German Car Forum

Humph, I was hoping it would look better than it does. The old one is absolute perfection. I know how they were trying to update it to the more angular look like the rest of the Mercs today but they didn't get it right. The current car is timeless. Oh well.

Not from those shots, but there are similarities in the front end.



I like that they've given a harder-looking edge to the SL. The current one is nice, but is starting to look dated. This update is keeping in line with the family theme. But, there's such a thing as going too far, and this facelift looks needlessly complicated. Though in real life, I imagine this car will have a strong presence.

I dunno how I feel about this yet. It looks great in some pics and not so great in others. I guess I'll have to see more pics that aren't press shots and some live pics when it revealed.

M

Those fans for the airscarf will gather up dust like a vacuum cleaner in no time. I will hate to be the one cleaning it.

I don't get the purpose of the vents in the back of the headrests? Seems counter-intuitive? Not to mention the whole headrest looks atrocious!

what is air scarf? have anyone tried it yet?

Supposed to provide warm air to the neck on chilly days so you drive with the top down. It does work if all you want is your neck warmed on the cold day. Its really a nice gimmick IMO. I never drive with the top down when it goes below a certain temperature and having warm air blown on my neck isn't going to change this.

I'm read where the next CLK Cabrio won't have a folding hardtop, but a cloth roof. Of course MB has a new feature to counter the hardtop revolution, a heated softtop. Much more useful when the car has been parked outside and their is ice/snow on the roof like on my own car earlier this evening.

M

Well, i have to get used to it. It's nothing spectacular, but it ain't ugly either. In some shots looks great while in others don't.

I kinda think a 2-bar grille would have worked better, takes some of the emphasis off the headlights IMO.




M

^ This is the classic SL grille.

The one-bar grille is a classic SL trait (not used on the R129) ...taken from the original gullwing 300SL.

Paul Bracq's Pagode SL.

Well shut my mouth. First the CL and the SEC and now this. Interesting.

Never payed any attention to such an old Benz in detail before Professor Rob...lol.

M

As we can see in the pic the rounded part of the headlamp is curved back onto to the fender.When looking from head on it looks weird because we dont see the third dimension but IRL it will look good especially when lit.

The rear bumper looks so-so towards the bottom,a diffuser would have looked better there.

^Well Pfeiffer has been raiding the archives for lots of classic styling "quotes" from the classic models.

These are applied [like metaphors] over the top of his own styling themes which are clearly influenced by the likes of Chrysler and GM.

Ok the Chrysler thing I can see why you'd think that since they were joined, but Cadillac. Come on Rob that really isn't so at all.

M

^ I actually meant GM in general ...but Cadillac too of course.

The GLK has clearly taken on some of the angularity of the recent Cadillacs.

Disagree with that Rob, totally. Mercedes has a history of angular design long before Cadillac's new "Art and Science" theme, that they've now dropped as far as the name goes.

M

^ really, what angular design are you refering too?


I would agree that in the past Cadillac have taken on several Sacco/Mercedes syling elements .....but Cadillac (and GM) have been at the forefront of this recent trend for sharp angles and rectilinear geometry.

Intresting to read that so many MB fans are against this facelift.

Mercedes older boxy look is what I'm referring to. I just don't see how anything Mercedes has done recentley besides maybe the ODC looks anything like a Cadillac. These new Cadillacs (save the CTS) are a mess IMO. The jet fighter look isn't what luxury car buyers want, i.e. the slow sales of the XLR and to a lesser degree the STS.

M

I think it's angle/colour dependent. Not the best but could have been much much worse. OK

Thanx for clearing that out

You're welcome.

Rob, your posts have been deleted as you requested.

Well I love it. Does look less convincing from some angles, bit IRL it'll be better. I love the grille, the lights are a bit strange but have grown on me. Now it won't look like a CLK from the front, the small grille and roud lights were the elements I liked the least in the pre-FL (which was my favourite Mercedes).

The rear diffusor of the AMG is not my favourite element.

The airscarf vents does look weird.

Can't wait to see this beast IRL!!!

My initial reaction to the FL was one of horror but I'm starting to warm up to the front. A very Bangle-ish reaction on my part.

Still, while the front is growing on me, it doesn't feel like it has been properly integrated into the design of the whole car.