Chrome Brabus Mercedes SLR McLaren draws crowds in London
A rare chrome-wrapped Brabus-tuned Mercedes SLR McLaren, owned by a Middle Eastern enthusiast, turned heads on London’s streets as it cruised alongside other supercars.
A chrome-wrapped Brabus Mercedes SLR McLaren was filmed cruising through central London in 2011, drawing crowds and camera phones as it reflected the city’s summer light. The car, belonging to a Middle Eastern owner, stood out even among the capital’s regular parade of supercars.
The SLR McLaren is no longer in production, having been replaced by the SLS, but its appeal among collectors and wealthy owners has not faded. Brabus, the German tuning house, offered a package for the SLR that included both visual and mechanical upgrades. This particular example took customisation further, with a full chrome wrap and metallic-tinted windows.
Brabus tuning: power and presence
Under the bonnet, the Brabus SLR’s 5.5-litre supercharged V8 was fitted with special camshafts, a fuel cooling system and a high-performance exhaust, raising output to 650hp at 6,500rpm. That was a modest increase over the standard car, but enough to keep the SLR competitive with contemporary hypercars. Brabus claimed a 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 211mph (340km/h).
The car’s stance was set off by Brabus Monoblock VI 20-inch alloys, shod with 255/30 ZR 20 tyres at the front and 305/25 ZR 20 at the rear. The visual impact was heightened by the mirror-finish wrap, which made the car impossible to miss even among London’s summer influx of rare metal. Marchettino, a well-known supercar spotter, captured the SLR as it cruised the capital, often in convoy with other high-end cars such as a Koenigsegg Agera R.
Customisation beyond the factory
Brabus offered interior upgrades for the SLR, including a sport steering wheel with integrated manual-shift buttons and carbon-fibre trim for the dashboard, centre console and door panels. The exact interior specification of the chrome SLR remains unknown, but given the owner’s approach to the exterior, it is likely to have been equally bespoke.
London’s summer supercar scene has long attracted wealthy visitors from the Middle East, who often bring highly personalised cars. The chrome SLR McLaren was one of the most memorable examples from 2011, reflecting both the owner’s taste and the city’s status as a magnet for rare and extravagant vehicles.
- Brabus SLR McLaren: 5.5-litre supercharged V8, 650hp, 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, 211mph top speed.
- Chrome wrap and metallic window tints for maximum visual impact.
- Spotted in London by supercar spotter Marchettino.
A snapshot of London’s supercar culture
The chrome SLR was not the only rare car on the streets that summer, but it remains one of the most talked-about. Its appearance captured the spirit of London’s international car scene, where exclusivity and spectacle often go hand in hand. For Brabus and Mercedes, it was a demonstration of how far owners would go to stand out, even among the world’s most exclusive machinery.
For more on the SLR McLaren’s place in rare supercar history, see our coverage of theRed Gold Dream: Mercedes SLR McLaren with Rubies and Gold Priced at $11m.
