The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is undoubtedly a thing of wonder. The twin-screw supercharged 5.4-litre V8 sits up front and was developed by AMG. It's one of the all-time great engines, with 626bhp at 6,500rpm and 574lb ft at 3,250rpm. Ulp.
The SLR has very clever aerodynamics which can at times make you forgive some of its styling. Aerodynamics, of course, are the reason for the SLR's most celebrated technical trick - the airbrake. It's one of the car's many surprises.
But there's still plenty to niggle about. For such a massive car, does it need to be so tight inside? The squeaky ceramic brakes are difficult to get a feel for.
You'll also soon get bored with sitting in a carbon-fibre racing car which always sounds raw and that you have to fight on all but perfectly smooth roads. It all adds up to something which you never seem to get comfortable with.
And this is the SLR's problem - it is not a GT. It's a little bit Mercedes-Benz and a whole lot McLaren - a truly astonishing 21st century racing car with a very thoroughly applied veneer of civility. Is that enough?
