SLR turns on heat in UK for final fling

The black and white disguise has been designed to throw us off the scent – but there’s no mistaking this car as the Mercedes SLR McLaren, with its bold headlights and large three-pointed star badge.

As you can see, the prototype – spied on UK roads – doesn’t have a roof. And this confirms that the firm is readying a special speedster version of the amazing two-seater as production comes to an end.

It’s thought 75 examples will be produced, paying homage to the silver 300 SLR driven by Stirling Moss in the Fifties. Each gets a small windscreen and no roof.

The 620bhp supercharged V8 is mated to a five-speed auto box, complete with steering wheel-mounted paddles. Engineers are said to have shaved 200kg off the SLR’s kerbweight, so it’s set to cover 0-186mph in 26 seconds and hit a 217mph top speed – 8mph faster than any previous SLR, and nearly as quick as the Bugatti Veyron. Sources say the waiting list is already filling up – even though the speedster is expected to cost 750,000 Euros.

Insignia duo coming soon

Auto Express can reveal Luton based firm Vauxhall will showcase both four-door saloon and five-door hatchback versions of the new Insignia for the first time at the upcoming British International Motor Show.

Both models have been styled elegantly and boast a flowing, muscular design. They have deliberately been produced in similar styles to retain the attraction of Vauxhall’s latest mid-sized car.

Vauxhall have commented that offering hatchback, as well as saloon derivatives, from the start is particularly important for the UK, where five-door cars traditionally enjoy a high market share of the mid-size class segment.

The fuel consumption, emissions and driving dynamics of both cars will benefit from Insignia’s class-leading drag coefficient of 0.27 a result of all the hours spent testing in the wind tunnel.

Five engines will be available for both Insignia hatch and saloon, all of which meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come coupled with six-speed transmissions. The three petrol engines range from a four-cylinder 135 bhp unit to a V6 with 255 bhp. Two new 2.0-litre direct-injection turbo-diesels exclusively developed for the Insignia have power outputs spanning from 125 bhp to 155 bhp.

And for the first time the newly developed chassis will be able to be enhanced, a result of the innovative FlexRide system, which will ensure fast, efficient and equal distribution of torque over the four wheels leading to improved stability and traction and therefore performance.

It has also been revealed both models will reach UK showrooms by the end of the year.