2013 Mercedes-Benz SL: Spy Pics & Info

[Morrison]

Jimmy Dean and Steve McQueen likes this car. Elvis Presley will buy this one in heaven. John F. Kennedy will have this one as his presidential car, and his brother Robert will buy this as a present for Marilyn Monroe.

 

[Centurion]

Looks too much like SLK or the previous one, large headlights not very subtile. Disappointed!

The large headlights are not disproportionate to the body size though unlike the SLK which looks like a toddler wearing mum's sunglasses.

 

[K-A]

Jimmy Dean and Steve McQueen likes this car. Elvis Presley will buy this one in heaven. John F. Kennedy will have this one as his presidential car, and his brother Robert will buy this as a present for Marilyn Monroe.

Good company!

 

[klier]

..yes Artist this is definitely a huge dump on 6er GC..haha..

And BMW fans were the immature ones. Freaking hilarious you guys!

Anyways....this new SL looks absolutely stunning so far from what I can see. Just as I've always been saying in this thread.

 

[Morrison]

Good company!

As the motto of this model said: Icons of style !

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

From what I've heard (from insiders on this Board), the SLS was the passion project of sorts of ex Head Designer Pfeiffer, and the current Design team has a quiet "disdain" towards it, due to it being too purely penned from the original, i.e they probably wanted to add gimmicks and "futuristic" nonsense lines all over it. Perhaps Pfeiffers era also penned this new SL before the new team could draw "revolutionary" lines all over it?

I read a similar story, that MB's design team felt the SLS was a missed opportunity.

That said I think this SL represents MB's future design. I pray to god the S-class move forward on this and they present us with something just as monolithic and beautiful as this SL. I'm actually in awe at these leaked shots.

It is a VERY good week for German car fans. Both BMW and Mercedes have presented absolutely beautifully penned models in the 6-er GC and SL.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Stunning! Those headlights look like a masterstroke. How long has it been since a simple headlight has commanded such a powerful and unique form!

 

[K-A]

I read a similar story, that MB's design team felt the SLS was a missed opportunity.

That said I think this SL represents MB's future design. I pray to god the S-class move forward on this and they present us with something just as monolithic and beautiful as this SL. I'm actually in awe at these leaked shots.

It is a VERY good week for German car fans. Both BMW and Mercedes have presented absolutely beautifully penned models in the 6-er GC and SL.

And that very potential fact that they would find the SLS a "missed opportunity" to put their selfishly heavy hands all over it proves to me that M-B's current Design Team, under the head of Wagener, is incapable of upholding the brands design leadership capabilities (which were always done via evolution, not revolution), which is IMO. The SL is a good push toward proving me wrong, but somehow I feel like they weren't allowed to put their "touch" on it, which is wayward lines all over.

"MONOLITHIC" is a good word that we've been using more and more in M-B Threads. It's refreshing to us, and is in fact what M-B Designs were previously always about. Wouldn't it be nice if the Designers read all these Threads.

 

[K-A]

BTW, this SL is M-B's admittance that those crazy lines are antithesis to "timeless". Everybody knows that the SL needs to be perhaps the most timelessly Designed car on the road, up there with a 911 (though, nothing is more timeless than a 911, it can be argued). M-B has released model after model with flashy lines scribbled all over, especially those lower models we've been seeing lately (which obviously also shows that the lower/"youthful" they go, the more lines are scribbled on), yet all of a sudden, the SL comes with very "normal" lines, i.e, they knew that those heavy handed elements wouldn't stand a chance in 10 years time, or even much less than that.

The S, I believe will be a different story. All fingers point to broken lines, reverse-wedge dropping lines contrasting a wedge shaped actual car, etc. etc.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I really think you're misplacing the blame KA. The only way we will really be able to tell who was responsible for all 'the lines,' which I myself have no problem with, is if we know at exactly which point Wagoner became responsible for setting the vision. Given the delay between design studio and production reality, which can be between 4-5 years, I think you may find Pfeiffer has had a hand in the CLS and A & B.

Perhaps Hussein or Wolfgang will be able to shed some light on the first all Wagoner model to come out of MB.

 

[LaArtist]

^^You need to understand man that MB has a huge line up..many different kinds of cars..from a piss little A class with a lawn mower engine.. to a Huge pullman S class with a 6 litre V12..

They do not make look alike cars, every range has its distinctive look, life cycle and what not.

So with niche cars like the CLS they can play more with these so called lines..
But then they have the classic line with a wide customer base.. there they will not play around to much with design gimmicks..
These classic lines are C,E,S and SL..

So like i always say.. there is a MB for everyone

 

[K-A]

That's true, and I hope they keep the funny stuff for the lower models. The CLS is a niche model where they can convey their heavy handed capabilities, but I'd like to see the expensive models stay timelessly executed, with cohesion implemented more than anything. The CLS is too off-looking to last as a powerhouse at that price range, IMO. Some simple elegance would have benefited it, although it's certainly got an array of positives that will keep it attractive for a long time, working for it as well.

The S will be real "proof" into how they will implement their heavy hands onto the upper range, non SL (10 year lifecycle) models. The E went far, but after the CLS/A/B, the E's lines look all of a sudden rather formal and straightforward (relatively speaking: To some of its newer released siblings).

Mr. Mercedes: Perhaps, and I'd be very curious to that. However, M-B's Marketing dept. wants you to believe that starting with basically the W212, everything has been done under Wagener's helm, which is ironically when the lines started really getting crazy. Of course, the W212 was done under Pfeiffers helm, we all know that, but it was close to the transitional "hand off", and as the models have followed it, the lines have gotten more liberal. Makes you wonder.

 

[q5s]

If the nose wasn't so high up it would be perfect. It looks so front heavy in the top pic its about to tip over. Old car had no such problem. Too bad because with a low nose I don't think anything comes close, now it just screams pedestrian safety. Compared to the slk it looks like a masterpiece. On second thought scratch that, anything compared to slk looks like a masterpiece. That car was a cut and shut from 3 different cars. Good effort by benz, after seeing the slk I expected much, much worse.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Well said Artist. MB does indeed have a more varied line up than either BMW or AUDI and the low end models are clearly gunning for the 'youth' market.

Mr. Mercedes: Perhaps, and I'd be very curious to that. However, M-B's Marketing dept. wants you to believe that starting with basically the W212, everything has been done under Wagener's helm, which is ironically when the lines started really getting crazy. Of course, the W212 was done under Pfeiffers helm, we all know that, but it was close to the transitional "hand off", and as the models have followed it, the lines have gotten more liberal. Makes you wonder.

If you recall they had Wagoner all over the Ocean Drive presentation. Did he actually pen this beauty or was it again marketing spin? One really has to wonder.

 

[LaArtist]

I think Wagoner rules..i know he penned the existing S class..thats enough for me..
Thats before he got promoted, now he does not pen new designs..he oversees them

A very young and talented Head of design.. i hope MB keep him for a long time

 

[Levi68]

I am blind ? SLK (front) + SLS (side) + CLS (rear) = SL

 

[LaArtist]

^I dont know if your completely blind ..but i would sure as hell order a time at the optician

 

[K-A]

I think Wagoner rules..i know he penned the existing S class..thats enough for me..
Thats before he got promoted, now he does not pen new designs..he oversees them

A very young and talented Head of design.. i hope MB keep him for a long time

Don't get me wrong, I think he's an exceptional Designer, he's penned many of the best modern Benzes. Like I've said before, I question him as a "leader", as some people are better with others watching over them and directing them. His ambition getting ahead of him is what I question, and if he was responsible for the detailing on the CLS and A/B Classes, then I've proved my point, though only so far. As far as talent goes, I think he's one of the best in the business.

 

[LaArtist]

^Exactly thats why they should keep him.. demote a guy like that he is gone!!!

PS
Im getting pissed off...im hunting for new pictures, but several people are sitting on the whole brochure.. without scanning it.
As i understand they got the brochures at MB dealer nation wide in Germany today..so does any of our German friends care to pick one up?
Its already leaked..so there is no need to be scared

 

[K-A]

Oh, that goes without saying. I've seen jokes here from those who may know about him from the "inside" and he's said to have quite an "ego". You can see it in his designs as well as how he carries himself (very confident, almost egotistical). As an Artist, this can either make or break him. We're on your side, Gorden!