Mercedes announces limited edition SLR Stirling Moss

Mercedes-Benz and McLaren are adding the crowning glory to the model family of their highly successful SLR super sports car with a new, uncompromisingly spectacular car.

There is neither a roof nor a windscreen to separate the driver and passenger from the outside world; they enjoy unadulterated high-speed excitement with all the attributes of a speedster. The new SLR Stirling Moss is also characterised by the most sophisticated technology and a breathtaking design which reinterprets the SLR legend.

With 478 kW/650 hp, the SLR Stirling Moss accelerates its V8 supercharged engine from standstill to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 350 km/h - no other series-production car is at the same time so open and so fast.

This extreme concept makes the new high-performance sports car a legitimate bearer of the name of the British motor racing legend and Mille Miglia record-holder Stirling Moss, who drove the legendary Mercedes-Benz SLR racing cars from victory to victory during the 1950s. The exclusive SLR Stirling Moss rounds off the current SLR family and is limited to 75 units. It is priced at €750,000. The SLR Roadster will cease to be manufactured at the end of May as planned, and production of the SLR Stirling Moss starts in June.

Three letters are all it takes to make car fans' hearts beat faster: SLR. In the 1950s the Mercedes-Benz SLR 300 celebrated victory after victory. It won the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio as well as the Tourist Trophy. It was driven by the stars of the time: Juan Manual Fangio and Karl Kling - and, first and foremost, by the British racing driver Stirling Moss. At 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds he still holds the Mille Miglia record.

The entire bodywork of the SLR Stirling Moss is made of fine lightweight carbon fibre and represents a stand-alone design concept. It sports a pronounced arrow-shaped form and is characterised by an elongated bonnet and a compact, muscular rear. As there is no windscreen, the exterior and interior flow smoothly into one.

The bonnet also stretches from its striking tip right down into the interior, giving the vehicle body a distinctly sleek air. Even when standing still, the sports car radiates a dynamism that makes the observer immediately fall under its spell.

Further features include two air scoops behind the driver and passenger. They carry additional roll-over bars, also uniting the traditional and the modern.

The wings are powerfully contoured. Black-painted ventilation 'gills', sitting facet-like on the sides and on the bonnet, also cite the legend.

A thrilling interplay of light and shadow ensues through the expressive lines, underlining the dynamic overall impression.

The interior is also reduced to the bare essentials. Surfaces in the instrument panel and doors make for an exciting atmosphere and epitomise perfectionism.

A mixture of high-class authentic materials such as carbon fibre, aluminium and fine-quality leather sets the style here. An aluminium plate carries the engraved signature of Stirling Moss and covers the area around the shift lever.