Centurion
Apex Apex Predator
It is sort of a shocker because the SL and CL are the two models Mercedes never fumble on.
SL-Class [Official] Mercedes-Benz SL (R231)
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The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (marketed as Mercedes-AMG SL since 2022) is a grand touring sports car manufactured by Mercedes-Benz since 1954. The designation "SL" derives from the German term "Sport-Leicht", which translates to "Sport Light" in English.
It is sort of a shocker because the SL and CL are the two models Mercedes never fumble on.
klier
Premium
So the interior being a copy from the SLK and SLS is not a problem? I seem to remember every MB fan and it's dog have that opinion about certain BMW interiors....? Shouldn't it be unique bespoke and exclusive or something?
BTW, the shifter and console in general look pretty top notch, but then again I wasn't making a deal out of the off center screen in the SLK thread. 10 pages of outcry because of a misaligned screen, and nothing this time??? Everyone agrees the interior is perfect? Or is thisr just so you guys don't have to think about the exterior which is just, umm, awkward from certain angles?
BTW, the shifter and console in general look pretty top notch, but then again I wasn't making a deal out of the off center screen in the SLK thread. 10 pages of outcry because of a misaligned screen, and nothing this time??? Everyone agrees the interior is perfect? Or is thisr just so you guys don't have to think about the exterior which is just, umm, awkward from certain angles?
Very sad that the car industry gets worse and worse in general. These last years very few cars are really mindblowing in terms of desing. Some cars at first it is "WOW" but then it is nothing that special anymore, others are first "BLEH" but then grow up on us and at the end look really good. Very few with with you fall in love from first sight and love them even after the successor comes out. I am thinking of the Maserati GranTurismo. Of course we all hev different tastes of perfection.
Yes, you can say that, but we BMW fanboys are not that happy either that BMW ruined the 1 Series F20 and yet does not have any SLS AMG rival. Maybe the 1 Series will grow on us, but when the new A3 and A Class will come out, only RWD will make the 1 Series the better car, in terms of looks it will be a shame for it to be parked near the other two.
klier
Premium
Nonsense. The thought alone is silly. 'Awkward' is the worst word I used to describe the car, and for the rest I am pretty positive. Artist said it well; it looks good from certain angles and really weird from others. So I will have to see it irl to make up my mind. This is only my second post here, and for now the last because I simply have not much interest in this car... it's hardly like I am spamming up this thread with negativity like some other members always do. Quite the opposite in fact.
Now give me one good reason why I would be happy to see MB fans disappointed? And make it a good one please, not some BMW fanboy vs MB fanboy nonsense.
The questions I present in the post above are valid questions of real complaints. You probably weren't here when the forum went berserk over the SLK screen position. And it were the MB fans themselves who didn't like it if I recall correctly.
Merc1
Premium
I agree, the interior is wonderful. Looks really clean and of high quality. The exterior however is a disaster. I'm just in shock. Never thought there would be a SL that I don't like. Then again I said the same thing about the E-Class. Oh well.
M
Centurion
Apex Apex Predator
I had my worries about the interior. The SLK is pure copy and paste from the SLS. But the new SL interior is a blend of the SLS interior and the R230 interior. Very graciously executed if you ask me. Much more innovative than I had anticipated.
The interior is AMAZING! They knocked it out of the park, and aside from a slight hesitating first moment, I am loving it.
The exterior? I am perplexed, to say the least. Two distinct feelings. 1. This model differs so much less from the R230 facelift, than that facelift differed from the original. The front and rear are so similar that to someone who does not troll online forums, it would be virtually indistinguishable. I hope the difference comes across more in real life. The sides are no contest, it is the same as the old model. 2. Not only does this look like a slightly more grounded SLK, but it seems designers just got lazy and decided to leave the inventiveness for next time. I am disappointed. For the first time in my life I am in the SL target market as it is launched anew, and I am left to cold as to tell you for sure that I will not entertain a purchase for a long while.
The only analogy I can come up with for this car is to think of it as a woman. The R230 was that beautiful, voluptuous woman with a PHD, which attracted you carnally even if you did not care about her brains. The R231 is a woman who is not ugly, but whom you properly appreciate fully only when you consider how smart she is.
The exterior? I am perplexed, to say the least. Two distinct feelings. 1. This model differs so much less from the R230 facelift, than that facelift differed from the original. The front and rear are so similar that to someone who does not troll online forums, it would be virtually indistinguishable. I hope the difference comes across more in real life. The sides are no contest, it is the same as the old model. 2. Not only does this look like a slightly more grounded SLK, but it seems designers just got lazy and decided to leave the inventiveness for next time. I am disappointed. For the first time in my life I am in the SL target market as it is launched anew, and I am left to cold as to tell you for sure that I will not entertain a purchase for a long while.
The only analogy I can come up with for this car is to think of it as a woman. The R230 was that beautiful, voluptuous woman with a PHD, which attracted you carnally even if you did not care about her brains. The R231 is a woman who is not ugly, but whom you properly appreciate fully only when you consider how smart she is.
NarutoRamen
Kraftwagen König
I am a bit disappointed that the interior isn't different enough from the SLK, but at least it's not exactly the same though. The headlight still looks a bit awkward, but overall the design is really good and better than I expected.
BUT...I'll have to see this in real life, but I think the current facelifted SL is better, more aggressive.
BUT...I'll have to see this in real life, but I think the current facelifted SL is better, more aggressive.
mini_cooper4
Autotechnik Ace
I really love the interior in the above photo... if only the exterior was that good!
Wunderkind
Chicane Challenger
Yes, that was the first thing that struck me when I saw the interior picture. They must try harder to center everything next time around.
Klier, I'll bite on the LCD screen placement:
It is utterly UNACCEPTABLE for M-B to put an OFF-CENTER/ASYMMETRICAL LCD Screen/Vent relationship in the interior if a $100+K car.
Hell, I don't think the lowest priced cars on the Market have off centered interior designs. You guys might overlook this as something small, but it is an important and goes-without-saying showing of "Design Capability", and M-B fumbled it. It's embarrassing to see frankly, and speaks a lot of the current Design Team we have working on these cars. Other than that, I do love the interior, it's very graceful, classic, no huge slabs of wood to try and out-do the others, just elegant and classy. On that particular front, I have faith that M-B's Design Team aren't only about boastfulness.
With the exterior, I like it, then I don't like it. I don't hate it at all, but the front end is very bad, namely due to the AWFUL headlights. Absolutely horrendously shaped, and graphic'd. The grille is just your typical "huge mouth gaping open angular Star Grill" look that M-B is playing out. I would have preferred something more elegant. The hood seems to take the usual flame surfacing of the sides, and it looks slightly BMW'ish, but it actually works and looks pretty subtle.
The sides, I like, but there's a lack of "special", of monolithic and elegant grace. On one hand, it's elegant and restrained compared to the overstyled sides of the CLS, but on the other, it's still a little immature-sporty like many generic cars nowadays. I find their to be heavy hands all over this car, but this time it's not in the lines and styling, but in the proportions. The car looks tense, not comfortable in its own skin.
Now, all that said. There are 3 types of current Benzes on the market for me: Ones I love, ones that I'm okay with, and ones I hate. This SL surely isn't one that I'll hate, aside from maybe the headlights and off-center LCD Screen which I'll never agree with, so I'll wait and see where it falls within those categories. On its own, it's a great looking car with some quirks, as an SL? I'm not feeling the magic *YET*, but there's potential. So far I might have to say that a highly Optioned 6-Series Coupe might be more enticing to me in terms of Design.
The S I feel is going to be troublesome with the detailing.
It is utterly UNACCEPTABLE for M-B to put an OFF-CENTER/ASYMMETRICAL LCD Screen/Vent relationship in the interior if a $100+K car.
Hell, I don't think the lowest priced cars on the Market have off centered interior designs. You guys might overlook this as something small, but it is an important and goes-without-saying showing of "Design Capability", and M-B fumbled it. It's embarrassing to see frankly, and speaks a lot of the current Design Team we have working on these cars. Other than that, I do love the interior, it's very graceful, classic, no huge slabs of wood to try and out-do the others, just elegant and classy. On that particular front, I have faith that M-B's Design Team aren't only about boastfulness.
With the exterior, I like it, then I don't like it. I don't hate it at all, but the front end is very bad, namely due to the AWFUL headlights. Absolutely horrendously shaped, and graphic'd. The grille is just your typical "huge mouth gaping open angular Star Grill" look that M-B is playing out. I would have preferred something more elegant. The hood seems to take the usual flame surfacing of the sides, and it looks slightly BMW'ish, but it actually works and looks pretty subtle.
The sides, I like, but there's a lack of "special", of monolithic and elegant grace. On one hand, it's elegant and restrained compared to the overstyled sides of the CLS, but on the other, it's still a little immature-sporty like many generic cars nowadays. I find their to be heavy hands all over this car, but this time it's not in the lines and styling, but in the proportions. The car looks tense, not comfortable in its own skin.
Now, all that said. There are 3 types of current Benzes on the market for me: Ones I love, ones that I'm okay with, and ones I hate. This SL surely isn't one that I'll hate, aside from maybe the headlights and off-center LCD Screen which I'll never agree with, so I'll wait and see where it falls within those categories. On its own, it's a great looking car with some quirks, as an SL? I'm not feeling the magic *YET*, but there's potential. So far I might have to say that a highly Optioned 6-Series Coupe might be more enticing to me in terms of Design.
The S I feel is going to be troublesome with the detailing.
I really have no questions about the Designers of M-B's talents, as they've designed some of my favorite current cars, and they clearly know how to draw and surface, IMO their skill is the best in the car business. What I question is Direction, there seems to be none of it. It seems like M-B has the "Youngest" Design Team in the business, and by that I mean the least seasoned, most ambitious, least experienced, which is something for the worlds oldest car brand. They have the skill, but they need some "old blood" to get them on the right path IMO. Sacco is probably pretty "old" now, and been out of the business for a while, but I really feel like they can benefit from bringing him in as a consultant of sorts on some projects. From my "hunch" the current team might be a little infatuated with their ambitions and might reject that, however.
The SLS is the most cohesive design M-B has done in the past several years, and ironically it's the one that the current Design Team has a quiet disdain for, because it was the ex Head Designer's passion project? That should tell us all we need to know about the level of leadership going on within the current Design Team.
The SLS is the most cohesive design M-B has done in the past several years, and ironically it's the one that the current Design Team has a quiet disdain for, because it was the ex Head Designer's passion project? That should tell us all we need to know about the level of leadership going on within the current Design Team.
Wolfgang
Kraftwagen König
Hartmut Sinkwitz, director interior design competence center, is likely resonsible for the asymmetry? 
Good designs should always include an element of the unfamiliar; an MB quote in the press earlier this year.
Not sure if MB interior designers think this might apply here...
Good designs should always include an element of the unfamiliar; an MB quote in the press earlier this year.
Not sure if MB interior designers think this might apply here...
Unfamiliar is innovation and revolutionary if implemented right. Off Centering a screen in a fashion that looks like they don't want you to even notice, but didn't have the capability of figuring out how to harmoniously center it, is just very poor design to me. I wish we could hear their explanation on why the off-center.
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