Does it have the looks to raise eyebrows in Italian towns?
Modern Ferraris, say the 458 Italia, or the Lamborghini Gallardo are not retrospective design jobs. They have retained the mid-engined layout and represent modern thinking and technology. That way, the SLS AMG is quite different — the first-ever car to be totally conceived and executed by AMG had to pay homage to the original SL of the 1950s and why not? The original, nicknamed ‘gull-wing’ for the way the doors opened is too definitive a sportscar from the illustrious history of the three-pointed star and one that deserved a new interpretation. Remember, recently Lamborghini tried a concept Miura that aped the original only to get a lot of flak from everyone who saw it — but the SLS looks the part. It has captured the lazy elegance, the sporty intent and the ‘gull-wing’ spectacle to full effect. For me the most redeeming fact of the design is the long nose of the car — like the E-Type Jaguars and not so like the classic SL, but lending absolute supremacy to the proceedings. The car can
