To me, right now the desirability of upper range M-B models is mostly affected by what I'd find them aspirational enough to pay for, and I hear this from wealthy M-B buyers ALL the time. With so many cheaper M-B's looking like the "rich" M-B's, it gives less incentive to validate paying up. You're not getting brand exclusivity anymore, and that goes a long way when you pay those prices. With little jokes like the CLA, you start to see brand prestige affected, especially in the U.S where M-B has always been seen as a premium German import with cachet.

The SL to me is extremely ho-hum, a dud even. However, that's when I see a price of $120K on it. Regard for it is so thin, I know that they're already being sold in the $80's at auctions with little mileage, and I know that dealers are already practically giving them away.

When my lease is up in less than a year, I actually would strongly consider an SL.... if very lightly used models depreciate into the $60's, because I don't see it commanding such a price premium any more. Even then, that crappy 7G tronic and archaic COMAND with off-center little screen would make it a tough proposition, but for that price, I think the car starts to become quite enticing.

The S, with a little C looking like it, it'll probably have to get discounted more so than the W221 did after due time.

This new CL I think looks overall nice, though the headlight crystals and design un-harmony is bordering on full blown cheese-ball tacky (the former) to just unbecoming to me in certain ways.... but I can't deny it's got some very attractive merits as well, namely the full side profile which looks great (even with the wayward crease fest), but the front starts to look cheapened/generic with that M-B corporate Star grille I see on every other lower priced M-B, and that hideous (based on initial viewings of the pics, at least) rear. Therefore, I know it'll look like a blown up C Coupe, and it already has a front that's reminiscent of a $29K FWD Mercedes, so I don't think it looks worth its asking price like previous CL's did when they had a more distinctive package, and the Star grille for one was reserved for only the upper range Coupes.

With such a massive lineup, models ranging from such different price points sharing identities, I think that it becomes harder to justify dropping coin for exuberantly priced M-B's, that aren't fully exotic like the SLS at least. The lower priced M-B's benefit more-so, until they wash out the upper range's prestige-value because "I drive a Mercedes" now doesn't mean you drive a $100K car to the auto-plebian like it may have used to, not to mention when the auto-plebian sees something like this new CL/S Coupe, they may mistke it for a C Coupe, or E Coupe or whatever else M-B will be flooding into the market soon, clearly sharing the same identity at a different size and much different price.

 

See this is where you just fail. The design changes that Mercedes went through as far as who was doing what, are over. Don't you get that? Every product since the current leadership has been in place has been perfectly in line with the current theme: C, S, S Coupe, GLA, CLA, all share a common, cohesive look. Don't you get that? Yes the SL, E, and CLS were caught out. They fixed the E, done. The CLS no hope for IMO. The SL we'll see.

Why on earth would you think a car like the W222, a brand new stunner would get a drastic facelift? Doesn't make sense. MB is as proud of that car as any they've ever made. You really don't get this?

Again, where do we measure status at? Both cars look stunning, again where do we measure the hurt at? Again, the 190E came looking like the 560SEL of the day and nothing happened, both cars became icons.

I have to believe at this point that you're just not capable of understanding anything that you don't come up with. Kinda like an older person who has convinced themselves of something even after you show them that it isn't true. I would bet my own car the S-Class DOES NOT get a dramatic facelift. The car is perfect out the gate and is a winner.

Don't you see the consistency with the S, C, S Coupe, GLA, CLA? Every new Benz now fits right in line. The CLA can't be helped because it is FWD so the proportions can't match the S or CLS of course, but the design fits right in with the 100K Benzes.

You're way too worried about what a person who can't afford a Benz thinks. If a guy in a Kia can't tell a S from a C then what the hell does it matter to me, you or Mercedes-Benz lol? Seriously. People with the money can tell.

M

 

k-k-k-kia

 

new S coupe, to me, looks like an amalgam of german cars out there right now. tails from a porsche, rear like a cc, shark nose like a bimmer, aggressive body like an audi....

i know they want "fresh buyers" but the outgoing model had beauty in restraint.

 

I for one like the like the new coupe. Funny how the the shapes of the coupe always better in light colors while the sedans seem to look better the dark colors.
The rear has much more of the SLS and I expect the rear of the new AMG GT to look very much like the S Class coupe.

Not sure why so many people always reference other cars when they dissect the forms and shapes of new models. You always see a whole laundry list of brands, from Kia to VW.. I just see a design evolution from elements within the MB line-up.

This one will be on my shopping list

 

That's why it looks so messy and non-memorable nor distinctive to me thus far. Certainly not bad looking mostly, but tells me that M-B's identity crisis is stronger than ever, and in their attempt to "soul search" they're copying everyone by throwing whatever traits from others that they can think of on their own cars to see "what sticks".

 

You would have to deaf and blind to think this:



Is "messy". Dumbest thing I've heard yet. What and who have the copied with this car? Dying to know.


M

 

I'm not really drinking the kool-aid, it looks as at least somewhat as messy as most recent M-B's to me, though nicer. I mean, on M-B boards you'd think the new S Sedan was a Religion of its own, but I've seen enough on the roads and usually find it quite un-memorable, kind of boring and a non event. I've seen others state the same impressions. Not to mention, knowing M-B's current designers, they'll immediately doubt their work and do major about-face reconstructive surgery to this CL, like a whole new rear at least, just like all their cars these days, making it appear as if the design everyone was supposed to like originally, was some kind of "mistake". Just can't trust the team to stand by their own work anymore. Watch the SL get a MASSIVE reconstructive change, once again screwing buyers of the pre-facelift who expected a brand like Mercedes to provide them with a long lasting design idiom.

The rear has no harmony with the rest of the car, it looks like a few VW products, a CC, Phaeton, or even Renault Laguna Couple as was pointed out in the other thread. Still too many nonsensical creases that not only don't compliment, but work against the architecture, which looks like Jaguar, the rear looks like an attempted (and failed) 991 bite off, and the front has the same corporate grille we see from the $29K FWD CLA and above.

To me, there are many different elements thrown in therefore it's kind of a confusion of sorts. YES, it looks nice, but it doesn't look as cohesive and confident as it should, as I'd expect Mercedes to not only develop their own identity, but to not starting taking design ideas from others at a rate never seen before by them.

You could tell me that's a C Coupe above and I'd believe it, since the size doesn't come across on screen, and I bet it's exactly how the next C Coupe will look.

 

I like the new S coup but I really liked the fact that the CL was basically a two door S Class. To me, the S Coupe, at least from the pictures, is a totally 'different' car ... i just wish it didn't have the CLS grill.

 

I agree. I've grown up with Mercedes with new s classes since 1978, and when the w220 hit, to me that was Mercedes doubting their work then shed 700 lbs off that s class to compete with Lexus, etc. Then they went back to their roots with the w221, most aggressive memorable styling with the sport package. Then the w222, but it's just not as inspiring from the outside. Thoughts?

 

Would have liked a more distinctive Sport package on the W222 to differentiate from the non-sport, but the base W222 looks much better than the W221 non-sport. For the W221, the Sport package is a must.

With the W220 Mercedes did not try to compete with Lexus; they simply tried to create a more modern car.
You may not know this but in Europe and especially in Germany, the W140 was considered a dinosaur. Out of touch with the environment, big big ol' gas guzzler that was too wide to fit into a many car washes or onto the Auto rail train cars.

In Germany, the W220 was considered a huge success in going with the times.

I used to have a W140 S500. Loved the car at the time but now it seems to me utterly dated. I think the W220, especially with the Sport package holds up much better.

 

yeah, the coupe design is certainly converging on a universal silhouette. this new mustang for 1/4 the price of the S-coupe strikes a similar line (the name of the jpeg was from ford's digital assets - i pasted the S-coupe on top):

 

The new Mustang looks really good there. Balanced tight.

 

wait, why are we comparing Benz to Mustang???

 

Can't exactly complain that MB has done something wrong sticking to classic coupe proportions.

Say you are in the market for a nice bespoke suit. You don't expect your tailor to re-invent the general concept now do you?

 

comparison of those shapes is just to point out that everyone seems to be going with a very similar design for the coupe look, across price ranges and country of origin. there's more similarity than just 2 doors and a sloping fastback across mfgr's right now.

and there's also A LOT of room to make one's coupe design unique and interesting - (regarding the exterior) for the price of the S-coupe and the builder's experience with making world-class vehicles, i would expect a bit more exclusivity and creativity than what was revealed... but it's hard to tell without seeing in person or lined up against the smaller versions (c-class and e-class).

i don't argue against going with a corporate look across the portfolio - but the organization ought to be 100% sure that said look is a true winner and can withstand the test of time. i don't believe this to be the case. these new looks seem more like it was a majority vote in the board room.

 

Whenever a new design comes out from any manufacturer there is always negative sentiment from a portion of the market. Change is always difficult for a good portion of human kind to accept. In this case, I love the new S-Class sedan enough that we purchased one, our first MB purchase. Without this new design we would NOT have purchased a MB. The new S-Class coupe is nice and shares some common themes while still maintaining its own unique signature. I don't see the design as being "a majority vote in a board room".

The high demand for the S-Class sedan is proof that MB is doing something right. And I believe the S-Class coupe demand will be similar.

I do NOT like it when a manufacturer gets so "sold" on their look that all models are so similar that most people cant tell the difference without looking at a badge. This then feels like they have no creativity and can only scale the size up or down (BMW).

Maybe I am an old geezer in my mentality, but I liked the days of auto manufacturing when you could tell one year from the next by changes in fins, tails, head lamps, side markers, etc. I believe it is boring and monotonous to have the same basic design year after year after year (think Porsche).

Though I may not like every single line or detail in every design MB is releasing, I believe they are on a better track than before and look forward to the new releases they have.

 

i really like the new sedan versions - especially those with the classic grille and hood ornament

but slapping that sport nose on everything from a CLA to an S-coupe just comes off as lazy and cheap, to me. it's not a good enough look to go and do that with.

 

I agree that I think the new S-Class Coupe would have looked more classy or elegant with a grill and traditional hood ornament more like the S-Class sedan. I think that grill is its weak spot right now, other than that, I think it looks great.

 

It's so the "lighted" star will fit all models -- some overpaid exec said in a board meeting. Goodness, that means the S class refresh could get a star in the grille

 

With all the improvements they made my favorite thing about the new S-class is still the maybach-style scent bottle things lol. I know a lot of people consider this the "best car in the world" but something about this car is just boring to me.

__________________________________________________ _
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You mean the fact that its not a Lamborghini? Or the fact that it cant fly or satisfy your manly "needs" while it drives for you in traffic?

 

I just barfed (at the reality of it). Lol.

I think it's because new M-B designs aren't leaders anymore, they don't have "soul". They look like they're trying so hard to do so many things that they lost their identity and confidence. Cheesy/tacky light up stars, cheesy/tacky Swarovsky Crystals, cheesy/tacky fake diamond patterns everywhere you look, cheesy/tacky fake air scoops like a Fast & Furious movie, creases thrown all over, grille reminiscent of every low-price emerging M-B, etc. It looks great in its own right, but doesn't look like it knows exactly what it is.

That's why I think it doesn't do it for me like it should, considering how dramatic M-B has tried to be with it (which may be the problem right there).

 

I think you overlook the fact that proper Mercedes coupes and convertibles have a different grill that the sedan and had that for the last 50+ years.

The grille design is actually quite retro (minus the mesh).

This Coupe is the best looking S class coupe to me. Certainly beats the 215 and 216 by a long shot.

 

The sport pkg is a must on the coupe. I really do not like the angular chrome strip on the side of the non sport.

As Wolfman stated earlier, on the sedan I personally do not feel that the sport pkg makes a huge difference like it did on the previous S-Class.