Shop first, eat later

and provide heating, cooling, or a gentle massage as you desire. There is plenty of room for the driver and passengers. An 11.9-inch touchscreen almost rises from the center console, comes with the “Hey Mercedes” virtual assistant, and is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen even tilts to help avoid glare from the sun when the top is down.

The fabric roof can be raised and lowered in about 15 seconds with the touch of a button, even when the car is in motion. A wind deflector covers the rear seats — assuming they are not in use — when the windows are up, and protects your hair from getting mussed. A standard “Airscarf” blows warm air on the occupants’ necks to allow for top-down driving in cooler weather.

Most say the ride is a dream. “The SL63 handles like a far smaller, lighter car, changing directions and exhibiting cornering limits that would shame its predecessors,” Turkus wrote. “Every movement of the suspension feels precise and deliberate like the SL will never let me down,” and the gear shifting is almost undetectable.

But a couple of other reviewers said the ride is a bit stiff, and it is hard to shift between driving modes to find your sweet spot.

The exterior design is a classic sports car, with a long hood and a grille that dares you to challenge it. That, and the roar it makes on acceleration, ensure every other driver on the road will notice.

The AMG SL has not been crash-tested for safety, and probably won’t be. But it is equipped with enough gizmos to protect the occupants, assuming the driver is awake and sober.

Now comes the tough part: getting your mitts on one of these babies. It is not a popular vehicle, with only a couple thousand sold in the U.S. each year. That means you probably won’t find one on the dealer’s lot and will have to customorder it. Mercedes warns that a global semiconductor shortage could delay delivery.

But it will be worth the wait. n

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan

LifeStyLe traVeL

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan

MILAN

Shop First, Eat Later!

By Molly Golubcow

Amalfi cityscape

traVeL

Shopping in Milan is a fantasy come true — especially for fashionistas! To find the perfect style and fit, whether a luscious pair of Louboutin stilettos (for her) or a sleek Ferragamo racing watch (for him), is the ultimate shopping goal.

Once you settle into your Milano surroundings, take in her celebrated sights: Duomo de Milano, Le Scala Theater, and savor an expresso in one of the many charming cafes. Then, shopping is a must — a glamorous, haute couture lover’s dream come true. So, grab your favorite credit card(s) to do a little shopping, and then a short ride out of Milan for the perfect dinner in the Lake Como area.

Rectangle of Gold

Milan undeniably remains one of the top fashion capitals of the world. In the heart of Italy’s second-largest city, four extravagant streets (vias) form a stylish rectangle housing Italian fashion empires ranging from Armani to Gucci to Versace. Accurately called the Quadrilatero d’Oro (Rectangle of Gold), Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant’Andrea and Via Montenapoleone make up the Quadrilatero della Moda shopping district. In addition to the Italian gods of fashion, shoppers can also see, smell, and touch (very carefully) high-end items from international fashion houses like Hermes and Dior.

Hands down, Milan shopping is molto bene, but non-shoppers can enjoy the ambiance as well. The stylish streets, lined with elegant classic buildings, beg to be photographed. Architecture buffs will appreciate the mix of styles, from Neoclassicist to Baroque.