CLK-Class (C209) New Mercedes CLK and E-Class Interior Spied

[rev]

New Mercedes CLK and E-Class Interior Spied

Since the last batch of spy shots of the new CLK and E-Class Wagon, there's not much new to see on the outside. But our intrepid spy photographer got up close and managed shots of the interior revealing a few interesting details. Based on the new C-Class, the CLK's center instrument panel gets a built-in navigation monitor instead of the flip-up unit in the C-Class. However, the big surprise is that the gear shift lever on the E-Class, seen with a shining chrome button on the end, gets moved from the traditional location of being in the center console to the right side of the steering column. Ironic since BMW is reportedly moving their gear shift lever back down to the center console in the next gen BMW 7-Series.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071228.014/new-mercedes-clk-and-e-class-interior-spied

 

[Centurion]

I didn't anticipate that the E and CLK will have the same center console. Looks good though and is a blend between the C-class, current E-class and S-class. The CLK is maturing and MB is going to position it between the E92 and 6er.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

that looks very un MB like, centre button almost straight from an audi and the whole looks more BMW than MB.

 

[LaArtist]

looks like the old mercs..super angular..
i love it.. kind of like the reventon exterior edgy

 

[PHYBENZ]

aircon controls looks to be like the S class ones. A little too much black plastic on the center console but I guess we'll have to wait and see. There does seem to be a horizontal strip of wood on the CLK, that the C desperately needs.

 

[Centurion]

aircon controls looks to be like the S class ones. A little too much black plastic on the center console but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I'm a little worried as well. I want to see a great amount of wood incorporated into the dash like with all traditional Mercs. I don't want to see Mb interior becoming more sterile than the ones in Bimmers.

 

[vabboud]

what's the point of COMMAND III if it will have more buttons than a nuclear powerplant?
i think mercedes engineers missed a class when their chief was busy explaining the Idrive to them.
besides that it looks good, but somehow not 2007 good, of course final judgemetn when real pics appear

 

[siko]

the vents look weird/cheap?!

 

[Centurion]

Don't worry, bad pictures. The quality will be up to standard.

what's the point of COMMAND III if it will have more buttons than a nuclear powerplant?
i think mercedes engineers missed a class when their chief was busy explaining the Idrive to them.
besides that it looks good, but somehow not 2007 good, of course final judgemetn when real pics appear

They didn't miss anything. Not all products on the planet are supposed to be like an iPod with nothing but a knob or a button on it. Some people like basic and frequently used functions to be easily accessible by just pressing a button, rather than having to dig through menus and sub menus distracting you from what's ahead on the road.

The columns and rays of buttons on the left side of the knob are obviously numbers for making a phone call. I'm surprised that they have kept them but I guess they carried out a market research and found out that their customers like it that way.

Further more iDrive isn't much of an inspiration after all the negativity we have heard and read about it.

 

[131172]

Someone had already posted the uncovered interior picture of the new E before at carspyshots.com though some people doubt the authenticity of it. But looking at the spy photos of the interior so far you can see how accurate the uncovered picture is.

 

[Merc1]

If these cars present themselves with S-Class quality and reliability I don't care what the interiors "look" like personally. They won't be ugly either way. Quality and more quality, and reliability is what Mercedes has to prove with the CLK and especially E.

M

 

[NarutoRamen]

Call me crazy, but I like the new direction of these, or should I say the old direction. Reminds me of the Benzes of the old days with squared off interiors. I hope, of course, that the new ones have a bit softer plastic because hard edges hurt, LOL.

 

[ZicZachZo]

I will reserve my comments about the interior until I finally see it. I think they really got it right with the S class and to a lesser extent with the C class. The S class interior is so right, very much an evolution of the last model. The new C certainly seems to be an ode back to the Mercs of yesteryear with a very germanic straightforward approach. I honestly love the E class interior currently - it's seems everything is very logically placed throughout the cabin etc. Very luxurious. We will see.

 

[SDNR]

Someone had already posted the uncovered interior picture of the new E before at carspyshots.com though some people doubt the authenticity of it. But looking at the spy photos of the interior so far you can see how accurate the uncovered picture is.

I'm not sure about this. I'll have to see more pics.

 

[bmer]

Someone had already posted the uncovered interior picture of the new E before at carspyshots.com though some people doubt the authenticity of it. But looking at the spy photos of the interior so far you can see how accurate the uncovered picture is.

I remember this picture was also posted here. I think it's fake. In the spy pictures the new E-Class has a column shifter while in this picture the lever is in the center console even though it's an automatic. The downmost part of the air-con controls has these small things that in the spy pics seem to look like pieces of tape. They also appear in this picture suggesting that this could be photoshop.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

autobild had one of the interior of the GLK with exaclty the same colorcombo and wood. I think they ps'd that one. It's clearly a scan, not a real picture as the date is trying to imply.

 

[131172]

I don't think the interior image is fake or photoshopped. The gear lever could be a manual transmission or the whole thing is an early prototype. Infact, someone from the other forum mentioned that it might be a early clay model which could explain the bland and cheap feel of the interior. Overall this should be the final design with small tweaks. The steering wheel and instrument cluster are the same as what we have seen with all the spy photographs.

Still, I was hoping Mercedes will go with a S/CL style rather than angular style of the new C.

 

[Zafiro]

yes thats to many buttons, too many. Like in the old days.

 

[SDNR]

^ well imo this interior is very uninspiring indeed. Mercedes needs to get its act together. BMW and Audi are advancing interior design to new levels of sophistication and style. Mercedes seems to be lagging behind with the typical dull, passionless, bourgeois styling we see in any number of other mid-range luxury vehicles.

I hate to say it, but even the new Jaguar XF has more going for it.

 

[Tarek]

Come on Rob it's too early to judge,me too don't like what i see but i'm dead sure when i see it in real i'll change my mind just the same case with the new C,when i first the spy pics i said what's the crap is this? then when i sat in a proper optioned Avantgarde model i was very pleased