Mercedes SL Mille Miglia 417 review ~ station of gear

Mercedes SL Mille Miglia 417 -front tracking

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15 May, 2015 5:30pm Kyle Fortune

A new special edition version of the Mercedes SL celebrates the legendary Mille Miglia road race

With its AMG GT relation stealing all the headlines, Mercedes-Benz’s glamorous drop-top has been ignored a bit of late. Rummaging through its history, the company has given the SL a new Special Edition to address that, which it’s called the Mille Miglia 417. This car doesn’t only celebrate the famous historic Italian road race, but it also honours the often-forgotten John Fitch, who’s 417 start time and race number adorns this made-over SL.

Sir Stirling Moss usually has all the Mille Miglia glory, but Fitch’s 11-hour, 29-minute and 21-second 1,000-mile time, placing him fifth, is well worth celebrating, too.

Mercedes SL Mille Miglia 417 - rear tracking

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Numbers aside, Fitch would barely recognise the SL as related to his own fifties 300 SL, the folding hardtop roadster offered in both SL400 and SL500 guises with 417 treatment. The 448bhp from the 4.7-litre turbocharged engine enables a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds and an electronically limited 155mph top speed.

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The Mille Miglia rides on a combination of black 19 and 20-inch front and rear AMG Performance alloys, and their red surrounds demonstrate the styling direction of this car. Red highlights the lower front bumper and under the rear between the tailpipes, as well as the brake calipers. There’s a matt-black carbon-fibre rear bootlid spoiler, while red and black Mille Miglia 417 badging sits behind the front wing vents.

Inside, the theme continues, with red leather holds on the steering wheel, as well as a carbon weave effect throughout the cabin. The AMG Line seats, again in red and black feature special-edition embroidery, while the Italian race’s famous 1000 Miglia logo adorns the floor mats.

Only 500 SL Special Editions will be made, with magnetite black metallic paintwork as standard. Matte designo black magno or cashmere white magno finishes are offered, as well as an optional desgino diamond white non-matt finish.

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Performance and dynamics remain unchanged over the standard SL’s, which sees it sit comfortably in its own segment, bridging the divide between more sporting rivals such as Porsche’s 911 Carbiolet and BMW’s 6 Series. That mix has long been part of the SL’s appeal – it’s the perfect companion for the sort of varied demands a 1,000-mile Italian drive might demand of it.

Mercedes SL Mille Miglia 417 - Mille Miglia

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The seven-speed automatic transmission is smooth, if not hugely quick to react, but the engine’s plentiful urge means the SL is an easy and very swift choice. Its steering might not offer the clarity and precision of its more sporting competition, nor does the suspension maintain quite their level of control, but its more comfortable ride makes it a hugely accomplished grand tourer. That’s true of all SLs, though, so you’d have.

Trim changes rather than any actual technical enhancements make this a special edition for those wanting exclusivity instead of extra performance. We’ll let you decide whether the red and black colour scheme is to your taste, but styling aside you’ll be buying one of the best and most glamorous long-distance GTs on the market. The SL’s strength is the way it blends complete comfort with a startling turn of pace,

Price: £95,355
Engine: 4.7-litre V8 turbo
Power: 448bhp
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

0-62mph/top speed: 4.6s/155mph
Economy/CO2: 31mpg/212g/km
On sale: Now

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