After battling nearly a foot of snow to get to work this morning I have finally arrived at my office, only to be greeted by the news that Mercedes has officially taken the wraps off a model that up until now has been known as the Mercedes-Benz SLR Speedster. It’s new, official name is actually the Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, and in case you haven’t already guessed, it’s modeled after the legendary driver Stirling Moss’ Mille Miglia winning SLR 300.
In many ways, the SLR Stirling Moss is exactly what we expected. It lacks any form a roof or windscreen, allowing occupants to enjoy the unadulterated bliss of true open-air driving. But in addition to this open air construction, the SLR Stirling Moss’ true artistry lies under the hood, for it is here that its supercharged 478 kW/650 hp V8 resides. Three-and-a-half seconds – that’s how long it takes the SLR Stirling Moss to accelerate from a standstill to 62 miles per hour. Its top speed – 217.48 mph. No other series-production in existence can match this incredible union of speed and open-air euphoria.
And then there’s the styling. If Mercedes has ever produced a model that’s nearly identical to its concept sketches, this is it. Elements of the traditional SLR are present, but its clear this isn’t your typical limited edition variant with a few extra add-on aerodynamic components and altered badging. Instead, it’s a model that signifies the end of an era – a unique, over-the-top, completely impractical SLR that in many ways is everything the standard SLR wasn’t. I won’t elaborate on its external appearance – the pictures are for more interesting than my written word – but I believe in many ways the SLR Stirling Moss is a demonstration, of sorts, showing that while the normal SLR earned a reputation as the “everyday” supercar when compared to other exclusive models, inside it did possess an equally intense, distinctive soul. This design is a representation of that soul.
Unfortunately, this new design doesn’t come cheap. Only 75 Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss models are scheduled for production, with a price tag of EUR 750,000 each. In addition, it’s only available to current SLR customers – providing some consolation, maybe, for SLR owners that have in the past wished for a little more from their SLR’s.
To learn more about the new Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, keep reading for more photos (click to enlarge) and the official press release.
