Reinventing a legend

Claimed to be a futuristic interpretation of styling elements of the original 300SLR and the latest Formula 1 Silver Arrow race cars, the SLR McLaren will hit U.S. shores mid-2004.

The hot rod features a carbon-fiber composite monocoque and body panels, and fiber-reinforced ceramic brake discs. According to Mercedes-Benz, the specially designed carbon-fiber crash structure pushes the sports car to new levels in energy absorption. The heart of the SLR is a supercharged V8 that provides over 550 hp. Pricing has not been set in stone, but expect the mid-$300,000 range.