DaimlerChrysler chairman and Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche said the company was investigating small production runs of the SLR with different bodystyles.

'We could do 50-100 cars with certain attributes,' he told us, hinting that a roadster version could be on the cards.

Powered by a muscular 626bhp V8 engine, the SLR is capable of 208mph and 0-60mph in a scant 3.8sec.

A smaller, cheaper McLaren is rumoured to be in development to challenge junior supercars such as the Ferrari F430.