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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.

17/04/2011 | By: Jason Siu

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As if Mercedes-Benz’s SLR wasn’t amazing enough in factory form, Edo Competition might have built the ultimate variant of the SLR we have ever seen. Sporting 722-hp and 656 ft-lbs of torque, up from the factory 617-hp and 580 ft-lbs of torque, the Black Arrow is as fast as it is menacing. The 5.4L V8 supercharged engine has received a fine collection of engine modifications to go with the matte black exterior and 21-inch wheels.

The major horsepower increase comes thanks to modifying the supercharger and ECU – we’re assuming for slightly more boost – along with changing the majority of its air and exhaust components. An intake with new filters was installed along with new headers, high-flow cats, and exhaust system. The result is an impressive 0-62 mph time of just 3.4 seconds while it hits its top speed of 186-mph in just 24.5 seconds.

On the outside, the matte black finish of the SLR is contrasted by red graphics (that we could truly do without) and 21-inch Edo mesh-style wheels. On the inside, the interior has received a full Alcantara treatment, from seats to steering wheel while carbon fiber can be seen on the dash, center console and door panels. The in car electronics has also been upgraded to feature navigation, phone, TV and iPod integration and a back-up camera.

We dig that they rocked some Dragon Ball Z during the photoshoot.

GALLERY: Edo Competition Mercedes-Benz SLR Black Arrow

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24/01/2011 | By: Nauman Farooq

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was a rather special offspring from the marriage between a German auto giant and a British racing team. These carbon-fiber bodied supercars were fast and comfortable, making it the ultimate car to cross a continent in.

In the course of its life, there were a few models of the SLR that were offered, the coupe, the roadster plus the 722 editions of those two body styles which had more power. However, at the end of its production life, Mercedes-Benz and McLaren brought out a final version of this car called the SLR Stirling Moss edition (named after the famed racing driver who won the Mille Miglia race in 1955 in the original 300SLR).

This version has a unique speedster body that has no windscreen or roof and it features headlights and tail lights unique to this model (among many other things). Thanks to a 5.5-liter, supercharged V8, it produces 650-hp; enough to propel it from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 217 mph.

Only 75 examples of this extreme SLR were ever produced, but sadly none were destined to be sold in the U.S.A. because the D.M.V. did not classify it as a street-legal car.

However, one seems to have slipped through the net and is now up for sale in Miami, FL. According to the ad, this particular SLR Stirling Moss has just 50-miles on its odometer and comes with a showcar license, so it can be moderately used in America.

As for the price, its $1.75-million, but the owner is open to look at trade-ins. We’re only guessing but we don’t think he would be much interested in a beige Corolla. Too bad.

[Source: duPont Registry]

14/01/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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As much as the Japanese love modifying and tuning their cars, enthusiasts in the land of the rising sun love to get their hands on a fine German luxury car. While names like Brabus might be known best in Germany, Benz-tuner Carlsson has a huge following in Japan, thanks in part to its smart marketing efforts – like always displaying at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

Always a show staple, Carlsson was dressed to impress at TAS 2010 with an impressive corral of vehicles ranging from a modified Mercedes McLaren SLR 722, to a pair of modified and personalized Smart Cars.

In addition to these, the German tuner also has on display one of its newest packages for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, including a complete aero kit, exhaust system, lowering kit for the suspension and interior accessories.

GALLERY: Carlsson at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon

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777 HP RENNTECH SLR: The HP War IS NOT Over

RENNTECH to build 20 versions of 777 model to celebrate 20th anniversary

15/01/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg recently repeated what he said a year ago by declaring that the horsepower war was indeed over. The last time he said it the Mercedes tuning experts at RENNTECH countered by announcing a 695 hp package for the 65 Series cars. This time they’re making their point even stronger by releasing a 777hp version of the iconic SLR.

That’s right…. 777hp!

There is more of a story behind the RENNTECH 777 than that, however. The supercar has actually been planned for quite a while and is the first of several special edition vehicles RENNTECH will release in 2009 to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary.

In order to get all that extra power – an addition of 160hp over the standard model – RENNTECH modified both the supercharger as well as the engine’s internals. Also key in the build was an upgraded cooling system.

With all that extra power RENNTECH engineers also reinforced the transmission and installed a new limited slip differential built by Japanese supplier OS Giken. The new diff can send up to 100 percent of the power to just one of the rear wheels – significantly improving the SLR’s cornering ability.

Most obvious, however, is the significantly redesigned exterior that looks considerably like the SLR 722 GT race car. RENNTECH designed the new aerodynamics using state-of-the-art CFD software – the same technology the company used to design the GLK Hybrid Rally Racerat the 2008 SEMA Show.

The RENNTECH 777 features a massive rear spoiler, a huge front splitter, a new hood and front bumper and even new side skirts that flow into significantly wider fenders.

In those fenders can be found a set of custom one-piece center-locking wheels.

RENNTECH founder Hartmut Feyhl had this to say about his latest creation: “It can be described as a street-legal track car, or something closer to what the enthusiasts were hoping for from the SLR, originally – which is more a successor to the McLaren F1.”

Feyhl also says that just 20 versions of the 777, (and of other 20th anniversary special editon models), will be built. “We intend to build a few different extreme vehicles like this for our 20th anniversary,” he says. “They are all very exciting projects, and we will be announcing them throughout the year, as they approach completion.”

Mark us down for a 666hp C63 Hartmut!

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Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

SLR Stirling Moss in the Flesh

World Debut of Supercar-Roadster at North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit

11/01/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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Mercedes kicked off the Detroit Auto Show with the world premiere of its fabulously ridiculous SLR Stirling Moss.

With a substantially altered body, this chiselled machine looks more Mansory than Mercedes-Benz. It was designed in homage to Stirling Moss, who piloted the original 300 SLR to victory in the famous Mille Miglia race. In fact, Moss still holds the race record with a time of ten hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds.

Under the hood of the SLR Stirling Moss can be found a familiar supercharged 5.5-liter V-8 engine that pumps out power equal to that of the SLR 722 Edition. The powerplant generates 650hp and 605 ft-lbs of torque. Due to the significant weight reduction, however, the SLR Stirling Moss trumps even the 722’s impressive 3.6-second 0-62 mph time with a 3.5 second run. It is also capable of hitting speeds as high as 217 mph.

Without a top the SLR Stirling Moss is 241 lbs lighter than a standard SLR, tipping the scales at just 3,419 lbs.

Amazingly, this new super-roadster is 164mm longer than a standard car and is 7mm wider.

Mercedes announced that it will build just 75 units of the SLR Stirling Moss – almost all of which are already spoken for. This is not only amazing when you consider the cost is 750,000 Euros, but it is even more shocking when you consider only previous and current SLR owners will be invited to purchase one.

The SLR Stirlig Moss was the first of many vehicles unveiled at the second annual Mercedes-Benz New Year’s Reception and, surprisingly, was not the star of the show. Mercedes also showcased its Concept blueZERO and the main attraction, the new 2010 E-Class.

See more on the SLR Stirling Moss here.

SLR Stirling Moss:

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Follow the jump for the official press release.

Continue Reading…

SLR Stirling Moss

Mercedes-McLaren to unveil yet another special-edition SLR… when will the madness end?

19/12/2008 | By: Colum Wood

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It seems as though the Mercedes-McLaren partnership releases a new special edition version of the SLR every week. This week it’s the SLR Stirling Moss edition, a topless version of the SLR designed to celebrate Moss’s many Mille Miglia victories during the 1950s.

Ironically, Mercedes actually says the car that is not intended for the racetrack – hardly a fitting homage to Stirling Moss.

Power is still served up in massive doses, however, with the standard supercharged V-8 pumping out 650hp.

And while the supercar sans-windshield looks like something out of a Marvel Comic (or out of the Ambiguously Gay Duo’s garage), it does evoke a certain nostalgic resemblance to open-top autos from days gone by.

The design is undeniably unique and it’s hard not to love the front bumper redesign.
Located in the trunk are two body panels that can be placed over the open cockpit, transforming the sleek machine into a genuine automotive piece of sculpture.

The SLR Stirling Moss edition will also be priced like a piece of fine art at 750,00 Euros ($1.5 million). Only 75 units will be made.

Mercedes describes the Stirling Moss edition SLR as the “crowning glory” to the SLR family. One can only hope that means McLaren will now stop beating this dead horse.

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Official press release after the jump:
Continue Reading…