SLK/SLC [Official] Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

[bum-man]

I'm guessing the SLS is a wider car when compared to the new SLK so that makes packaging of the duct work and GPS a bit more difficult (in the SLK). You can slide the vents over but then maybe the steering wheel gets in the way of the air flow. You can make them closer together but then maybe GPS and radio guts obstruct the ducting. I don't find it completely bothersome because once in the drivers seat it will probably look much centered.

 

[Ultimate Car Guy]

I agree with K-A. This misalignment is just not right. Customers who pay a lot of for this car are perfectly entitled to expect a certain level of quality in the design of the interior.

A customer may notice it immediately, but when they do, they are obviously gonna be disspointed. And that's not good thing.

Some of you may argue that a customer will get used to it, and it will grow on them. But the problem with that argument is that the car is a Mercedes Benz and they've paid a lot of money for it - they shouldn't have to get used to any design faults cos they faults shouldn't even be there in the first place.

 

[montana]

Maybe there's a reason why it's off-centered?
I'm thinking; MB has worked on this car for years, they wouldn't just go do something like that without a reason. Whether or not that reason makes sense, is another story though, lol. But it seems a bit weird...

 

[LaArtist]

And how come ergonomics wasn't an issue in SLS where it is perfectly centered?

Is the SLK built on the SLS platform?

 

[Vivaki]

I'm guessing the SLS is a wider car when compared to the new SLK so that makes packaging of the duct work and GPS a bit more difficult (in the SLK). You can slide the vents over but then maybe the steering wheel gets in the way of the air flow. You can make them closer together but then maybe GPS and radio guts obstruct the ducting. I don't find it completely bothersome because once in the drivers seat it will probably look much centered.

Spot on, if you had asked the SLK interior designer he would have said the exact same thing

 

[klier]

And how come ergonomics wasn't an issue in SLS where it is perfectly centered?

It's been said, but because the SLS is much wider.

The off center screen doesn't bother me, and everyone who sits behind the steering wheel of the new SLK will understand why the screen is a little to the right (if one will even notice). It's for ergonomics and visibility of the screen. They simply didn't think of the fact that SLK is much smaller than SLS and thus an exact copy and paste of the interior was not possible. They would have if they could have.

Besides guys, the interior is the good part of this car, as it overall looks pretty gorgeous with the LED strips and stuff.
The exterior however, that's where it gets nasty!! Like....damn!!

 

[K-A]

It seems like they just couldn't properly design it around the dimensions forced onto them by the excessive parts bin sharing. There are thousands of little cars who's interiors are perfectly ergonomic and centered. If I had an SLK that screen would bother me immensely and constantly.

 

[bmwownage]

A good way to sell around the issue is that you get a SLS design/interior for a fraction of the price, so who cares about misalignment.

but why mimic (copy) the SLS interior in the first place.

 

[warot]

Can anyone confirm that this is a completely different dash (ie part numbers) between the SLK and SLS? I can only assume that they are "completely" different because they wouldn't mount in the same position.

If that's the case, why wouldn't you just design it to be centered if it's going to be a different part anyway? Does that make sense?

 

[bum-man]

I'm surprised by this question Warot. You're an engineer, the SLK dash isn't centered but the SLS is. Of course they are not the same...dimensionally. It's a clear case of designers/engineers doing their best to work in the SLS interior into a smaller package.

 

[Monster]

I am guessing they used the air con vents from the SLS, which are too big for the dash of the SLK, the engineers can't move the vents further left because that will clash with the main instruments, they cant move the vents or the screen one above another because that will ruin the design, so the best compromise is to off set the screen so they can fit everything on the dash.

 

[Wolfgang]

Maybe the centerline of the right vent is supposed to line up with the slot of the glove compartment?

mercedes-benz-passion.com

 

[Tarek]

^We can always count on u to save the day.

 

[Sunny]

Is the SLK built on the SLS platform?

And what the heck does the ergonomics have to do with the platform?

I am sure there was an engineering reason and not just quality control issue. But they should have engineered/designed it better to get around what ever forced them to do so in the first place.

 

[Wolfgang]

Magic Sky Control in action.

 

[Tarek]

U may not like the looks but certainly the most innovative in segment..love that car.

 

[LaArtist]

And what the heck does the ergonomics have to do with the platform?

I am sure there was an engineering reason and not just quality control issue. But they should have engineered/designed it better to get around what ever forced them to do so in the first place.

Well don't compare it to the SLS then..it has a whole different cabin size..
air flow, seating position..everything..

And finally someone agrees there is an engineering reason..

Now could they have given it a whole new interior which wouldn't have to face these challenges? of course..
Would i like that more? Yes very much more..

 

[DexterMorgan]

I'm finding it hard to digest why Mercedes-Benz, the inventor of the automobile nonetheless, would plagiarize interior and exterior styling clues of their flagship car to the rest of the line-up. The SLS is a great car but it's not the prettiest girl in school. Neither is the SLS interior anything to write home about. Sure, the quality is great but I'd like to see MB put their engineering and design prowess to good use by giving us something original instead of more of the same old.

I'm not as much concerned about the mis-aligned COMAND screen (which is an entirely different rant) but more so the lite-SLS interior--the steering wheel, the IP, the a/c vents, center console, upper dash, lower dash...the entire damn thing is a rip-off off the SLS. If I were an SLS owner, I'd be mighty pissed right about now.

And to end my rant I'd like to point out that MB may just put a version of this interior in the upcoming SL. If they do, then the only novelty item left on the SLS will be the gullwing doors. Besides the doors, there will not remain a reason why anyone would pick an SLS up instead of the SL63/65.

 

[bmwownage]

I'm finding it hard to digest why Mercedes-Benz, the inventor of the automobile nonetheless, would plagiarize interior and exterior styling clues of their flagship car to the rest of the line-up.

But it looks like the plagiarism will be for all models in the future, the front end of this and the CLS isn't all that different, and I remember the recent concept (i can't even remember the name, F something..) gets the exact same grille with some futuristic headlights. I surely hope this type of grille doesn't spread to sedan models.. if it does, this is going to be even more boring than Audi.

And this looks like a toy.

 

[K-A]

A good way to sell around the issue is that you get a SLS design/interior for a fraction of the price, so who cares about misalignment.

but why mimic (copy) the SLS interior in the first place.

Or, you're getting an SLS for an exuberant amount more than the SLK which its interior came from.

I'm finding it hard to digest why Mercedes-Benz, the inventor of the automobile nonetheless, would plagiarize interior and exterior styling clues of their flagship car to the rest of the line-up. The SLS is a great car but it's not the prettiest girl in school. Neither is the SLS interior anything to write home about. Sure, the quality is great but I'd like to see MB put their engineering and design prowess to good use by giving us something original instead of more of the same old.

I'm not as much concerned about the mis-aligned COMAND screen (which is an entirely different rant) but more so the lite-SLS interior--the steering wheel, the IP, the a/c vents, center console, upper dash, lower dash...the entire damn thing is a rip-off off the SLS. If I were an SLS owner, I'd be mighty pissed right about now.

And to end my rant I'd like to point out that MB may just put a version of this interior in the upcoming SL. If they do, then the only novelty item left on the SLS will be the gullwing doors. Besides the doors, there will not remain a reason why anyone would pick an SLS up instead of the SL63/65.

I agree. I'm sticking to my theory that the SLS is a "sacrifice car" (for lack of a better term). Something to raise brand cache and awareness, and give them a super-sports-car to gloat about (they already have the S-Class for Sedans, and that hasn't gone anywhere).

With that car, which, although brilliant in most all ways, it can almost be seen as a marketing tool for the brand. You build its interior to the cost code of Benzes that cost well under $100K, so you make enormous profits on it, and you are able to market/fool people into thinking that they're getting an "SLS interior for a much cheaper price", when it's really the other way around.

As they say, perception is everything.