This week Mat Watson investigates just how slow the 17 year old McLaren SLR is compared to some modern GTs – Ferrari GTC4Lusso and Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
I must say, the McLaren SLR has aged well. The car looks absolutely stunning even today. The SLR is powered by one of the greatest sounding V8 engines. That supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine puts out 617 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque and is hooked up to a 5-speed automatic gearbox.
Looking at the competition, it’s clear that 617 hp wouldn’t be enough. The Ferrari GTC4Lusso packs a 6.3-liter V12 that makes 680 hp and 514 lb-ft of torque. It comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a trick all-wheel drive system.
The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is the most powerful of the three GTs. It has a 5.2-liter, twin-turbo V12 engine that makes 715 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. The Aston comes with an 8-speed automatic gearbox which drives the rear wheels.
The McLaren SLR is clearly the slowest of the three GTs. Surprisingly, the Ferrari which is heavier and has fewer horsepower than the Aston is quicker. It seems the DBS Superleggera is let down by its 8-speed torque converter. In a rolling race however, the Aston destroys the Ferrari.