Most revealing (real) spy-pics of the W212 2014 facelift yet....
#27
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2013 E350 P1, Sport, Rear Spoiler
This is way OT, but the direct competitor to BMW 3-ser in MB's line up was and still is a C-class. E-coupe (just like CLK it replaced) is an "inbetween" car (a "baby" CL). I do not see why (the greatly overpriced) 6-ser cpe/conv is not an E-coupe/conv competitor (E550 cpe/con with options is $70-80K car). It (6-ser) is certainly nowhere close to CL.
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2013 E350 P1, Sport, Rear Spoiler
These pics don't show the Ponton is "gone". The doors are covered with padded smooth panels which means one of three things:
1. The Ponton is still there
2. The Ponton is not there
3. A combination of 1 and 2 (tweaked Ponton vs. gone all together)
Only time will tell as there are no pictures of a 2014 E-class without rear door cladding. One thing is for sure. If that character line does change, only the outter rear door skin on 4-doors/wagons needs to be updated. Add to that the split in the front headlights is done with the bumper and this "update" would be nothing more than:
Front/Rear bumper covers
Front grille restyle
Front/Rear light restyle
Rear door skin restyle
That's a mid-cycle refresh. Front/rear fenders, hood, trunk all stay the same. Think 2013 GLK refresh. Same hood, fenders, rear quarters. Just new lights, bumper covers, and grille.
1. The Ponton is still there
2. The Ponton is not there
3. A combination of 1 and 2 (tweaked Ponton vs. gone all together)
Only time will tell as there are no pictures of a 2014 E-class without rear door cladding. One thing is for sure. If that character line does change, only the outter rear door skin on 4-doors/wagons needs to be updated. Add to that the split in the front headlights is done with the bumper and this "update" would be nothing more than:
Front/Rear bumper covers
Front grille restyle
Front/Rear light restyle
Rear door skin restyle
That's a mid-cycle refresh. Front/rear fenders, hood, trunk all stay the same. Think 2013 GLK refresh. Same hood, fenders, rear quarters. Just new lights, bumper covers, and grille.
Last edited by jmatero; 08-06-2012 at 01:50 PM.
#29
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These pics don't show the Ponton is "gone". The doors are covered with padded smooth panels which means one of three things:
1. The Ponton is still there
2. The Ponton is not there
3. A combination of 1 and 2 (tweaked Ponton vs. gone all together)
Only time will tell as there are no pictures of a 2014 E-class without rear door cladding. One thing is for sure. If that character line does change, only the outter rear door skin on 4-doors/wagons needs to be updated. Add to that the split in the front headlights is done with the bumper and this "update" would be nothing more than:
Front/Rear bumper covers
Front grille restyle
Front/Rear light restyle
Rear door skin restyle
That's a mid-cycle refresh. Front/rear fenders, hood, trunk all stay the same. Think 2013 GLK refresh. Same hood, fenders, rear quarters. Just new lights, bumper covers, and grille.
1. The Ponton is still there
2. The Ponton is not there
3. A combination of 1 and 2 (tweaked Ponton vs. gone all together)
Only time will tell as there are no pictures of a 2014 E-class without rear door cladding. One thing is for sure. If that character line does change, only the outter rear door skin on 4-doors/wagons needs to be updated. Add to that the split in the front headlights is done with the bumper and this "update" would be nothing more than:
Front/Rear bumper covers
Front grille restyle
Front/Rear light restyle
Rear door skin restyle
That's a mid-cycle refresh. Front/rear fenders, hood, trunk all stay the same. Think 2013 GLK refresh. Same hood, fenders, rear quarters. Just new lights, bumper covers, and grille.
Last edited by RobbieRob; 08-06-2012 at 02:20 PM.
#30
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2012 CLS63
I think I like these wheels....
#31
Sleek is in the eye of the beholder.
I can't speak for KA but the Ponton fender treatment on the current E has its advantages/disadvantages from a styling standpoint.
On the plus side, so many designers today are opting for slab-sided or excessive creases, so it's nice to see something "different". Love it or hate it, the Ponton rear on the E is unique. It also draws its inspiration from the old Ponton series of MB's though, to be frank, it's not something most MB fans would "get" without being told of the connection.
On the downside (and by that I mean "To ME") the Ponton vertical line breaks up the horizontal flow and interrupts the wedge of the car (in profile view mainly) and creates the illusion the rear wheel is tiny, even with 18" AMG which are by no means small. I can look like a hippopotamus on tiptoes at certain angles. If the crease were to continue into the door vs. dropping down, the rear 3/4 would look more planted to my eye.
HOWEVER, the E would definitely lose some personality.
The 5-series horizontal lines that run uninterrupted front to rear make the car (in profile view) appear low, short, long, and hunkered to the ground. It also emphasizes the wheel openings as they are the only vertical element and even the standard 17" wheels (while boring) appear huge.
So "sleek" to me means "flowing". It also means the car looks as though it's moving even when parked. The E-class is sleek from the nose to the Ponton to me... then it stops. And I think that's why so many find the tail lights so "boring". They're looking for SOMETHING in the rear 3/4 to elicit the same emotion they feel when looking at the front 3/4. Just my 2-cents.
I can't speak for KA but the Ponton fender treatment on the current E has its advantages/disadvantages from a styling standpoint.
On the plus side, so many designers today are opting for slab-sided or excessive creases, so it's nice to see something "different". Love it or hate it, the Ponton rear on the E is unique. It also draws its inspiration from the old Ponton series of MB's though, to be frank, it's not something most MB fans would "get" without being told of the connection.
On the downside (and by that I mean "To ME") the Ponton vertical line breaks up the horizontal flow and interrupts the wedge of the car (in profile view mainly) and creates the illusion the rear wheel is tiny, even with 18" AMG which are by no means small. I can look like a hippopotamus on tiptoes at certain angles. If the crease were to continue into the door vs. dropping down, the rear 3/4 would look more planted to my eye.
HOWEVER, the E would definitely lose some personality.
The 5-series horizontal lines that run uninterrupted front to rear make the car (in profile view) appear low, short, long, and hunkered to the ground. It also emphasizes the wheel openings as they are the only vertical element and even the standard 17" wheels (while boring) appear huge.
So "sleek" to me means "flowing". It also means the car looks as though it's moving even when parked. The E-class is sleek from the nose to the Ponton to me... then it stops. And I think that's why so many find the tail lights so "boring". They're looking for SOMETHING in the rear 3/4 to elicit the same emotion they feel when looking at the front 3/4. Just my 2-cents.
To my eyes the 5 series and the 3 series share the same profile.
You'll have to excuse me...I'm a E coupe fanboy. Gotta love what you own or you shouldn't have purchased it in the first place!
Last edited by steelgrey; 08-06-2012 at 04:26 PM.
#33
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
This is way OT, but the direct competitor to BMW 3-ser in MB's line up was and still is a C-class. E-coupe (just like CLK it replaced) is an "inbetween" car (a "baby" CL). I do not see why (the greatly overpriced) 6-ser cpe/conv is not an E-coupe/conv competitor (E550 cpe/con with options is $70-80K car). It (6-ser) is certainly nowhere close to CL.
Agreed. Not to mention, the R231 has maybe the most extensive radical change of "bones" of any modern Merc from the one it replaces. It sits on an all aluminum chassis, built new from the ground up, and apparently it's nothing short of possibly the most advanced and high quality constructed chassis ever on a car. Too bad it's on an exterior that I'm not sure is worthy of the SL name just yet....
#34
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
In my opinion the pluses of the ponton fenders outway the disadvantages. The pontoon line sweeps over the wheel well and then to the bottom of the car where it goes forward and down. Their is also a line that runs from the ponton crease to the front wheel well crease to me, optically it moves the eye to the front of the car and enhances the elongated hood. On the coupe with the uninterrupted roofline and windshield rake the overall look is sleek and very aerodynamic.
To my eyes the 5 series and the 3 series share the same profile.
You'll have to excuse me...I'm a E coupe fanboy. Gotta love what you own or you shouldn't have purchased it in the first place!
To my eyes the 5 series and the 3 series share the same profile.
You'll have to excuse me...I'm a E coupe fanboy. Gotta love what you own or you shouldn't have purchased it in the first place!
The problem with BMW's is that indeed they all look the same. The 4-Door cars have each rendered each other fully homogenous and nondescript, yet at the same time, confidently non-superfluous (opposite of modern M-B's). I guess it depends on which is more important to you, in terms of which ideal you'd rather follow.
The 6 Coupe being so overpriced IMO has a lot to do with how it shares the same styling as every other BMW, however the large 2-Door nature, and stretched out ultra-sleek look make it by far the best and most "standout" of their homogenous lineup.
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2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
I think that, regardless of the ponton staying or going, this is going to be a nice looking car. Period. I really like the Ponton look that mine has. I will certainly like the non-ponton look my next one will have. To my eye, MB does a very nice job of keeping the "family resemblance" with disinctive designs across the model lines. To my eye, BMW offers essentially the same looking vehicle in small, medium , and large. The new 6 four door coupe looks very nice in person. Perhaps my favorite BMW sedan at this time.
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... Not to mention, the R231 has maybe the most extensive radical change of "bones" of any modern Merc from the one it replaces. It sits on an all aluminum chassis, built new from the ground up, and apparently it's nothing short of possibly the most advanced and high quality constructed chassis ever on a car. Too bad it's on an exterior that I'm not sure is worthy of the SL name just yet....
#38
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Nothing wrong with that. If the E Coupe was just larger, I would have bought one, exactly styled as it is and all, Ponton and everything. I don't think it's as necessary on the Coupe as it is on the Sedan, since the Coupe's profile is so much more interesting and dramatic than a 3 Box Sedan's is to begin with (needs less extra dressup), but it's still a Ponton, i.e it still has its great merits, which usually do indeed outweigh the negatives when incorporated right.
Well to me one look inside both reveals that they are not. IMO the luxurious (for the money) E-coupe's interior trumps (functional, but) cheap looking (comparable to and on par with pre 2012 C-class') one in BMW 3-ser. Top that with pilarless design, standard Pano(which of course C-coupe has now too), the enique exterior (the car really does look like nothing else on the road, while BMWs are "all alike"), add price of admission and there's no comparison. Regardless of E-coupe's exterior dimentions and its originating platform, the 3-ser competitor in MB's line up is C-class. Why else would MB create a C63 coupe to go head to head against M3 coupe, and not E63 coupe?.
#39
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How cool would a coupe on the E sedan chassis be? Just beeing a little bigger, to go up against the BMW 6(similar to the 5 series 6 series chassis). I would think about that car, obviously if the styling was nice. Maybe since they came out with the new C coupe, a new larger E coupe could be in the future.
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
IMHO, the new SL (R231) has a presence on the road second to no other mass produced (non-exotic) car. When I first saw it in the showroom (in my favorite iridium silver), I said to myself "nice, but my R230 looks better inside and out" even though I knew that R231 is a much better car. Since then, I changed my mind once I saw it (it was brown or charcoal(ish)) on a highway in heavy traffic - the whole car just flows, and that in the "wrong" for me color.
How cool would a coupe on the E sedan chassis be? Just beeing a little bigger, to go up against the BMW 6(similar to the 5 series 6 series chassis). I would think about that car, obviously if the styling was nice. Maybe since they came out with the new C coupe, a new larger E coupe could be in the future.
A 6-Series competitor from M-B is all I ask for. They have 2 cars that are similarly sized to the 3, and one gigantic one, then a 4-Door they pass off as a "Coupe" that has too terrible of headroom for me. All I ask is for the middle ground between all those extremes.
I love the E, but I'm starting to get tired of having a 4-Door. I was all about it and indulged so heavily into it these past several years, I'm finally starting to feel how unnecessary the 2 Doors behind me really are.
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2012 C250 Sport
How cool would a coupe on the E sedan chassis be? Just beeing a little bigger, to go up against the BMW 6(similar to the 5 series 6 series chassis). I would think about that car, obviously if the styling was nice. Maybe since they came out with the new C coupe, a new larger E coupe could be in the future.
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MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
It is a very extensive facelift, both inside and out.
Elegance gets the same grille as today. AMG sport will have the star in grille. Front end goes softnose.
Last edited by YYZ-E55; 08-07-2012 at 09:48 PM.
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Note the different mules. The ones with no side cladding are the pre-facelift panels. The ones with cladding have a modified rear door panel that drags the character line from the rear quarter panel (mostly unchanged) forward and down into the passenger door, where it fades out. You'll see it soon enough I'm sure.
It is a very extensive facelift, both inside and out.
Elegance gets the same grille as today. AMG sport will have the star in grille. Front end goes softnose.
It is a very extensive facelift, both inside and out.
Elegance gets the same grille as today. AMG sport will have the star in grille. Front end goes softnose.
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Finally, interior pics. Awesome interior upgrade. Looks like a CLS interior mashed with the E interior now. More metal-y, nice clock, more mature and serious. I do like the E's original hooded gauges over those CLS gauges though.... maybe.
The screen looks like a sideways iPhone to me. Purposefully I'll bet.
The screen looks like a sideways iPhone to me. Purposefully I'll bet.
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2011 E550 4Matic
I like the clock between the vents, reminds me of the S. and i love the inward facing buttons on the dash as opposed to the black plastic ones we have now
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2012 CLS63
well damn, that makes the clock in my cls not so special, LOL.....
but yes, a big improvment if that sticks.......wonder what they'll replace the one in the dash with
but yes, a big improvment if that sticks.......wonder what they'll replace the one in the dash with
#49
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Please MB.... please give us a clean and classy instrument cluster like the BMWs have.