|  The new Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Edition has all the attributes of a thoroughbred racing car. Refined in numerous respects, this super sports car has more output, a tailor-made suspension configuration and a decidedly sporty interior. Sale of the SLR 722 Edition in the U.S. has not been confirmed.
For Mercedes-Benz, "SLR 722 Edition" was an obvious name for the new model variant as it evokes memories of the unforgettable victory achieved in 1955 by the British motor-racing legend Stirling Moss and his co-pilot Dennis Jenkinson at Mille Miglia – the classic Italian endurance race – behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz 300 SLR with start number 722 (denoting the car's start time of 7.22 a.m.). Boasting an impressive output of 478 kW/650 hp, the new SLR McLaren 722 Edition super sports car not only out-performs its historic forefather, it even outstrips the scintillating peak performance of the current SLR model – a technical masterstroke on the part of the engineers at Mercedes-Benz and McLaren. The new limited-edition series – only 150 models are being produced, for the most part hand-crafted, at McLaren in Woking – is the brand's response to calls from highly discerning SLR customers for even more sportiness combined with the same high level of everyday practicality. The supercharged 5.5-litre V8 engine in the ''722 Edition'', which is hand-built in the AMG engine shop in Affalterbach, generates 478 kW/650 hp. The particular strengths of this high-performance engine are immediate response to movements of the accelerator, highly emphatic torque build-up and an unmistakable V8 sound. The performance figures are outstanding even for a high-end sports car: the ''722 Edition'' accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in only 3.6 seconds, and 200 km/h is reached in just 10.2 seconds. The maximum speed (337 km/h) is above the 334 km/h previously achieved by the SLR. Handling characteristics worthy of the racetrack are also provided by the sophisticated suspension, with 19-inch light-alloy wheels, a stiffer damper configuration and 0.4 inches lower body. Larger brake discs with a diameter of 390 mm ensure excellent braking performance. The 2.0-litre versions of the Qashqai will benefit from the electronically controlled All-Mode 4x4 system (as pioneered in X-TRAIL) which can provide greater traction for safer driving and extra control in all weather. It is a front-wheel drive system to save fuel, and only diverts torque to the rear axle when the front wheels are slipping.
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