Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster

The run of the Mercedes SLR McLaren supercar will soon come to an end, but that doesn’t mean that Mercedes is going to let it die quietly. Oh no.

This is Mercedes’ idea of refocusing attention back onto the SLR McLaren, and it works. Brilliantly.

Not only is this quite possibly the last iteration of the supercar (depending on whether the “SLR Speedster” will be built), it also has impressive statistics going for it, lest you think that this is just another overpriced, rebadged Merc. Due to the beastliness of its AMG hand built 5.5 liter supercharged V8, the 722 S Roadster boasts 650 horsepower, 605 pound-feet of torque, a 0-62 mph time of 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 220 mph. That last little tidbit makes it the fastest production convertible in history.

Damn.

Of course, such insanity is never without a catch. In this case the catch consists mainly of a price tag so astronomical Mercedes hasn’t even released it. It is confirmed that the 722 S Roadster will be limited to 150 examples, which will be made starting January 1st of 2009.

Not for the first time, I wish I was so rich I sweat droplets of gold (like Bill Gates. Not. But did you know he makes over $4 million every night when he sleeps?)

More pictures and a spec sheet to follow…