The 2003 MERCEDES BENZ SLR- Mercedes has kept the research and development costs of this head turner a secret, though it can easily be well over five times the value of the average home. The 2003 Vision SLR Roadster and its coupe counterpart are perhaps the most exotic cars to hit the auto show circuit in a long time. What's even scarier is that, both the coupe and the roadster will be on showroom floors in less than 2 years. No gimmicks to get the auto show crown talking; these cars will be in on the road soon, albeit in rare numbers, but they'll be there, driving past you, laughing at you as it's 557 horsepower supercharged V8 gulps up more air than and fuel in 5 min than an "economy" car would in 5 hours. The super light gullwing doors flow with the cars bodywork. The tight cockpit screams time travel, while the ultra-exotic materials, hand-fabricated bodywork, and state-of-the-art technology remind you your sitting in perhaps the most technologically advanced automobile the three-pointed star has ever produced. Period.

The SLR concepts are undoubtedly super sophisticated, and their formula one roots aren't all that hidden. DaimlerChrysler and its Formula One Partner, McLaren Cars Ltd., have joined forces to build this car at the new TAG McLaren facilities in Woking, England.

With the capability to produce about 500 vehicles per year, as long as there is enough money and buyers, the SLR twins will be competing head to head with Ferrari and Lamborghini for years to come. This super-exotic isn't only a speed demon. It is a luxury Gran Turismo that is sure to satisfy the most modest enthusiast.

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A quick look around the cockpit and the first realization is that there's no keyhole: No surprise here. Dating back to the early thirties and their roadster's starter buttons, Mercedes has placed this one atop the aluminum shift lever (Did we forget to mention, this is an automatic). A gradual depression on the button and you can feel the power surge through your finger, up your arm, and through your body as if you and the car are one and the same. The V8 howls with a sound that screams both power and sophistication. The AMG 5.5 liter supercharged animal produces a mind numbing 516 pound-feet of torque. Combined with a super lightweight carbon fiber-and-aluminum chassis, that tips the scales at barely 3100 pounds, this Benz has an amazing 5.7 pounds per horsepower. What does that mean? It means a zero to 60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a zero to 124 mph time of 11.3 seconds! Top speed you ask? AutoNetDirect bestows an invitation to the newest member of the famed 200 mph club.

The unconventional shift lever is a work of art in itself: An ultra polished aluminum knob, it requires a mere nudge in one of the four directions to engage the correct selection. When "D" is engaged, a primordial chant screams of the tail pipes, and childlike urges for speed and power overtake any sense of judgment and responsibility.

The Roadster's soft top is made of light-transmissive polyester, vapor-plated with aluminum: With the top up, light still filters into the interior with the impression of a giant tinted moonroof. Another technotrick is the cars steering, which is linked up to many, otherwise ignored, systems. The lights, for instance, automatically track the steering angle to improve illumination during cornering. And Mercedes' new electro-hydraulic Sensortronic Brake System, which automatically calculates the exact brake pressure required at each wheel, but couples this with trick fiber-reinforced ceramic discs, which are 67 percent lighter and twice as heat-resistant as cast-iron discs.

With 2003 just around the corner (It is just around the corner, right?): Don't be surprised to see this car in your nearest multi-millionaire's garage, or in your dreams. With a price expected to be near a three-quarters of a million dollars, now would be a good time to start digging through those couch cushions for that extra change. AZ/AutoNetDirect.com

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