McLaren Automotive enhanced the Mercedes-Benz SLR with a rare “McLaren Edition” upgrade. Feedback from SLR owners led to improved handling, ride, and aerodynamics. Updates included a carbon-Kevlar front floor, 722 GT-style wheel arch vents, a new rear diffuser, larger air brake, and a lighter ceramic-coated exhaust for the supercharged 5.4-liter V-8.
The car’s weight dropped, downforce rose by 15% over the SLR 722 Edition, and ride height lowered by 10 mm with revised springs and dampers. Restyled front intakes echoed the McLaren logo. Only 25 McLaren Editions were made, making it rarer than the Stirling Moss variant.
You can now own one of these limited-edition variants of the Mercedes-Benz SLR through RM Sotheby’s. This example started as a Japanese-market SLR and received McLaren Edition upgrades in 2017. Additional features include 722 S-spec wheels, tinted lights, and a black Alcantara interior with red stitching, “MSO” headrest embroidery, and an Alcantara steering wheel.
The car’s standout feature is its metallic red paint, which shifts to black in low light for a striking effect. Completed by MSO in 2019, the car returned to Japan and has since logged approximately 1,200 km.
Source: RM Sotheby’s
