Mercedes SLR McLaren

The most impressive are the power ratings. The SLR's AMG-developed engine, hand-assembled by a single engineer, is a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 churning out 626 horsepower and 575 lb.-ft. of torque, the latter available across a flat band between 3,250 and 5,000 rpm. Every SLR McLaren engine sports a plaque signed by the engineer who assembled it. If that doesn't astound your friends, perhaps this will - the V8 possesses enough kinetic energy to move the 3,732-pound carbon fiber-bodied coupe from zero to 60 mph in a mere 3.8 seconds. Top speed is over 207 mph; the usual European 155-mph limit has been waived, since the SLR will be assembled by its F1 racing partner McLaren in England and not on a Mercedes-Benz production line.

Distributing the SLR's impressive power to the rear wheels is a five-speed automatic transmission that offers three settings: Comfort, Sport or Manual. Should you choose Manual mode, three more settings (Sport, SuperSport and Race) offer you exacting control over the gears. As the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz technology, the SLR is not to be regarded as a mere straight-line muscle car; it was bred as a racecar, and its undercarriage is constructed accordingly. For example, exhaust pipes on each side of the car allow the Mercedes SLR to have a completely smooth undercarriage for greater aerodynamic efficiency. Double wishbone suspension components are located at all four corners, the geometry allowing for a slight negative camber for the best traction during high speed maneuvering. Stopping the vehicle are super-lightweight carbon-fiber ceramic 14-inch disc brakes that are heat resistant to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing the SLR to halt from 62 mph in a scant 114 feet. Aiding deceleration is an adaptive rear spoiler that flips up when the brakes are pressed at over 60 mph, providing extra downforce. Physics geeks, rejoice.

Attending to your well being are a slew of safety nannies, including a tire pressure monitor, stability control, six airbags and even a BabySmart feature. Furthermore, the SLR McLaren is composed almost exclusively of carbon fiber composite, which serves well the aeronautics industry with its incredible strength and ultra-light mass - it's weight is claimed to be half that of steel but it's possessed with the ability to absorb four or five times more energy than traditional automotive body materials.

Unlike a typical racecar, however, you'll find civilized fare inside the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, with leather upholstery covering most surfaces including the dashboard. Carbon and metallic accents brighten the interior, including an aluminum center panel embossed with the letters SLR and covering the controls for the Bose audio system.

And looks? Well, let's just say that with its shapely hood, two-seater cab-rearward body design and gullwing doors, it's even more beguiling than the sexy Mercedes-Benz SL500. McLaren will produce 500 SLRs annually for seven years, and the waiting list is reportedly full through the middle of the decade, so don't get your hopes set high on owning one anytime soon. It will be the rarefied few, including Jay Leno who is the first North American customer for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, who will be driving this technological marvel.