Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss

Every now and then Mercedes-Benz produces a car that jumps out of their range, slams down your front door, smacks you in the face, then steals your wife and daughter on its way out. In the past this has been done through cars such as the CLK 63 AMG Black Series. Astonishingly, Benz have even thrown out the rule book from the Black range. At least that’s the only way I can describe how on earth they (or rather McLaren) came up with the Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, which is currently on show at the NAIAS in Detroit.

Spy shots and video were revealed on AUSringers.com in July 2008 and even then you could sense this car would be almost like any other. (Oh, you must follow that link to hear the brutality of the car’s engine!) Certainly, its unlike any Mercedes-Benz road car in recent memory. I mean, just look at it! It’s stark raving mad, with crease lines all over the carbon fibre body, side exit exhausts that look like they could fire you straight to hell and a bonnet soooo long that it must have the Luftwaffe hidden away in some sort of Trojan horse disguise. Judging by the sound of the car’s supercharged 5.4 litre V8 it definitely sounds that way.

Stirling’s angry engine instills 478kW (641bhp) of fear into its driver, and plants said driver back in the seat with the brute force of 820Nm of torque. It’s said to do the 100km/h sprint in just 3.5 seconds on to a mammoth top speed of 350km/h. I’ve often said, you don’t quite get the right experience of wind in your hair until you’re doing 350 clicks. Just as well, then, that the SLR Stirling Moss has no roof.

Mr Moss’ latest wheels are driven by a relatively low tech sounding five speed auto, but I guess it needs to have balls of steel, and then some, to deal with the crazy power at hand.

Speaking of crazy, you’ll need around AU$1.5M if you’re to get your hands on a set of keys. Oh yeah, you’ll also need to already own an SLR in order to be “allowed” buy a Stirling Moss, limited to just 75 models. The SLR Stirling Moss also marks the end of McLaren’s deal with Mercedes-Benz for the forseeable future. They have certainly gone out with a bang!

More images, press release and promo video clip after the jump.

A Mercedes-Benz Motor Racing Legend Continues: The Stunning New SLR Stirling Moss

Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz and McLaren are adding the crowning glory to their range of successful SLR super sports cars by launching a new, spectacular, and uncompromising model. With neither a roof nor a windscreen to separate the driver and front passenger from nature, the SLR Stirling Moss allows them to enjoy sheer high-speed excitement with all the attributes of a speedster. Further traits of the new SLR Stirling Moss include highly sophisticated technology and breathtaking design that provides a new take on the legendary 300 SLR. A supercharged V8 engine developing 478 kW accelerates the SLR Stirling Moss from zero to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and is good for a top speed of 350 km/h – performance that no other standard-production open-top car can match. This extreme concept makes it a legitimate bearer of the name of British motor-racing legend and Mille Miglia record holder Stirling Moss, who piloted the Mercedes-Benz SLR race cars to a succession of victories in 1955. The exclusive SLR Stirling Moss, which marks the end of the current SLR family, is a 75-model limited edition priced at 750,000 euros. Production of the SLR Stirling Moss starts in June 2009. Production of the SLR Roadster will cease, on schedule, at the same time.

Three letters are all it takes to make car fans go into raptures: SLR.

In the 1950s, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR racked up victory after victory, winning the Mille Miglia, the Eiffel race, Targa Florio, and the Tourist Trophy, piloted by some of the biggest stars in motorsport at that time: Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling and, above all, the British racing driver Stirling Moss, who still holds the Mille Miglia record of ten hours, seven minutes, and 48 seconds.

This is why the latest reincarnation of the legendary SLR bears the name “Stirling Moss”.

The new SLR Stirling Moss combines the character of the modern-day SLR models with the allure of the SLR of 1955. Core values at the heart of both the historical and the current SLR models include a breathtaking new design, innovative technology, first-class materials that have been perfectly handcrafted and, above all, a unique driving experience that appeals to all the senses.

Extremely puristic concept with no roof and no windscreen

Following the lead set by the 300 SLR in every respect, the new Silver Arrow is of extremely high quality yet puristic when it comes to equipment, dispensing with the side windows and the roof.

All that protects the driver and front passenger from the wind are air deflectors measuring two centimetres in height.

Two scoops integrated in the body serve as roll-over bars.

This extreme concept also clearly distinguishes the new SLR Stirling Moss from all other vehicles in the elite-sports-car class on a visual level.

Like the legendary race cars of yesteryear, the SLR Stirling Moss impresses with its scintillating performance. With the power to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 350 km/h, the puristic high-performance sports car brings a whole new dimension to open-top driving. Not just because of the impressive performance figures, but also since every drive in the SLR Stirling Moss appeals to the senses with a new intensity and conveys the driving experience in its purest and most sensuous form. Hence this automotive thoroughbred offers an open-air experience that is unique for a road-going car.
Alluring design reminiscent of the SLR race cars

The entire body of the SLR Stirling Moss is made from lightweight carbon fibre and features a unique design.

When the Mercedes-Benz designers came to design the body of the new SLR Stirling Moss, they never lost sight of the fact that they were designing a car with a top speed of 350 km/h. At the same time, however, this top athlete is a convincing tribute to the design idiom of the SLR race cars of the 1950s, which still sends people into raptures to this day.

The strikingly arrow-shaped, exciting form of the SLR Stirling Moss is characterized by an elongated hood and a compact, muscular rear end. Since there are no windows, the exterior and interior merge into one another. By way of example, the hood appears to flow from its distinctive nose right into the interior, making the car body seem much longer than it is. Even when stationary, therefore, the sports car exudes a dynamism that immediately casts a spell over the observer.

Further prominent features include two scoops behind the driver and front passenger, which carry additional roll-over bars and likewise create a blend of the traditional and the modern. The wings are powerfully contoured, while facetted, black-painted ventilation grilles inserted at the sides and on the hood are unmistakable references to the legendary SLR models.

Expressive lines create a beguiling interplay between light and shade, which emphasizes the overall dynamic impression.

Like its historic forebears, the new SLR Stirling Moss boasts extremely high side skirts, which is why the designers opted for forward-opening gullwing doors.

The car is closable using two carbon-fibre covers – known as tonneau covers – which are carried in the trunk. When both tonneau covers are fitted and the doors are closed, the SLR Stirling Moss resembles a fine sculpture.

In keeping with the car’s puristic exterior, the interior has been pared down to the bare essentials. Interwoven surfaces on the dashboard and doors create a gripping ambience and convey perfectionism. Here high-quality and authentic materials such as carbon fibre, aluminium, and high-grade leather define the style.
An aluminium plaque bears the engraved signature of Stirling Moss and covers the area around the shift lever.
Innovative technology and sophisticated aerodynamics concept

For the technical basis – sophisticated carbon-fibre design, high-performance chassis and robust V8 supercharged engine – the designers of the SLR Stirling Moss were able to draw on their experience gained with the SLR Coupé and Roadster models.

The Stirling Moss shares the same aerodynamics concept as the other members of the SLR family, featuring a closed underbody and a diffuser in the rear bumper to maximize downforce at the rear axle, although this diffuser is much larger than the one for the Coupé and Roadster models.

Thanks to painstaking work in the wind tunnel, the SLR Stirling Moss always generates enough downforce for extremely reliable handling; however, the driver can raise the airbrake manually in order to further increase downforce – for extremely sporty driving.

In addition, the airbrake is raised when the brakes are applied at speeds above 120 km/h in order to further stabilize the car and maximize deceleration.

Limited edition of just 75 models – the crowning glory of the SLR range

The new SLR Stirling Moss is a high-calibre speedster designed to appeal to lovers of the genre. It also marks the crowning glory of an era and, for the foreseeable future at least, a farewell to the SLR.

Production of the SLR Roadster models will cease as scheduled in May 2009. A limited edition of just 75 Stirling Moss models will be produced between June and December 2009, with each chassis being individually numbered from 1 through 75. Due to its left-hand drive configuration, this unique sports car will not be available in Australia.

As well as being the final member of the current SLR family, this exclusive car is a thank you to the most loyal SLR customers, since they are the only ones who will be able to purchase a Stirling Moss model.
Download

• SLR Stirling Moss Technical Data (32kb PDF)