Really disappointed in the exterior styling, soft top and useless back seats. I have always loved the looks of the GT C but just didn’t fit in it well and golf clubs don’t fit in the trunk. Was really hoping that they would keep the comfort and spacious trunk of the current SL with the muscle car styling of the GT C exterior. The photos so far just look like a shorter E Class. I could live with the soft top, but the IPad bolted to the dash is just stupid. My wife’s Macan has a touch screen and it’s really annoying to do anything while driving.
Unless the real thing ends up looking a lot better than the spy shots, I will likely start looking for a nice CPO 2020 SL to replace my ‘13.
Really disappointed in the exterior styling, soft top and useless back seats. I have always loved the looks of the GT C but just didn’t fit in it well and golf clubs don’t fit in the trunk. Was really hoping that they would keep the comfort and spacious trunk of the current SL with the muscle car styling of the GT C exterior. The photos so far just look like a shorter E Class. I could live with the soft top, but the IPad bolted to the dash is just stupid. My wife’s Macan has a touch screen and it’s really annoying to do anything while driving.
Unless the real thing ends up looking a lot better than the spy shots, I will likely start looking for a nice CPO 2020 SL to replace my ‘13.
Well, the rear seats will support a golf bag if that helps
Sadly, my fears about the windscreen turned out to be true. The SL will have a manual windscreen that is attached above the rear seats when not in use. Without it, the car like have a worse top-down experience than the R231 SL or AMG GT/C/R roadster in terms of wind buffeting.This maybe a deal breaker for me.
Having the rear screen installed the rear seats will not make it easy to access it for dropping a bag in from the top.
Btw, the rear seats are considered usable for a person as tall as 1.5 meter (just under 5 feet).
I personally don't care about taking anyone in the back anyway, so no loss, but I would have liked to use the rear seats some of the thing I take to from the office/storage. While I believe the windscreen may have a unique design, I hate these things.
The new Mercedes SL will feature a “hyperanalogue” cockpit, inspired by the original 300 SL Roadster of the 1950s. Unveiling the new SL roadster’s interior in a series of pictures, we can already see the latest Mercedes will feature a “driver focused” interior that will centre around a large, adjustable display in the centre console, plus the brand’s MBUX infotainment system. Mercedes describes the hyperanalogue concept as a mix of “analogue geometry and digital work”, highlighted in the SL’s fully digital instrument cluster, which is integrated into a three-dimensional, aviation-inspired panel alongside air vents referred to as galvanised turbine nozzles.Despite this, Mercedes’ designers say the cockpit design is driver-focused. The 12.3-inch instrument display is not freestanding, but integrated into a visor to prevent sunlight reflections when the car’s roof is down. A large 11.9-inch touchscreen sits in the centre console ahead of the NACA-duct inspired design as found in the AMG GT and GT 4-Door. The screen angle can be adjusted electrically, allowing a more vertical position, again to avoid the driver being distracted by sunlight reflections. The SL’s MBUX system is a version of that found in the Mercedes S-Class, but with a number of AMG-specific features, including the more overtly sporting Performance and Track Pack modes.
SHOW LESS
Yes, I see those lines as well, along with AMG GT of course. It’s a good looking car, probably will be a great driving car, but it’s a big compromise, in my humble opinion. MB took the easy way out. They shuffled the car over to AMG and told them “We need a new SL. We don’t care what you do, just design the thing and build it, so we can concentrate on how to make the entire headliner of the next S Class a Hyperscreen with video games.”
So, AMG did what AMG does, they built a modern high performance car. They trashed any thoughts of retaining the tradition of a stout SL as a two seat, ultra luxurious, retractable hardtop, ROADSTER and have given us a homogenized, probably blisteringly quick and fast, electronic, “no handle” slot machine with four wheels. Just insert your credit card and play with the touch screen. NO THANKS!
I LOVE ordering and buying brand new cars. I usually lease them for three years and then start thinking about my next one. For the past many years, they have all been MB. Unfortunately, MB is not currently producing much of anything that I find attractive. Maybe it’s time to just try another brand or find another hobby.
Oh, when I think what they COULD have done with a new SL instead! Oh well.
Yes, I see those lines as well, along with AMG GT of course. It’s a good looking car, probably will be a great driving car, but it’s a big compromise, in my humble opinion. MB took the easy way out. They shuffled the car over to AMG and told them “We need a new SL. We don’t care what you do, just design the thing and build it, so we can concentrate on how to make the entire headliner of the next S Class a Hyperscreen with video games.”
So, AMG did what AMG does, they built a modern high performance car. They trashed any thoughts of retaining the tradition of a stout SL as a two seat, ultra luxurious, retractable hardtop, ROADSTER and have given us a homogenized, probably blisteringly quick and fast, electronic, “no handle” slot machine with four wheels. Just insert your credit card and play with the touch screen. NO THANKS!
I LOVE ordering and buying brand new cars. I usually lease them for three years and then start thinking about my next one. For the past many years, they have all been MB. Unfortunately, MB is not currently producing much of anything that I find attractive. Maybe it’s time to just try another brand or find another hobby.
Oh, when I think what they COULD have done with a new SL instead! Oh well.
I am not as harsh in my assessment as you but I am also not sure how much I like the new SL (for different reasons that yours). We usually lease our cars as we switch every two years or so but decided to buy our AMG GTC roadster as a keeper for the time being. Just love how the car looks, drives and sounds. That is a purebred, somewhat oldschool roadster. We will likely go the EV route with our other rides but there is something very unique and enjoyable about driving top-down and that car should tick all the right boxes.
Hopefully we get the see the new SL in the flesh next week at Laguna Seca...
This looks better than the one with the more of the camo off. Not sure why. Could be that the residual camo on the other car is distorting the headlights and grill.
Even that blue that js cls posted reminds me of a Pcar
I don't see the P-car looks but whatever. I find this car much better looking and think it will easily have more presence than both the R230 and R231 which I never found attractive, especially with their tops up.
The blue reminds me more of Calypso Green on the R170 SLK's.
I don't see the P-car looks but whatever. I find this car much better looking and think it will easily have more presence than both the R230 and R231 which I never found attractive, especially with their tops up………..
I agree, but to me, SO much of it is color, wheels, tires, stance, etc. So often I see a 2017 or newer SL in white, like mine and say to myself, “what an ugly car.” But, when I look at mine, I actually really like the way it looks, especially from the side or rear. The front end is my least favorite view of the car, but overall, it works for me. Sounds like another opportunity to post a photo.
It’s no ravishing beauty queen, but it’s an elegant roadster, I think, not easily confused with something else.
New 232 seems to be a hybrid (no pun intended) of different vehicles or designs. Certainly not unique, which is probably a first for the legacy. Not as if the mandate was to "create" something special.
New 232 seems to be a hybrid (no pun intended) of different vehicles or designs. Certainly not unique, which is probably a first for the legacy. Not as if the mandate was to "create" something special.
You hit the nail on the head! They were all quite unique, until this next one.
I don't see the P-car looks but whatever. I find this car much better looking and think it will easily have more presence than both the R230 and R231 which I never found attractive, especially with their tops up.
The blue reminds me more of Calypso Green on the R170 SLK's.
Appears to be a good bit of negative camber in the photo showing the front wheel turned in, but overall the shape of the car seems to be rather well done. Hopefully soon we can see specs and 'nekked' photos of the vehicle.
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
