The SLR McLaren is billed by Mercedes as the ultimate supercar – a 200mph two-seater that combines the best of German technology with McLaren’s lightweight engineering skill. Powered by a supercharged 5.4-litre V8 engine with an astonishing 626bhp it covers the 0-62mph benchmark in a blink-of-an-eye 3.8 seconds. But despite this performance, claims that it’s a ground-breaking supercar in the mould of the original F1 are ultimately disappointing.

Its hefty weight and lack of driver involvement mean it is neither a supercar nor a grand tourer. And then there’s the price. At more than £320,000 it’s seriously expensive, even when compared to other supercars.