Mercedes shows new 208mph Roadster

For some people, there is no such thing as too fast or too extreme and for them there's a new version of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster called the 722 S.

Packing a tuned version of the AMG-built supercharged 5.5-litre V8 engine, the new limited edition model has 641bhp and 605lb.ft of torque at its disposal - up from 617bhp and 575lb.ft in the 'regular' Roadster.

This prodigious output is routed to the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes claims that the new 722 S will hit 62mph from a standstill in just 3.7 seconds, double that speed in 10.6 seconds and eventually top out at 208mph, which Merc reckons is unrivalled by any other 'series-production' roadster.

It's a bit rich to call the new 722 S a series-production car though, especially as there'll be just 150 made for sale and the price hasn't even been announced as yet.

As you'd hope, the 722 S features more than just a more powerful engine. Its suspension has been revised to suit more enthusiastic drivers, while the carbon fibre body receives revisions to help it stand out from the regular Roadster.

It would be surprising for Mercedes to announce the new 722 S this week without bringing it to the Paris Show, but as yet its appearance in France has yet to be confirmed.

Shane O' Donoghue