Goodbye round headlights ... goodbye MB!

[SDNR]

When I look at the new W204 C-Class, I essentially see a retro-styled 190-Series.

Well all I can say about this is you have an incredible imagination Christian.

 

[coolraoul]

Well Rob, I perfectly see what Christian means with the W204/190. The first thing I thought when I saw the W204 is that it was looking like a 190.

Of course all these (W204, S204, C221) are different from the 80's models. But there is the same spirit, the same aura, a very strong resemblance in the overall design for me. The same spirit, clearly.

Especially the C221/C126, the front end is really an evolution of the same design theme for me. But the others too, are pretty obviously inspired by their proud ancestors.

Of course you can disagree, but this is my opinion.

 

[SDNR]

Of course your opinions are valid .....I accept that we all can see things differently.

 

[Monster]

Well guys, have a look at the photos and see.




Don't want to start a massive debate here, but I agree with Christain and Coolraoul

 

[Merc1]

Well in looking at that photo, the W203 is the only odd one out style wise. Interesting.

M

 

[coolraoul]

^^I agree...

 

[cawimmer430]

Well all I can say about this is you have an incredible imagination Christian.

I do?

Because even Peter Pfeiffer made references to this in an interview, which I posted here on these boards if I remember correctly.

 

[SDNR]

Well guys, have a look at the photos and see.




Don't want to start a massive debate here, but I agree with Christain and Coolraoul

I do?

Because even Peter Pfeiffer made references to this in an interview, which I posted here on these boards if I remember correctly.

OK ...I'm not going to say you guys are nuts ....but please, could somebody point out all these striking similarities to me ......I must be blind

 

[cawimmer430]

OK ...I'm not going to say you guys are nuts ....but please, could somebody point out all these striking similarities to me ......I must be blind

I wish I had photoshop on the computer I am using now but I don't, so I will have to explain it.

Front
This applies more to the Classic/Elegance trim levels of the W204, but the headlights look a bit like those of the W202 which in turn evolved from the W201 190-Series. Maybe if I have time tonight I will find some decent pictures and try to illustrate my point.

Side
The side profile of the W201 hinted at a compact premium car, especially for the period. The same thing cannot be said for the W202 and W203, which appear elongated and "long" in comparison to the W201 and W204. The W204, as you can see in the ^last picture^ has the very pronounced design characteristics of a compact premium sedan, just like the W201 190-Series.

Rear
One of the things that characterized the 190-Series was a short and stubby rear - a first for a Mercedes sedan. You see the same thing in the W204 where it is more pronounced than in the W202 and W203.


You don't have to agree with me, Rob, but this is what I see.

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Sorry guys, but I think the assertion that the W204 is very similar to the W201 and W202 and that the W203 is the odd one out is not entirely accurate. The W202 and W201 look like they come from the same family of styling.....more upright and angular, with the classic squared off headlights of the 1980's and 1990's.

The W203 was a huge departure from the past (much like the W220 S-class) with more curved lines and a swooping coupe like shape rather than a boxy sedan.

If you look at the W204, it's lines are very similar to the W203, especially the overall shape of the car. Sure, it LOOKS more edgy and angular because of the flared wheel arches and the creases they have put in the sheet metal, but the actual shape is more of an evolution of the W203, rather than the previous W201 and W202.

Take a look at these pictures which I had posted in an earlier comparison thread. Ignore the very different headlights, and you'll see the shapes are very similar (look especially at the shape of the hood, roof, A-pillar and C-pillar, the windows, the doors.....they are vastly different than the W201 and W202).

Bottom line, the major difference between the two cars is the shape of the headlights and the shape of the trunk/rear lights. If you take away the creases and flared wheel arches, the W204's shape really is just an evolution of the W203.

 

[coolraoul]

I can't say I agree.

Look at the side: the W203 has a very curvy side, and a curvy roof, almost coupe-like. The W204 has a more edgy side, and you see that the roof is not curved any more. You clearly see the A-pillar, the roof then the C-Pillar, which is not the case with the W203. It gives the impression of a less incurved windshield and rear window, thus a W201/2 look. The rear window is not bulbous any more.

The front proportions are more W201-like; with a much bigger grille dominating the front, with squared headlamps in line with it.

The rear is extremely short (or short looking) like the W201, not long and sleek like a W203.

In fact, you have a high front end, a more squared side, and a very short and high rear-end. The W203 is much sleeker, small and low bonnet, cruvy side with slightly bulbous rear window, and low and sleek rear-end.

The spirit of the W201 and W202 is behind the W204, not behind the W203. And it is pretty obvious to my eyes. The design theme is for me the same in W201, 202 and 204, only the W203 has a different inspiration.

 

[SDNR]

The W201 is one of the most important models (from a design perspective) Mercedes ever built -- it was absolutely revolutionary. Probably the most important aspect of the design was the famous 'wedge' shape (diagonal profile) of the vehicle (low front with a high back). This is the only true remaining feature the W04 shares with the original W201. Features of the W201 which make it so distinctive include the wheel arches which are echoed in the shapes of the window frames, the absence of chrome (apart from the grille), the thick C pillar, and the wonderful 'flatness' of the door moldings is a detail I have always appreciated.

 

[cawimmer430]

Sorry guys, but I think the assertion that the W204 is very similar to the W201 and W202 and that the W203 is the odd one out is not entirely accurate. The W202 and W201 look like they come from the same family of styling.....more upright and angular, with the classic squared off headlights of the 1980's and 1990's.

The W203 was a huge departure from the past (much like the W220 S-class) with more curved lines and a swooping coupe like shape rather than a boxy sedan.

If you look at the W204, it's lines are very similar to the W203, especially the overall shape of the car. Sure, it LOOKS more edgy and angular because of the flared wheel arches and the creases they have put in the sheet metal, but the actual shape is more of an evolution of the W203, rather than the previous W201 and W202.

Take a look at these pictures which I had posted in an earlier comparison thread. Ignore the very different headlights, and you'll see the shapes are very similar (look especially at the shape of the hood, roof, A-pillar and C-pillar, the windows, the doors.....they are vastly different than the W201 and W202).

Bottom line, the major difference between the two cars is the shape of the headlights and the shape of the trunk/rear lights. If you take away the creases and flared wheel arches, the W204's shape really is just an evolution of the W203.

Good post.

However I personally see a lot of styling elements and cues from the W201 in the current W204. I am also of this opinion because Pfeiffer himself stated that they looked at the W201 for inspiration.

I guess it comes down to opinion.

 

[Merc1]

I'll settle this....

Hell they all look similar, they're all Benzes!

M

 

[PanterroR]

I'll settle this....

Hell they all look similar, they're all Benzes!

M

 

[SDNR]

Good post.

However I personally see a lot of styling elements and cues from the W201 in the current W204. I am also of this opinion because Pfeiffer himself stated that they looked at the W201 for inspiration.

I guess it comes down to opinion.

I'm sure they did look at the W201 ....but I still don't see any real resemblance apart from the 'wedge' shape of the body. Remember, Pfeiffer's comments are probably about marketing the W204 as much as anything else.

I am not saying there are no similarities, it is just that I don't see them ....maybe you could point them out to me

I am not suggesting the W204 does not look like a Mercedes ...because it still does; it still carries many archetypal Sacco/Mercedes elements ...but I think these elements are mostly ones we have become familiar with in more recent times ...invented after the W201.

 

[SDNR]

I'll settle this....

Hell they all look similar, they're all Benzes!

M

Yeah, I agree with that ...but if the W204 had been the direct successor of the W201 (without the evolutionary stages of the W202 & W203 + several other Mercedes models) we would hardly see any relationship between them -- their design language is linked, like Chinese whispers, by various Mercedes models built during the 1990s-onwards. I personally am not a big fan of the W203 -- I was never a big fan of most of the models from the mid 1990s-onward. The W204 does have some nice details, I like the short front overhang -- but the rear is not very beautiful.

 

[cawimmer430]

I'm sure they did look at the W201 ....but I still don't see any real resemblance apart from the 'wedge' shape of the body. Remember, Pfeiffer's comments are probably about marketing the W204 as much as anything else.

I am not saying there are no similarities, it is just that I don't see them ....maybe you could point them out to me

I am not suggesting the W204 does not look like a Mercedes ...because it still does; it still carries many archetypal Sacco/Mercedes elements ...but I think these elements are mostly ones we have become familiar with in more recent times ...invented after the W201.

I will point them out to you tomorrow using pictures with comments (photoshop). I was in Munich all day today and am dead tired.

 

[cawimmer430]

Well here is a quick little point of view explanation why I think of the W201 when I look at the W204. It's basically the front of the W204 which reminds me the most of the W201 (and W202). The headlight design especially seems to be a direct evolution from the W202 - which in turn evolved from the W201. Then the air-intakes underneath the bumpers - looked vastly different on the W202 and especially the W203. But here we have a simplistic air-intake design which looks like it came directly from the 190. The mirrors are also fat and bulgy, like on the original W201. The W202 also had "fat" mirrors but they made a more streamlined impression.




I don't know about you, Rob, but I see a similarity. Not a close similarity, but similarities and design cues from the W201.

 

[SDNR]

I do see plenty of Sacco-esque details .....but I still do not see many cues taken directly from the W201 ....However, I take your point of view seriously.

I would suggest the headlights are a development of the ones which originated on the W140 CL -- the distinctive feature being their 3D appearance. The C216's headlights are also a development of the ones from the W140 CL.