Our North American readers will be happy to know that for a scant €795,000, or about $1.2 million, they can be the proud owner of a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT. Available through Florida-based Mercedes tuners RENNtech, only 21 of the track cars are being put up for sale.
RENNtech owner Harmut Feyhl calls this, "a very exciting project to be involved in." The company plans to tour the 722 GT, providing track events for potential U.S. buyers. These events will begin next year.
The 722 GT was created specifically for use on the track, so its power and cornering are renowned. Thus, 722 GT customers at the track events will get an opportunity to learn the fastest and safest ways to drive their supercars. Training will be provided by drivers like Jochen Mass and David Coulthard. Potential customers will also get some time behind the wheel of RENNtech's Aixro SLR.Karts.
At 3,065 pounds, the 722 GT is a full 600 pounds lighter than a stock 722. Using the same 680 horsepower, supercharged V8, the GT goes 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
Lake Park, FL - 18DEC2007 - Officially official: Mercedes-Benz' SLR McLaren 722 GT, available exclusively at RENNtech.
While Mercedes' ultra-exclusive SLR McLaren 722 GT track car has been making rounds in the motoring press for several weeks now, a few key questions remained unanswered - including "How much?" and "Where can I get one?"
We can answer the "How much?" question rather easily (795,000 €, or about 1.2 million USD), it's the "Where can I get one?" question that's more interesting.
As of Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT will be made available to the North American market exclusively through RENNtech, the Florida-based MB tuning house owned and operated by super-tuner Hartmut Feyhl, who also lists "technical director, AMG North America" on his resume. "It's been a very exciting project to be involved in," explains Feyhl.
Similar in concept to Ferrari's Enzo FXX program, the 722 GT is built specifically for track use by renowned British motorsports specialists at the RML Group to be the fastest possible on a track. The SLR 722 GT offers impressive power and cornering and delivers exactly the kind of motorsports experience one would expect from a competition car - and, with only 21 examples of the hyper-exclusive track cars being offered for sale, driving one is sure be a special occasion.
RENNtech will be organizing several on-track events (to be announced) throughout the US, beginning in 2008.
The SLR 722 GT trackcars will be set-up and maintained by RENNtech, which will have specially trained technicians and engineers on hand at each of the planned on-track events, which will follow a format similar to the SLR.Club SAFETY & SPEED ACADEMY track weekends in Europe. Participating customers will receive a mix of on and off-track instruction by trained instructors and professional drivers (including Jochen Mass, David Coulthard, and others), as well as some track time in RENNtech's Aixro SLR.Karts - to get a good feel for each track before going out in their SLRs.
Feyhl explained that the concept is to deliver to SLR McLaren customers a true and authentic motorsports experience in a competitive and reasonably safe environment.
If it is RENNtech and Mercedes' goal to deliver "an authentic experience", the SLR McLaren 722 GT is a great place to start - compared to the road-going SLR, the 722 GT gets the full FIA GT treatment from RML: more than 400 redesigned components, FIA spec. safety equipment, fully adjustable suspension, full-on competition brake hardware, a no-nonsense interior, and a track-only exhaust system that bumps the 722 GT's output to well over 670 hp. The real game-changers, however, are the 722 GT's towering rear wing and drastically reduced weight. At 1390 kg, the 722 GT weighs some six-hundred pounds less (!) than the stock 722, and the rear wing (in conjunction with the car's front splitter) provide more than enough aerodynamic downforce to tackle the fastest turns with confidence.
The 722 GT also benefits from years of wind-tunnel and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) experience at RML and McLaren, making the wings and body mods much more than an aesthetic package. Everything on the car, every vent and louvre, is fully functional - a terrific enhancement to on-track performance.
With more power, less weight, and dramatically improved handling, the limited-edition Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT, one thing is certain: if you love cars, love racing, and have the money (but not the time) to campaign a full-on race series, the 722 GT is your ticket.
It's not nice. Standard SLR is great GT car, fantastic engineering, really awesome car. This? Well I don't think that from a fat GT car you can make great race car.
awwww... kimbo-slice you can't tell me that you don't think this car does'nt look cool, i think this car rocks. and mabye that "fat" GT rear end will help it stick in those tight chicanes and sweeping curves.
man this car is sweeeet!!!