Mercedes fires Stirling silver bullet

As a final hurrah for its SLR performance flagship, Mercedes has conceived a low-volume version that pays tribute to the feats of Stirling Moss in the silver arrows during the 1950s.

Mercedes says the SLR Stirling Moss rounds off the current SLR family and just 75 units will be sold, priced at 750,000 euros ($1.54 million).

Production of the existing SLR Roadster will cease next May, freeing up resources to produce the SLR Stirling Moss from June to December. Thereafter, Mercedes will launch the current SLR's gullwing-doored successor.

The ultra-aggressive looks of the Stirling Mosss edition are backed up by the requisite performance credentials, as the supercharged 5.4-litre V8 engine's output has been ramped up from the donor car's 460kW to 478kW -- and the added grunt has yielded a sub-3.5sec 0-100km/h split and top whack of 350km/h.

Mercedes claims "no other series-production car is at the same time so open and so fast", but perhaps they forgot to take into account the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport.

Remaining totally true to the specifications of the 300 SLR that Moss piloted, the new Silver Arrow makes do without a roof and side windows, and the driver and passenger are shielded only by a pair of small wind deflectors, while two air scoops integrated into the bodywork serve as roll-over bars.

The SLR Stirling Moss is made of ultra-light carbonfibre, and its styling clearly distinguishes it from the donor car. The headlight treatment is all new, as are the ventilation 'gills' on the bonnet and flanks.

Harking back to the historic original, the SLR Stirling Moss features high side sills, which prompted the designers to incorporate folding swing-wing doors that open forwards.

Occupants aren't completely at the mercy of the elements, as the vehicle can be enclosed by two tonneau covers housed in the boot.

In the words of Mercedes: "When both tonneau covers and the doors are closed the SLR Stirling Moss resembles a sculpture".

Inside, there's lashings of carbonfibre, aluminium and fine-quality leather, and an aluminium plate near the shift lever bears the engraved signature of Stirling Moss.

The flat underbody is complemented by a rear bumper diffuser that's considerably larger than that on the standard coupe and roadster.

Mercedes claims extensive wind-tunnel testing means the SLR Stirling Moss generates ample downforce, but the driver can also manually operate the AIRBRAKE for added pressure.

The AIRBRAKE also deploys when braking from speeds above 120km/h to preserve stability.

Stirling Moss may not have managed to bag a Formula One world title, but he covered himself in glory in the SLR 300, winning the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio as well as the Tourist Trophy. In fact, he still holds the Mille Miglia record of 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds.