German Car Forum

Wow, I`m speechless! what a stunning piece of work!! I`m liking this a lot..
The Maybach has mated with the S600 and came up with stunning machine which I believe will sit between them. this is what my gut is telling me. Mercedes has come up with something unique instead of offering another supposed "baby-Maybach sedan" I could be wrong, maby not.

What ever the case the style is very elegant, sleek and sexy... looks better than the Maybach and yes, the rear is better than the new S, very sexy.. This item will sell I`m sure.

LOL you seem to be the small minority here.

Maby so.. When the model comes to light lets see what the world thinks about it. For now I might be the first fan of this beautiful machine.

I`m really wondering if this model will sit between the S and Maybach. We have not herd anything of a supposed 53-Maybach for some time now.

I won't say that I love this, but I definitely don't hate it either. With this car, my feelings are a mixed bag. While I do see design cues from other companies, I sure as hell don't see no damn bentley in it. I a lot of rolls and maybach in it, but no bently. Besides the some detailing on this, you can really see that this is basically a S-class with the roof chopped off. Honestly, it's nothing special. Something I wouldn't even consider buying even if I had bill gates kind of money.

Could somebody make a PS of that front by taking the light projectors inside the S-Class's front lights and applying them to the Ocean Drive Concept's front lights but still keeping the concept's front lights' shape? In other words, applying the inner instruments on the S-Class' front lights to the concept and still maintaining the shape of the concept's front lights. I hope you understand what I mean.

To me the front looks very C-class-ish. This is probably a hint of how the new CLK might end up looking like.

Some of the design cues could have been used during the styling of the current Maybach line, such as the character lines, for one thing. This looks more Maybachish than Mercedes to me. I agree that you see some cues from competitor brands, but then again, when Maybach debuted, people kept complaining that it does not have the "presence" of a Rolls or a Bentley. Well, what is "ringing" our bell with this concept is that "presence". Whether I like this concept or not, I cannot help but see that it is a more than worthy a competitor to the new Bentley GTC or even the upcoming Rolls 100EX.

I agree with this totally! General shape is good, but the details are wrong. Just can't stand the front lights, intakes, wheels, rear overhang is long, it makes the car look dumb...I don't know, I'm not really fond of this thinG!

lOl Eni, I think some of us are jumping to too many conclusions about this concept, remember when the real deal comes on the scene it will be toned down from this concept. Whoever said thay see some Rolls Royce styling elements I have to agree. Maby MB wants to compete with the upcoming Rolls Cornish. There is something very Royal and grand about this concept much like that of the 101EX.

I couldn't be happier to see Mercedes taking the leap into producing an ostentatious car that is, essentially, without peer. It's moves like these that fortify the Mercedes name, despite the problems that have plagued the brand over the past decade.

No other mainstream brand has the positioning, fiduciary guts or in house know-how to pull off a car like this. None. I was just talking to my boss about this, and he guessed that the last time a car such as this was in series production was in 1964. Of course, there's a reason for that - but to hell with sensibility, this is Mercedes Benz we're talking about, right?



I don't have any issues with the styling here. The lines that flow aft of the front and rear fenders is a riff borrowed from the CLS, and an idea that Benz half-owns. The LED headlamps are nasty looking, but I'd expect normal projectors (and doorhandles) to accompany the finished product.

Right now - with the headlights and gaudy wheels, the car looks too "pimp'ish." But I think the final product, with some more tasteful wheels, will look great, and will be the crown jewel of Mercedes excess.

Yes, this would have made a fine Maybach, and would have buoyed the brand with a "world exclusive platform." But I think there's more equity here in providing support for the Mercedes name than there is trying to support a low volume brand like Maybach.

Great words there Osna, I couldn`t have said it better and I agree with the
"pimpish" theme of the concept. When the production version comes I`m sure we will see more than 95% of this concept. The thing I don`t want to see is that "production-ready" look of such hi-end model like this one. I don`t want to see the rich elements toned down too much in other words.

Hopefully they can keep the "special" doorhandles. It's a very nice touch that you find on cars like Aston Martin. But, because of budget and the need to economize with parts-sharing, many elements on this car are bound to look akin to the normal S-Klasse.

One must also wonder what the letter designation of the car will be! How about SLE? Maybe SLC?

The computer I'm using doesn't have Photoshop Elements which I usually use to modify pictures so I had to use GIMP which I'm not very familiar with. As a result this PS is propably the worst I've ever made so I'm sorry for the terrible quality. If someone has the time and skills please make a proper PS of this idea... I only PSed the other front light. But I think it looks better than the concept (if we ignore the quality of the PS).

Your right about the parts-sharing with the door handles, heck even the Maybach shares door handles with the W221 S-Class. I think thats about the only element this model will share with the S-Class. The box section
or unit frame also comes from the S as well. The sheet metal is quit different from the S to say the least. You know looking at the upscaled beauty and elegance of this concept and the latest CL I hate to say this but it seems MB could have been a little more creative with the W221 S-Class, these latest creations make the S seem almost "commercialized" in the design.
The new S should have been bolder and more striking imo.





[/QUOTE]One must also wonder what the letter designation of the car will be! How about SLE? Maybe SLC?[/QUOTE]


Another burning question! SLE would be fresh and very much within reason! SLC sounds almost too coupe like but who knows.. MB might use that
designation.. it has a lot of coupe-like elements with the roof up!!

The maybach cant share handles with W221 maybe W220

^ lOl your correct. As for the headlights bmer thay that might look like that concept CLE (or CLR) we saw a while back.

Mercedes-Benz should Drive it in the Ocean & keep it there

I like the CGIs better, this looks like a hippo with those front lights

I couldn`t stop the laughs!! pretty harsh words there phaeton!

LOL

After a 2nd look the only good is the rear end, the front with hippo headlights & eagle grill don't suit MB styling IMO

All of this about Mercedes falling off as a design leader and the gloom and doom about their future based on one concept is really silly. This is just a design study like the design studies that were shown in the past. The first generation CLK had a design study preview it as did the C215 CL and both of those cars turned out to be gorgeous, with some saying that those cars look better than the models (W209, C216) that have since replaced them. Concept cars are supposed to be glitz and showy, have we forgotten that? The CLS Vision had a guady interior that you just knew wasn't going to make it into production with that bright yellow leather and ruffles like a Bentley, turns out the CLS came to market toned down from the concept, but gorgeous. By the time this concept is productionized it won't be this glitzy. It will, as Mercedes always does, take the best elements from the concept and keep the overall design for a stunner. The verdict is far from in yet.

M

I recall thinking the interior was awesome and prayed it would see the light of day.

Lots of moaning and bitching in here. some of you guys probably need a couple of hours of sleep and realise that the car doesn't look that awful. Yeah the car does look a bit strange but that becasue of the led head lights and more over concept cars always look excentric. And no, I don't digg the chrome strips around the tail lights, I hate when people do that on MB cars.
Lastly most of the pictures look very computer generated. I'm pretty sure the car will look much better IRL pictures.

I am not basing my opinions of Mercedes design on this concept alone. The problem is Mercedes no longer hold true to their traditions.

There is nothing avant garde about this concept at all -- it is pure retrospective pastiche -- and not even really reflective of Mercedes past design.

Mercedes has never been an instantly emotional brand -- that is what has fascinated me with Mercedes in the past -- there was a coolness about the design -- clinical even. The emotional aspects of Mercedes were subtle and restrained -- this creates a strong air of authority and sophistication. The slightly aloof aesthetics of the past are being replaced with exaggerated styling cues purely for brand recognition purposes. Mercedes designers seem to have become obsessed with signature design cues -- this is not the way Mercedes cars were designed in the past. The fact that a number of traditional Mercedes design elements are used does not automatically mean it is staying true to Mercedes principles. I know I am in the minority with my opinions about the current Mercedes line up ...but I do not consider it to be any where near as well designed as it was a decade ago. This has less to do with the overall appearance of the cars and more to do with why they were designed this way. Mercedes might be regaining its build quality, but its design quality is definitely lacking.

They did not become a great marque by building cars this way -- Mercedes was a forward-thinking brand that always followed strict design principles -- today, it is becoming quite clear Mercedes has no idea what it stands for anymore. Mercedes was once refined and dignified, today it seams Mercedes is designed to appeal to people who do not appreciate understatement.

However, China will be the dominant market in a few years, we might see a return to more conservatively designed cars -- afterall, Audi is the most popular German luxury car in China. BTW, conservative does not necessarily mean dull and boring.

I have become quite disillusioned with Mercedes. I like the CL ...but I still don't think it has the character of a real Mercedes.

When I look to Mercedes in the past, I just feel sad ...I used to love the marque so much.

Oh well, I still love Porsche ...and I have become a fan of Audi as you know.

Rob, I think car brands require flexibility to stay in touch with their core audience and to adjust to consumer trends. From a fashion point of view, Mercedes and BMW have both strayed far afield from what they were all about 20 years ago, but both brands are very healthy, and are percieved as "Class 1 luxury brands."

I understand what you're staying about the current state of Mercedes design, but I'm just not seeing it. I have some problems with certain models, but I don't think a lack of finesse or dignity is the issue. I just feel that, going into this next generation of vehicles, Mercedes is slightly adrift and isn't "owning" and exciting new ideas.

If anything, the biggest problem is purely one of engineering and quality control. Make them look like pigs if you must, just give me some of that old-school Benz quality. I'd may want to own a Benz come 2015. I hope they have the bugs ironed out by then.