If a few hours ago we brought you a new rendering of the Mercedes SLC supercar that will replace the current SLR, we can now tell you that the production of the SLR McLaren, both coupe and roadster version, will end in 2009, only five years after its official debut.

Production of the SLR rose in 2007; 275 were built last year, 14 more than in 2006. But that’s significantly down on Mercedes’ original estimates of 400-500 cars a year.

The next step for McLaren is a new supercar codenamed P11, that will debut towards the end of next year, while Mercedes will have the SLC.

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