Outland

I couldn't agree more. This guy is big on cardigans, he likes luxury yachts, and is not schooled as an automotive designer, if I recall correctly. I get the impression that the R, new ML, CLS and the new SLK started life under Bruno, and this guy came in and wanted to put his "stamp" on the design. But they were too far along for major changes. Which explains why the R lost its curves, the ML has the really ugly rear wheel blisters, and the CLS doesn't wear the oval lights it had during development. I actually like the lights on the CLS, but I think I might like it more with the ovals.

Everything that I haven't been too fond of lately has this guys mark all over it. I think this ocean drive thing is going to happen. Benz has been looking to bring back four door convertibles for awhile. I'm not against it, just want the results to look better!!!

rnds

I fully understand what you are saying ..and I agree with your points entirely. This is not the type of design I expect Bruno Sacco would ever have conceived. I guess Mercedes are trying to appeal to the current taste for ostentatiousness -- we are currently living in a very style-obsessed era. It would seem Mercedes' new head of design, Peter Pfeiffer, feels Sacco's clean and pure designs are simply not enough to compete in the current taste-climate. The truth is, even Sacco's last designs were more directly emotionally provocative than the formal, cool, and aloof character of the old Mercedes design ethos evident in his earlier work -- an ethos that sought emotional responses from an informed appreciation of advanced engineering and restrained design principles.

Personally, I don't hate the look of this car so much ...I just don't think it looks much like a Mercedes-Benz at all. There has been a big Americanization of the Mercedes design over the past few years I believe -- this is sad because I really like the old German approach to design following the traditional Teutonic Modernist principles of form and function. This is a Retro design in a similar way to the way Bentley designers are conceiving the new Bentleys.

I posted some examples in a discussion about this concept car HERE

14cue

i highly disagree. i think the new S is very slick. to each their own but i tad harsh?

advans

hahaha you are so f-ing right.

Moviela

I agree with Outland, the new convertible is not a thing of beauty. Where is the Ramond Loewy of today?

http://www.raymondloewy.com/about/bio.html

He massaged a multitude of industrial objects into art, The coke bottle and the Avanti mentioned earlier amoung them.

What really chaps my hide is what production cars look like compared to the fabulous concept cars shown at the auto shows.

ctC230K

lol advans i <3 topgear!

eddietr

Yep, to each his own I suppose. I loved the new S the first time I saw it in person.

And I know people like to criticize BMW styling also, but I really like the e90. I'm not as big a fan of the e60 or e65/66 though.

And with Mercedes, I'm a HUGE fan of the W203, I think it's the best looking car they make. But I also like the rest of the lineup, especially the SL. The only car that seriously underwhelmed me when I saw it in person was the new CL. It's not bad, but I'm having a hard time getting past the taillights. It doesn't help that the first time I saw it was from the rear at a distance and I actually thought it was an Acura. They say first impresions are everything.

ctC230K

come on tell me u dont love this

i would buy one in a second if i had 200g

pmb600

I think everyone needs to realize this is just a "design study" as Mercedes calls it. It is a concept vehicle that is meant to be outrageous. Anyone remember the F200 vehicle in 1996? That car certainly didn't make it into production but lots of the technology that they tested did. It had Linguatronic (voice recognition), electrotransparent roof (Maybach roof), crazy doors (SLR), Active Body Control, and intelligent lights. This is just a way for Mercedes to throw around new ideas. The Ocean Drive is 2006 equivalent to the F200.

F200 (1996):

Tangerine

With the car's styling avaliable its hard to say what is original since most companies are copying other's styles. Take a look at the front end of a Mazda 3 and then look at the front end of the 07 Camry. Although the looks are similar but are the technology/engine/interior/quality the same? From a car company's perspective, if I see a car that have been selling well due to its exterior I would take that design and maybe change it up a little bit. Generally, the Asian makes are more cost efficient but then why isn't everyone driving them?

Outland

I agree. Its like the accountants and suits show up and **** on the design. Couple of recent examples... Pontiac's G6 was a great concept car- production car looks like a tarted up Accord. Saturn's AURA Concept car, which supposedly was a thinly disguised production car, was vastly different in production- not a bad design at all, but not the stunner the show car was. One of the heads of I believe it was Toyota said that the only good cars that detroit builds nowdays are concept cars. Right on the money, I'd say.

Outland

A Mazda 3 and a Camry are an apples to oranges comparison. What about say, a Mazda 3 to a Corolla? Or a Mazda 6, to the Camry? I'd say the Toyota is going to last longer, but I'd still buy the Mazda in either example...the 6 is far more fun than any camry, and the 3 is genuinely a great little car. The corolla is one of the dullest cars Ive ever driven.

They do that now. When one model becomes a hit, they redesign the clunkers in the lineup to look more like the winner.

Look around, just about everyone is driving them. Toyota outsold Ford last month.

advans

haha on the streets, theres a million camrys, corollas. like you said, I ALSO would buy a mazda 6 over a camry or a accord. (my gf has one and i hate it)

ctC230K

guys, i just had a real eye opener after seeing one of these on the street.





does anyone else notice a resemblance?

mkaresh

I also strongly prefer the cleaner, less trendy outgoing designs, but based on what I read we're in the minority. Most people seem to love the look of the new S.

eddietr

And it may be attracting new buyers also. My wife and I have never bought a Mercedes, for instance. (We got the 190 for free.)

In our decision between the A8, 750Li, and S550, the styling was a factor in favor of the Mercedes. Not the only factor, but it's the reason we went into the dealership to even talk in the first place. It was about the 5th time or so that we saw one on the beltway and we both said "wow, that is a great looking car."

Then the back to back test drives of the 750 and S550 sealed it, of course.

Outland

I used to own an Accord. It still stands as the most unreliable car Ive ever owned. My MB has been a saint by its standards. Not even my 1970 OPEL GT could top it, a car that I used to work on for 3 days, and drive for 4. So, it wasn't just dull, it was a nightmare from a reliability standpoint.

Outland

Certainly, most buyers love the look. The new S attracted just as much negative press about its styling. Its a polarizing design, its just not my cup of tea. When your spending that kind of cash, I would want a car that's more elegant, more classy...instead of "Hey Honda boy, look at my big wheel flares!"

METC240

I have not laughed so hard in a while...

Outland

New Top Gear in only 28 days!!!

BlackLiquorish8

thres one of those black convertibles in my town in really good shape