Due to the automatic gear box, front mid-engined arrangement, and its driving characteristics, some commentators classify the SLR McLaren as a GT, whose rivals would be vehicles such as the Aston Martin DBS V12 and Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.
SLR stands for "Sport, Leicht, Rennsport" (sport, light, racing). Mercedes-Benz stated that they would build 3,500 SLRs over seven years, with an annual production of 500 cars. The car's base price, GB£295,337 (approx. US$450,000, €350,000, CHF 500,000 or C$ 500,000. 2009), made it the ninth most expensive street-legal car in the year 2008
