World's Leading Sports Cars - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Video game lovers got their first taste of Mercedes' sporty venture in the late 1990s with the then mere concept McLaren in the game Need for Speed. It wasn't long until McLaren Automotive, working with Mercedes, released the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren in 2003.

From the start, this supercar turned heads with its impressive outer design and inner powerhouse components. The SLR (Sport, Light, Racing) was built at a rate of 500 per year for the 6 years it was in production. No matter if it's the newest model off the lines or one of the oldest, this supercar can fly past the competition with ease.

The outside of the McLaren is incredibly futuristic, to say the least. The SLR is surprisingly fuel efficient for a supercar, though it weighs more than others in the class like the Lamborghini. The car's performance is helped along with a lightweight carbon-fiber body and a classic, aerodynamic racing design. The exterior of the car is beautiful, featuring a fully retractable soft top, gull-wing doors, and large chrome exhaust side-pipes. Critics consistently rank the SLR high because of the power it's able to put out for a car that could sell on looks alone.

Under the hood, the SLR boasts a hand-built 5.4 liter supercharged, SOHC V8. The McLaren can go from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds and has a max top speed of 208mph.

It's so easy to forget that this supercar is still also a Mercedes-Benz; and that would explain the astonishingly high luxury rating for a car which, for all intents and purposes, is built for pure muscle and speed. Anyone lucky enough to ride in this car will enjoy plush seats completely covered in suede, a state-of-the-art Bose surround sound stereo system, updated navigation systems, adaptive cruise control features, and the dual-zone climate control features. Mercedes proves that even muscle cars can benefit from a soft side.

The 2009 edition of the McLaren has yet to be crash tested, but the line generally is that it is one of the safest supercars available. The carbon-fiber body is extremely light and strong, and the steel-reinforced A-pillars and fixed rollover bars protect the occupants of the car in case of a crash.

More modern technology is used as well, including knee-protecting airbags, automated stability control, and the braking system which is composed of carbon ceramic to improve stopping power and decrease heat and wear.

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