K-A

Someone posted this on another Website. Not sure how they got the leaks so early.

I don't really dig it, and IMO it'll not only decrease resale of the pre-facelift W212 since so much has been changed, but the front looks like an entirely different car. Poor timeless-foresight by M-B designers, IMO. I think the sides and rear look possibly more lacking in character which means most of the attention is put toward the fad-ish headlights which are very distracting and clearly meant to attract those who want an "ooh/ahh" quick pop effect, yet don't appreciate entire design harmony (the round front doesn't flow with the previous design idiom of very straight and angular lines).

Interior is a clear nice evolution and improvement, and the Sports/Star grille looks HIDEOUS. Looks soft, cheeky, toy-ish like a C-Class or A Class would or should.

alsyli

And a car that was stylistically confused car initially becomes even more incoherent. Ah, well. Perhaps the next-gen models will be better in terms of design. Or, given how awful the detailing of the SL is, maybe not. ::shrug:: Can MB fire Gordon Wagener and woo Peter Schreyer from Kia?

At least the interiors of the latest models seem good.... Well, w/ the exception of the re-located and re-designed turn-signal stalk, which feels like a piece of crap (in 2013 the C-classes).

I'm assuming these are European-spec pics? Here's hoping that the stitched dashboard makes it in some way to the US (that doesn't look to be a Designo interior or the Exclusiv package).

K-A

I agree that Wagener needs to go, or at least have a captain to direct him. M-B's designs are becoming too confused and incoherent, too trendy/fad-ish which means they'll age terribly. Too many gimmicks, too much reliance on ornamenting, not enough emphasis on design purity and coherence. The downward swag lines on wedge shaped cars, the multi-nonsensical line-formations like on the A-Class, etc.

The best looking cars that have been recently revealed IMO are the new Porsche Cayman and new 4-Series BMW. Both have unquestionably gorgeous and effortlessly purely simple, yet cunning and striking side profiles that new M-B's with all their overwrought efforts aren't seeming to match.

BM2BZ

i like where the clock sits and the headrests look pretty comfy.

alanme123

After seeing all these pictures of the facelift, I don't know if I'm biased but I still like my 2012 better. Maybe I need to see it in person... but the front looks to me much more slanted than the current design. This makes it seem not agressive enough. Also, theres something that just doesnt match in there. Like you guys said it's confusing and I cannot tell what is wrong. Maybe the new grill? Or maybe too much curves on the car?

That being said, when are we going to get a bigger command screen like the bmw 5 series?! I have to admit that I like their screen so much better just because its bigger.

220S

I'm happy to see that you've come to your senses.

Tjdehya

Well at least the interior looks nice.
Check out the new tweeter...
Looks like it gets a downgrade on the gear shifter and an upgrade on the cruise control stalk.
Is that stitched dash coming to the US?

K-A

Damn you.

I guess it was inevitable.

K-A

Yeah, the interior is unquestionably better. I wish they applied the same formula to the exterior (evolutionary refinement tweaks rather than mashup up the original design with all new very organic-rounded elements).

That is definitely gonna be a EU spec, or at least high equipped spec in the U.S, though. Doubt the stitched leather will make it to production here, unless you pay up for it (still better than nothing). Also, I dunno if we'll see the aluminum

Yeah, I hate the ML-style new gear-lever stalk. Much cheaper looking and feeling than the W221 style that the current W212 employs.

BenzV12

Nice to see you back K-A in fashion and style as usual
As much as I like new facelift I also have some dislikes as well .
EXTERIOR :

Headlamps not shabby at all and I believe these will look more eye catching at nights compared to present quad lights .
Big MB logo on the grill makes the car hideous and ruins "docile" image . Well, I know I said that before corners of the grill looks like rounded off and I am not keen into this styling either

Chrome strip across the exhaust tips are cool , no more bulges in the rear doors , ponton fenders , but there is a 2nd line that runs straight forward from bottom section to the tail lights to the rear doors . This is what I like and happy to see MB keep these lines
LED strips seems ditched , these are very standing out in all the MB models

INTERIOR :

I prefer present models' gauge despite analog clock in the instrument cluster because line up is pretty nice and unique to W212 . This facelift model's look like derived from W204 or C218

Finally chrome or aluminum seat buttons . I just like these
Center console buttons also aluminum and they are very nice as well
Analog clock relocated to center , looks more elegant but I didn't like the way two air vents by the clock . Trapezoid looks nicer imo

Overall , I like it despite some points I dislike but I don't think I will trade my car for it .

Firestopper0383

Starting to look like any Japanese, South Korean import. The distinctive styling I purchased in 2010 is fading and I don't care for the new look and lines.
Why is it that designers don't rely on the heritage and exclusivity of the brand to guide them in design?

ipp

As I posted in another thread:
I'm happy that I've switched to the new M-Class and didn't order the S212 facelift... This looks like a Chinese copy of the E-class made by MB themselves.

I agree with K-A, the front and rear doesn't match with the sides.

ipp

+1

hyperion667

hi 220! hope you're doing well

hyperion667

thanx for putting this together KA, I do like those new intergrated LED designs, the wheels on that wagon are cool too........don't see myself in the market for an E anytime soon though.........
my next Benz will be the Grand Dad S class haha

petee1997

I like the new design. I wish my wife had waited another year. The dash with the small rectangular clock is very similar to my CLS. This is a substantial redesign for a mid cycle facelift. That is practically as much as BMW has done for a generatioal change.

K-A I am ready to put money on a bet that you will be one of the first to trade. If I remember correctly, your lease expires in the the not too distant future. This car will grow on you like the 212 did. I should go back to your postings when you were driving your 211 and thought the 212 was a terrible design. You are now on your second. This one will grow on you too.

Wig

The reaction to the W212 in late 2009 was similarly negative. K-A was the most vocal opponent of the redesign.

I'm sure most people will come to appreciate the facelift in time.

jvc300

+1 I'd take that bet. I read the posts where K-A hated the W212....

K-A, go back and look at the W212 pictures when they came out the car looked boring. Now, I think the W212 is much better looking today than what was in the original drawings. Also, The styling does depend on how it is optioned like staggered wheels , color, AMG pkg, etc... Hang in there, it may be better than what you think.

K-A

I don't hate it enough to obsess about out like I did the original W212. I just don't really like M-B designs lately and think the designers are getting sloppy and losing design harmony and balance.

I'm more upset about how this facelift may render the current version in the market place since they felt the need to change it so drastically. IMO it shows poorly for MBs confidence in the design and the W212 itself, at least in their eyes I assume.

I guarantee BMW or Audi won't fund it so necessary to do such surgery to their F10 and A6, allowing the initial buyers to see their cars age gracefully to the market place.

hyperion667

also makes our MY '10's and '11 cars all the better! lol

.....looking that is

C280 Sport

Car looks great except for one thing that is bugging me....
Please do the hood ornament and not the silly badge in the grill. It looks awful like that and I agree with KA. It reminds me of a cheapo C Class. Other then that its a damn nice looking car from what I see.

golfster

I like it. Mercedes will sell alot and it will seem mainstream as the current model is today.

dbtk

I like the new redesign. It's more organic upfront and softer, more mature side styling.

BillE350

When will these hit US showrooms ?

Bill

YYZ-E55

When you're being outsold, you get aggressive. MB invested heavily in the facelift to make the W/S212 the best in segment once again.

With the luxury and sport differentiation (star on hood vs star in grille), this car should appeal to a much wider audience. It's awkward in photos but it presents nicely in person.