But with production of the SLR ending next year, it’s possible that Mercedes could have its next supercar to market much sooner than expected.
