SL-Class 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Facelift

[Sovereign]

Mercedes please bring a talented Italian auto designer in your design stable. Wondering who is available.

On a serious note how can the current design team accepts such a mediocre proposal for the facelift? They managed to make the original car look quite attractive IMO. The more I see the pictures of the facelift the more I prefer the original which was the worst SL design of all time by miles, but the facelift manged to up the game of ugliness.

 

[Rolf]

I think the S-class cabriolet will suck alot of sales from the SL, it is a much better looking car on the outside and inside.

 

[Wolfgang]

A repost.

"Looks better for sure with much slimmer lights, the lights remind me of those on the S-class Coupe, although the grill is quite a bit different. Also the AMG GT front is included as a comparison."

http://www.germancarforum.com/threa...-class-r231-facelift.52909/page-8#post-769907

 

[martinbo]

They managed to cock it up just a little bit more.

The essence of elegance is lost as much as it is captured in the S Cabrio.

 

[Rolf]

What's the point of the SL now that you can buy an S-Class Cabrio?

What is the price difference between these two models?

The S-class cabrio pricing is not yet shown on the German Mercedes website, but comparing the SL (pre FL) to S-class coupe its not much difference.

SL500 - 120.963,50 Euro
S500 Coupe - 123.700,50 Euro

Lets assume the Cabrio will be 10% more expensive than the Coupe then a 15000 Euro price difference in favour of the SL500 could be expected.

 

[Amat46]

May be Grodon Wagener purposefully wanted to make the SL look ugly so that the next Gen SL designed under him will look nothing but spectacular.

Is there a car you wish you had designed?

I would like to design an SL. When I joined the company, the SL was already done. That is my big ambition and that is on the list -- stay tuned.

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...rcedes-benz-s-class-coupe-a-design-revolution

 

[Monster]

May be Grodon Wagener purposefully wanted to make the SL look ugly so that the next Gen SL designed under him will look nothing but spectacular.

That is a subtle way of saying he doesn't like the design of the current SL and he would have done things better.

 

[Rolf]

I will create a poll for your choice of the best looking SL model from 1971 R107 to current FL R231.

Which model is the all time best?

1971 SL R107:

1989 SL R129:

1996 SL R129 FL:

2001 SL R230:

2008 SL R230 FL:

2012 SL R231:

2016 SL R231 FL:

 

[DjordjeC63]

Maybe R129, then R230 pre-fl.

 

[GTA45E]

@GTA8.5
You posted real life photo to compare to photoshopped photo, not fair. Also, do you remember how non AMG pre FL looks like?
If not:

I am well aware of that being an MB fan
I was kind of in a hurry when posting. I found out yesterday one of my good friends has walking pneumonia.



I am actually warming up to the pre/ face lift R231 a little bit.
I like the grill of the pre/ facelift R231 out of the bunch because it stands up with the star. I never liked the smallish laid back grill of the R230. It was improved with the face lift but still it was laid back too far for my taste.

So whats the deal with the face/lift R231.
Is the AMG treatment also the sports package on the SL500? All the models wear the AMG kit with the exception of the mustache treatments, lazy and lame looking at best. At least the pre/ face lift had separate sports package that was not as extreme and hard core as the AMG.

 

[SCOTT27]

Where is the standard car? All is see is the range topping AMG models.

 

[ZicZachZo]

The R230's design is holding up really well to my eye. A fluid design from grille to bumper. And then things start to fall apart from there. The last truly desirable SL.

 

[John Galt]

This car needs a new interior... Too much plastic there... Id take an s-coupe.

 

[Seylan]

This car needs a new interior... Too much plastic there... Id take an s-coupe.

There's actually not that much plastic, mostly leather in fact...it's the 7 old design that's the real problem.

 

[MBFanToDeath]

Where is the standard car? All is see is the range topping AMG models.

 

[Monster]

Is the AMG pack standard across the range now?

 

[Sovereign]

^ All SLs with or under Bruno Sacco were masterpiece designs in their times and are classic today. R107 had a 17-18 years successful span and I remember when R129 came and I saw it for the very first time I thought that its the most beautiful convertible in the world. R230 pre facelift was another masterpiece. But it all went downward with the R230 facelift and what a coincidence that the master designer was gone from Mercedes. I have doubts that the current design team can come up with a design for future SL that can be as influential or attractive as Sacco's models in their times.

R129 of 1989 is my favorite modern SL. The lovely orange indicator clusters are missing on the FL 1996.

 

[Merc1]

The R129 is the one, followed by the R230. The current design team will restore the SL to glory along with the SUV lineup over the generational changes.

M

 

[BKK-ES]

R129 is the best SL ever.

 

[KA2607]

not a fan of that inverted grille.. makes the car look grumpy !