Mercedes, McLaren part ways for future supercars

May31

2007-mercedes-benz-slr-mclaren-722-edition-more.jpg

Mercedes-Benz and racing firm McLaren are not likely to work together on a successor to the Mercedes SLR McLaren supercar, but instead will pursue their own separate projects, according to a report by Automotive News Europe.

For its next ultra-expesnive sports car, Mercedes will work with DTM racing partner H.W.A., according to the trade publication. The firm will also collaborate with Mercedes-Benz on several other range-topping performance models.

H.W.A. was founded by Hans-Werner Aufrecht, who also helped found the AMG performance group, which was eventually acquired by Mercedes. The new supercar will use a heavily modified version of AMG’s 6.2 liter V8, much in the same way the SLR uses AMG’s 5.5 liter mill.

McLaren is likely to develop a new supercar of its own, thanks to strong income from its F1 racing efforts. The car will probably be pitched as a successor to the McLaren F1.




 


28 Comments

  1. ROFL, the new McF1-2. I wonder what engine it will use, a newer BMW… since Pagani have the AMG, or maybe the VAG’s bi-turbo W12?

    Comment by deutschetouring1337, posted on May31 at 10:08 am
  2. McLaren-Honda anyone?

    Comment by global_lightning, posted on May31 at 10:22 am
  3. the bi-turbo W12 is a bit heavy for what McLaren would want to do im sure.

    Comment by A4, posted on May31 at 11:02 am
  4. McLaren-Honda, hahaha, that’s a laugh!

    Comment by PrimeGTP, posted on May31 at 11:07 am
  5. True, but if it is to be a true successor, its going to be a V8 since that is what F1 has gone back too. It could be a Chevy LS7. That would be interesting.

    Comment by deutschetouring1337, posted on May31 at 11:21 am
  6. I would say that even if they decide to go separate ways the new McLaren wil likely have a Mercedes engine.

    Comment by londor, posted on May31 at 11:37 am
  7. as long as there is still a top of the line supercar to be the SLR’s successor I dont really mind although i think the Mercedes should work with the DTM company to make a road going version C class DTM as well. If McLaren were to make an F1 successor will they still use Mercedes Engines?

    Comment by 55amg, posted on May31 at 11:43 am
  8. Oh they’ve been at this for years now…

    Comment by mbftw, posted on May31 at 11:45 am
  9. it’ll probably be whatever Mc’Laren can find they’ll use.

    Comment by GBilbo070, posted on May31 at 1:06 pm
  10. Good news on both fronts. I don’t see them parting ways just not collaborating on their next project

    PrimeGTP- McLaren and Honda had a great working relationship in the 80’s in F1.

    Hopefully Honda can rekindle that know how since the current F1 team sux.

    Comment by Jazz, posted on May31 at 1:06 pm
  11. so is the drop-top SLR coming out then?

    Comment by sik59rt, posted on May31 at 1:23 pm
  12. More then likely they will use the mercedes 6.2 Biturbo V8 which is rumoured to be able to go north of 700bhp. There was a article a while back saying there was a quad turbo capable of topping 1000 bhp. Guess we will have to wait and see

    Comment by Stuart, posted on May31 at 2:11 pm
  13. Jazz, F1 is one thing, production street cars are something completely different.

    I can see it now, ricer idiots driving themselves into median guards in their McLaren Civics, bwahahaha!

    Comment by PrimeGTP, posted on May31 at 3:12 pm
  14. sik59rt, the SLR drop top is definetly coming out in the summer its good theyre parting ways becasue the SLR is one hell of a confused car. merc wanted another expensive luxury car while mclaren wanted a supercar and the result was an SLR, a mind blowingly expensive, comfrotable and fast GT car.

    Comment by LP640, posted on May31 at 3:27 pm
  15. I saw this one coming. Mercedes apparently wanted to break off all aliances as soon as it got rid of Chrysler (there’s really no other way of putting it). Well perhaps Chrysler should make their own alliance with McLaren once again to boost the Viper’s impressive HP/Torque figures even further (beyond the new 8.4L V-10) and beat Mercedes at their own game.

    Comment by 1c3d0g, posted on May31 at 5:38 pm
  16. Will this lead to another car from Mclaren, like the F1? and another CLK GTR from Mercedes?-I hope so….

    Comment by GcoupèJoe, posted on May31 at 6:48 pm
  17. HELL YEAH MCLAREN F1 SUCCESSOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment by bacalao, posted on May31 at 6:59 pm
  18. Prodrive-Mercedes are probably going to announce a partnership for the new F1 season, Just what till July. A Prodrive tuned AMG engine, now thats gonna be something.

    Comment by deutschetouring1337, posted on May31 at 7:17 pm
  19. McLaren-Honda anyone?
    Comment by global_lightning, posted on May31 at 10:22 am

    What are you saying? Its combining to completly contradictory automobile concepts. Affordabilty vs Exclusivity. Feul Efficency vs High Performance. and should i say Boring vs Bad ass

    Comment by m6-500attouchofabutton, posted on May31 at 7:52 pm
  20. hey 1c3d0g, the comment about chrysler, you may want to get your facts straight.. mercedes sold chrysler, NOT dodge and jeep, they kept those two and got rid of the chrysler group. now back to the story, theres another forum people are bashing the SLR for being a big and heavey fast grocery getter… actually i think its brilliant, how many supercars today out there that you can use every day? not many infact can still have luxary and every toy you can think of and yet can still pull of a crazy lap at a local race track and can compete with top of the line race cars…

    But i think its time they got into their own, i want to see more mercedes and AMG coming out of the box and creating a supercar, and this HWA racing group, which is basically AMG, and now they’re gonna use the new 6.2ltr V8, which is now the in with the new and out with the old, the old 5.5ltr supercharged V8 was awesome, great, sounded great, the new engine, is more powerful and sounds even better…

    So i think its time for them to grow up, get a little bit bigger and stronger, i cant wait to see what they make.

    Comment by maddawg0, posted on May31 at 7:54 pm
  21. Check your F1 history. McLaren-Honda dominated Grand Prix racing from 1988 through 1992 before Honda left the scene. They set some records that still stand today, and given the technological limitations imposed on the sport, will probably never come down. Honda is now preparing a V10 for the next NSX, which may be a good candidate for the post-Mercedes McLaren.

    Comment by global_lightning, posted on May31 at 9:52 pm
  22. McLaren-Hyundai?

    Comment by Rompn4x, posted on May31 at 11:50 pm
  23. MCLAREN-HYUNDAI?!! Don’t be stupid!!

    Comment by Matt, posted on June1 at 3:02 am
  24. This has nothing to do with Mercedes dropping Mclaren and they are nowhere near that stupid. Dropping Chrysler was a good idea cos now Mercedes has the resources to become number 1 in every market they compete in.

    Dr Zetche has already stated that he would like Mclaren to show off technology created by Mercedes in the near future and for mclaren to be a true competer to ferrari one day. He has even thought of buying Mclaren but Ron Dennis and Dr Zetche couldn’t agree on a price.

    Hopefully they share a platform with (1) Mercedes making a 6.2v8 2 seater in the mould on the next SLR designed/manufactured by HWA/Merc with
    (2)Mclaren using the same platform to design/ manufacture Twin-turbo 6ltr Amg four seater GT to compete with the ferrari 612 sold under the Mclaren badge

    Comment by Stuart, posted on June1 at 4:49 am
  25. why shouldnt mclaren use a MB engine? afterall, they still stick together in Formula 1, dont they? the article says they will not have a common project, but doesnt state they stop cooperating…

    Comment by fan, posted on June1 at 5:12 am
  26. Who care about this. No one gave two ****s about the SLR. It was so generic looking, except for the tacky aero effects on the nose; that looked like ****.

    Comment by deantj, posted on June1 at 8:12 am
  27. Nobody needs a 1000bhp car. Make it a lightweight, 500hp, 0-60 low 4s with a fuel economy of 60mpg+, and I’ll be impressed.

    Comment by Wickedated, posted on June1 at 8:44 am
  28. “Mercedes will work with DTM racing partner H.W.A., according to the trade publication. The firm will also collaborate with Mercedes-Benz on several other range-topping performance models”

    Just waiting for the new SL67 HWA! :D

    Comment by Syrax, posted on June1 at 1:27 pm

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