2013 Mercedes-Benz SL: Spy Pics & Info

[K-A]

So far I am very happy with what I'm seeing! I am so, so, so, sooooooooooooo freakin' pleased to see M-B going classic on this rather than futuristic, it's modern-classic, just like M-B's best designs always are IMO. It is what the CLS's design should have been: More emphasis on grace and resolved lines, instead of throwing in random dashes to hope it conveys a more progressive image. It is MUCH better resolved than the CLS, except for the headlights portion perhaps.

I need to see more pics, most importantly, the headlights, as they could either look very bad or at least okay to me. I can't get over that dulled and flattened inner shape, but maybe it'll look good somehow. Also, I need to see more angles to absorb the front to rear relationship, which is something that M-B has been hit and miss with lately, in terms of keeping them harmonious and balanced with each other.

So far, unless further pictures prove otherwise, I commend M-B Designers for keeping this thing classy, and for not ruining it with gimmicks. I now only "worry" that the S-Class will have the gimmicks hurting it.

 

[K-A]

For me it`s definitely much beautiful the new SL`s front than SLS AMG one. This car is a total HOTTIE just like a SL must be ! If I can personificate SL with a human that would be a sex-symbol from the `60s, perhaps Brigitte Bardot. SL is that kind of beauty.

I like that you're thinking 60's with this. That is what is striking me best with this car, M-B seems to be trying to harken that 50's/60's elegance and glamor, which they can do best as they have the best blueprints from that very era to work from. IMO the best way for M-B to stand out nowadays is to keep harkening their glorious past with evolution themed designs that are modern, progressive and gateways into the future as well. I really hope this SL carries this as we see it more and doesn't end up disappointing.

 

[Gianclaudio]

My first post on GCF, and it's nice to start in a SL thread; I'm really liking the new design, I was expecting a much worse back end, but it looks very nice.

And Motortrend said it was an ugly car But I could not expect something favorable from such a Merc-trashing magazine (along car & driver and autoexpress)

 

[K-A]

That's true. It's always good to take whatever car rags, especially American ones say about Mercs with a pinch of salt. Car Journalists care about only ONE THING, which is handling prowess, harsh steering feel, and dancing around cones. These idiots will take anything from a Honda Civic to an E-Class and thrash it on a road course, then state that the car is "worst thana BMW/Audi" because it simply can't handle better? I'd rather they give me sound DB's and comfort breakdowns on a 4 hour drive, as that is what the cars are commonly used for! Ridiculous. If Magazine articles dictated how well M-B's did in the real world, they would probably be out of business by now.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Gentlemen we have entered the color era

Best Post of the day Artist...and Thanks! Looks incredible and glad they proved me wrong on this one.

 

[LaArtist]

^No probs

Guys i guess this is it for today..europe is about to go to sleep..

We will continue the hunt tomorrow

 

[K-A]

American's gotta pick up the pace then.

 

[Shining Star]

Great job with all the pictures, Artist. Hopefully there will be some more before the reveal on thursday.

I've got to say that I'm impressed with Mercedes on this one. I'll wait for definitive comments until we get better quality pictures, but I like the non-tackiness of this SL. The body looks dynamic and powerful, and there seems not to be a large hump between the front and rear sections like in the SLK. Interior looks nice, although I'd like to see it from different angles. Seats look delicious, up there with the 7er for the best looking seats. Hoping for more pictures soon.

 

[tristatez28lt1]

American's gotta pick up the pace then.

With pleasure
GCF has this SL picture matter covered 24hours lol

 

[Yaz]

WOW! She's a stunner. And I thought I would hate it as much as the new SLK.

 

[Gianclaudio]

That's true. It's always good to take whatever car rags, especially American ones say about Mercs with a pinch of salt. Car Journalists care about only ONE THING, which is handling prowess, harsh steering feel, and dancing around cones. These idiots will take anything from a Honda Civic to an E-Class and thrash it on a road course, then state that the car is "worst thana BMW/Audi" because it simply can't handle better? I'd rather they give me sound DB's and comfort breakdowns on a 4 hour drive, as that is what the cars are commonly used for! Ridiculous. If Magazine articles dictated how well M-B's did in the real world, they would probably be out of business by now.

Well, these days C&D, Motortrend and Autoexpress are about Audi/VAG at it gets. Huge, tasty checks seems to be coming out from Wolfsburg/Ingolstad

I can barely remember when was the last time I saw a VAG product that didn't win a comparo on Autoexpress, for example.

On topic: watching how much more harmonic the new SL's front is, I wonder why Mercedes couldn't made the same effort on the SLK, instead of giving us that RAM truck-inspired car....

K-A, I love your E-class, by the way

Regards,

Claudio

 

[K-A]

Well, these days C&D, Motortrend and Autoexpress are about Audi/VAG at it gets. Huge, tasty checks seems to be coming out from Wolfsburg/Ingolstad

I can barely remember when was the last time I saw a VAG product that didn't win a comparo on Autoexpress, for example.

On topic: watching how much more harmonic the new SL's front is, I wonder why Mercedes couldn't made the same effort on the SLK, instead of giving us that RAM truck-inspired car....

K-A, I love your E-class, by the way

Regards,

Claudio

Why, thank you sir.

I agree, the Audi/VAG team are like the "new BMW" to Mag Editors, and BMW even is getting their "wrath" these days. I certainly wouldn't be surprised to hear that the biggest check writer gets the "win". Looks like M-B never decided to cut them checks.

My issue with these Mag guys is that they're so seemingly one track minded. I've researched a wide range of cars to buy, from Sports Cars, to Luxury Sedans, or Econ appliances, and it seems like they have the exact same dictation of victor for every test. A Hyundai Sonata will get beat by "X" car because "X" car has better steering feel and a harder suspension.... Really? A Sonata buyer wants to feel the road in their hands and butt? What's obvious is that the "Journalists" are really just performance driven gearheads, and they all want to Review Porsche's and Ferrari's so much, that they refuse to play ball properly when reviewing anything more practical.

 

[NarutoRamen]

My issue with these Mag guys is that they're so seemingly one track minded. I've researched a wide range of cars to buy, from Sports Cars, to Luxury Sedans, or Econ appliances, and it seems like they have the exact same dictation of victor for every test. A Hyundai Sonata will get beat by "X" car because "X" car has better steering feel and a harder suspension.... Really? A Sonata buyer wants to feel the road in their hands and butt? What's obvious is that the "Journalists" are really just performance driven gearheads, and they all want to Review Porsche's and Ferrari's so much, that they refuse to play ball properly when reviewing anything more practical.

I agree with you there. That is a huge problem. Different segments have different issues that buyers look at. If my family is buying a mini-van, they don't give sh!t about how fun it is drive or how fast the car is, etc.

 

[vios1]

a very beautiful and well balance car, but in pics it look kinda small like a SLK. Good Job MB

 

[Potential]

Looks fantastic, except for the headlights; they don't match the sleek, aerodynamic 'look' of the rest of the car. The interior continues the trend of unimpressive interiors that MB are releasing this generation. I do hope that changes with the imminent S Class. I'm not at all sold on that recycled slab of controls that is taking centre stage on recent MB interiors. It looks cheap in juxtaposition to the reminder of the interior. It must be said, this certainly turned out better than the spy shots led me to believe. More pictures are definitely required to make a final judgement.

 

[deity]

I don't like it too much, I think the old one looked much nicer.

This one has a been there, done that look to it. Its just too boring. The old one was more aggressive, and has a more special look to it. There's a reason all the angles are the 3/4 front view. I'd think the frontal isn't as nice: /

 

[tristatez28lt1]

All I could find here in the US are the same pictures, just a little better quality. So I'm posting them

 

[Deleted member 1071]

I recall having read that Butzi Porsche once stated that "a good designer knows when to put his pencil down".

It appears that the M-B design team responsible for the new SL made a rather successful attempt at adhering to this. Save the inherent somewhat irritating shutlines adorning the roof and rear deck (one reason I prefer fabric tops), this is a monolithic, solidly executed exercise in exterior design. Little if nothing is contrived, no silly gimmicks. Simply a handsome car. A pity that not all M-Bs' are as confidently penned as the new SL. Or the AMG SLS for that matter (save that somewhat exageratedly long hood...).

I really do wish that the SL would be offered with a traditional fabric top as well as a fixed head coupe version. Gone are those shutlines LOL ! But I reckon that the retractable hardtop has become an SL signature that appeals to many customers-so what do I know ?...

 

[K-A]

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?

 

[Laurent T]

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