JDM

......I completely agree with that. Whatever happened to leaving something good alone for 10 or 15 years? ? Maybe it's because society has become so relentlessly consuming, out with the new, hurry up with the next..of course it's not new. American car companies have changed models from year to year for decades. The new body GM truck get new grills, and headlights every six months. Never for the better, just for the different. Sucks. Everything is so disposable, regardless of cost.

Outland

With MB, and BMW its true that they had to evolve because the japanese brand engineering luxo cars were doing little but copying them. If you don't agree, I suggest you check out the Lexus LS, or the original Q45. Continuing proof is the Scion TC, which sports more than just a little BMW dna.

However, now that the clones are more established, some of them, namely infinity, are developing there own style, own DNA. Lexus keeps telling us they will, but those cars aren't here yet. Acura, oddly enough, seems to be de-evolving- its cars simply look more and more like the domestic appliances that spawned them.

So, although in the past they needed to re-invent themselves, I do not think that's the case now. MB's current design language certainly has a lot of life left in it. What's coming up, IMHO, its ****. And its **** because there new head designer is just looking to put his stamp on MB styling...not because there is a real demand for change. I would love to see second generation cars based on the current language. The current Coupe owes much of its look to the SL. I'd like to see a version that caries that even further, more slope to the nose, and more sculpting to the sides like the SLR carries. Similarly, the CLS shapes could be merged with the current W203 Sedan shape...and we'd be thilled. I can't say I was always a fan of the sedan shape, but with the latest changes, and with some nice rims, I think its evolved into the best looking small luxo/sporty sedan out there. The new 3 is just plain dull. The ES is still dull, and the G35 sedan's look already has wear holes in the material. New A4 is just the old shape with a guppy mouth.

Do you actually live in the US? Most American models have a much longer shelf life than comparable imports. Sure, there's constant fiddling with minor styling touches- but much of that, particularly GM, comes from not having enough development money(too many versions of the same car) to do anything more than a design a mildly different nose. Even with that, the car's don't change radically.

GM trucks have looked the same for well over a decade. Its hard to tell the truly new platforms when they arrive. Only Ford makes a break at each generation. Dodge just 'supersized' its language- and played brilliantly to its market.

FrankW

revolution is inevitable...MB made a revolution jump from w124 to w210, w202 to w203, bulky S to current S class, and it was well over 10 years ago. it's time they do something different.

Outland

The current S is only about 5 years old.

The design language they have now was more or less introduced on the CL/S. The oval lights on the E were the only thing that predated the current styling. Its too early to shift gears.

This build should have been evolution, not revolution. The new CLS and SLK were likely cooked under the old head stylist, and only minor changes could have been made by the new regime. I'm not looking forward to the new rides. It seems all the European makes just want to **** all over their designs lately. BMW is doing the Kia meets Pontiac thing, Audi is sticking the uggly fireplace grille on its cars, and now Benz has gone to the crapper. Even VW has taken an ugly turn. New Jetta is just stupid looking. Looks like a sentra with a chrome sports bra.

One german company however, is getting it right. Opel. New cars look great! We don't get them here...yet. All the new Saturns are basically Opels with mild changes. Can't wait. Perhaps a new Sky or an Aura to replace my Benzo.

clkcadet

is that convertible the clk???

Guest0001

I think revolution is a good move. You gotta change the design to make it stand out. Other manufacturers have copied the current MB theme for too long. It dilutes the styling.

gaiex

In europe the C32 AMG ended production, only C30 CDI AMG still on production but for short time

Outland

Like who? Its only been 5 or six years. MB moved to the current language to GET AWAY from Lexus, which was clearly mining the MB look.

Incendiary

I gotta agree with Outland. Revolution is a generation too early. BMW does evolution, revolution, evolution, revolution for major facelifts. Or at least, they used to. I prefer evolution, evolution, evolution, or at least when the design and styling has been good, as it has for this current generation for MB. Evolution would have been welcome for the next generation, at least in my book.

MBFanatic4Life

Here's the link:
http://www.germancarzone.com/showthr...3&page=9&pp=10

Scroll on down through the page where you'll see minimal disguise on a set of pics and then some new pics by Scoochythatone(famous for MB spy photos) where you'll see a glimpse of the interior. Now my opinion: The new minimally disguised photos scare because they seem very close to the photoshops done by Huckfeldt of Autobild, which are bland and simply boring. I just can't believe that MB would also this to take place because he obviously has inside info that lead him to these. It's just NUTS!!! Conclusion: the new C looks like one to dissapoint!

mick1

thanks for the link. I am disappointed with the new design too. However, at least it doesn't appear as controversial looking as the new S-class.

MB2006

no way it will look like this in real life, they can do beter then that.

white_w203

it reminds me of a cadillac CTS for some reason.....maybe just the front.

Abspara

Glad i got a 2006. Perhaps by the time i go to trade in this, they will have advanced past that design.

Evil Duffman

I like the front but the back is disgusting

Roupin

+1

Outland

Ewww. Yuck. Nasty.


Bout the only nice features are the wide prominent grille, and the sporty looking air dam under the nose...the rest is ****. Overall, it looks like a conservative (even more so) Acura RL....with a full diaper rear end. Farkin MB...had to ruin it. I really hope this is just another bad Photoshop.

FrankW

that's a big grille

benzmodz

Those cars in the photos are not the W204. They are test muels for the W204 in W203 setups. The trunk lid is all wrong.

SuperQ

Looks just like my sister's Acura TL

Kenzmbz

You dont like the new S class mick? I love it.

mick1

The taillights and the 7-series style trunk bother me. they look odd and I can't get used to looking at them.

I saw the pics of the 2009 bmw 7-series at autobild.de and even BMW won't design a trunk like that anymore. I guess, they found out people don't like it so much

nRo

damn, **** you MB

livestrongONe

Thats why my next move is going to be the Cls500 amg package .

SwedeMercedes

Strong frontal appearance with an agressive stance. I think it'll be a little different in the back though. Overall it should be a winner and great seller. We'll see in about 1.75 years.