Yep -- center console screen like in the S Class. OK it has a screen that can be "set electronically" to reduce reflections, but it still requires a look away from the highway down away from the windshield. And a soft top! And two useless rear seats! Thanks that I have a R231. Here's the link:

https://www.axios.com/an-iconic-merc...28ddde168.html

And the new dash:




And to look away from the road like this:




Mercedes, what are you thinking?

 

Welcome to the future of ALL automobiles......

 

The key to all the new technology in these new cars is the age of the audience that MB is catering too and it is no longer most of us current SL owners.
Someone a few years back asked the age of us members here on the SL forum and most of us were over 60 years old. In general we do not like a lot of the newer bells and whistles but the younger folks in fact want all this “better technology”. As we die off and become fewer we are no longer a target group for sales so MB and other car makers move on. The day of a car looking the same year after year with the same features like the VW Beetle had for many years is long over. We can verbally protest and vote with our wallets but the writing is on the wall. What you see today in cars is the future whether we like it or not......😊

 

Funny that you use a pic from an S-Class that has level 3 autonomy and the driver appears to be surfing the web Looking away would be intended

 

The question is......Should one be able to connect to the Internet and surf while driving? Many drivers don’t pay enough attention to the road now.

 

A car could have level 99 autonomy built-in and I won't be looking away. I want to drive my own car, thank you.

 

I remember when Chris Bangle came with the mouse like BMW, everybody hated it ( especially old folks ) but, guess what, in the end was a huge success...I've got my 745 by then and really love it.....

 

It is a matter of time until Mercedes or other car manufacturer figures a way to shut down the main screen (or something similar) when somebody takes too much time looking at it ( surfing internet, etc)

 

Great example, all the Bangle cars despite their criticism did well on the market and have even influenced every single new BMW (as well as cars of other brand) on the road today, with many of those design elements being praised now. As with any new car, there will always be complaints from owners of current vehicles. Its no different on the BMW forums with the new M3 and its drastically ungainly looks, but yet, the car is selling and bringing in a new consumer base.

MB will of course never be able to please everyone, and its clear that with this SL they intend on taking a different direction regardless. The fact that AMG is head of the project and development, as well as all models being that of AMG only, (no regular 450 or 580) only further emphasizes that this SL is trying to cater to a different audience than the current R231 model. The SL’s image over the last decade has deteriorated as the car became bigger, heavier, and more numb, as well as with the introduction of the AMG GT and new and fresh competitors like the Lexus LC and BMW 8-Series.

Those that complain of 2+2 seating should realize that they are likely in the minority, as many consumer surveys from MB and dealerships have been requesting this feature for the SL as its an easy way to bring in more clientele even if the seats are fairly small (example: 911), especially since the amount of drop tops in MB’s lineup will decrease to all but two.

My GM has told me that just based on the online renders alone they have had a few customers call in or stop by about the SL asking when they would arrive, with a decent amount of interest surrounding the vehicle.

The new SL is destined to not please everyone, especially that of current R231 owners, as its a completely different take on the car. In the end, customers will either keep their current vehicles, switch to another brand, or try an R232 and swap for that. I for one can’t wait. While I love classic SL’s, the models that followed after the 2000’s have not peaked my interest. But hearing that AMG will make the SL sportier, more engaging to drive, as well as provide rear seats so I could include my grandkids and/or friends on drives all while being packaged in a fresh and attractive body with a luxurious interior definitely has me excited.

 

I enjoyed this review. While Thomas likes the R107 each successive SL drives better than the prior versions.


There is a link to the Gullwing also and as iconic as that car is it really wasn't that great to live with particularly it got very hot in the interior with poor ventilation.

 

My wife and are I closing in 70. We love her SL550 even though it is 7 years old. For us, it has plenty of technology or bells and whistles if you prefer. After all, we bought it to drive on good weather days with the top down and enjoy nature. For us, the retractable top is a huge attraction. We've had soft tops and not a fan. As we continue to age and watch TV or browse advertisements on any media it has become quite clear we are no longer the demographic that anyone in business is trying to attract.

 

It seems Mercedes has removed this photo from the promotional material for the S-Class. Rightfully so. I expect them to replace it with a photo of the driver looking ahead at traffic while fumbling with the blistering hot center screen for the latest hip-hop channel on the stereo which really can't be heard over the wind and road noise unless it is turned up enough to annoy neighbors and nearby drivers.

 

Sounds like you are working really hard to come up with some example that somewhat supports your opinion why this is bad or distracting. It you don't like the car, don't buy it. Problem solved
If you want to select music you will find that using the HUD or even voice (MBUX and CarPlay work great for that) will be much better than anything you can do via comand dial on the R231 or the R232 touch screen. Both will require you to take your eyes off the road.

 

I propose less caffeine for the group until August 1st. 😊

 

Excellent points. And yes, I won't buy it and I will chill out enjoying my R231. At least we can quit all the speculation that had dominated this forum for the past year and critique the new model with actual photos and specs.

(Go ahead, call me "Old School" but I don't like the "feature" of my car listening to all of my converstations so I would disable MBUX and use the touchpad controls on the steering wheel as I do in my CLS53. Are those conversations recorded and stored as part of the system that records speed, throttle and brake, etc. for use in accident investigations?)

 

Clearly many current SL owners are not the audience to which Daimler is marketing the new SL. Many, perhaps most, of us are over 60. I firmly believe the new SL, like the C8 Corvette, is being marketed to a younger and at a minimum moderately affluent group of potential customers. That's not me.

 

Mercedes has an event data recorder. AFAIK, no personal data of any kind is stored. That doesn’t mean that these are a good thing…

 

Same thing with the S-Class. Average age used to be in the late sixties and now has dropped well below 50. So have also other traditional brands like Bentley and RR.
The reality is that no car company can afford to build cars for traditionalists anymore.
Technology is evolving so fast that even traditional lease cycles are questionable. EV product improvements are made continuously and are not bound by model year so for example a Porsche Taycan built in July will likely be a better car than one built in January. 3 year old EV tech will likely feel like a 5 year old phone…

 

I am 32 and don't like all of those bells and whistles. There is a way to move the vehicle forward without destroying it, but unfortunately we don’t design the cars we only buy them 🤣

 

You never looked down to operate controls in any other car?

M

 

Of course -- but not to that extreme and especially not for a touch screen, trying to locate, scroll, and select an item. Why wouldn't Mercedes use the dual digital screen like I have in my CLS53 and in several other models like the one pictured below? It has the benefit of an overhanging sun shade and thankfully is NOT a touch screen. Viewing those screens allows the road ahead to be seen in one's peripheral vision and selecting, scrolling, etc. is accomplished either by the touchpads on the steering wheel or the controller in the center console.

OK so I have stated my perspective and will bow out of further criticisms. We'll wait and see what owner experiences are. That will not include me.

 

I don't mind the large screen but I despise a touch screen. BMW did it right by retaining the nice controller knob on the console. You still have to look at the screen but you can use the control knob to move around and make selections. Touch screens are a major PITA to keep free of smudges and constantly having to clean them also increases the probability of scratching.
them

 

I can't tell from the photos I've seen if the steering wheel incorporates the mini touchpads but at least it has a controller of some sort in the center console. Hopefully, either could be used instead of touching the center screen. I still mostly use the rotary controller in the center console rather than the touchpad in the center console. I know it is old school history and "days gone by", but I specifically wanted a 2019 CLS53 because it retained the rotary controller that is so familiar.

 

The interface appears to be touchscreen only from the center stack. Additional controls are on the steering wheel and voice...

I am no fan of touch screens but both our BMW and GLE have it. I occasionally use it. Mercedes has moved to the trackpad but I find the steering controls easier than that thing. Agree that the knob is faster and more efficient.

To slk55er, the reason why MB isn't using the dual screen (side by side) with MBUX is due to poor ergonomics; too far away to easily reach. You need to come forward to the screen which in fact would be considered risky plus MBUX v1 requires scrolling for most tasks which would be distracting. It does look better than the center screen but works better in a non-touch environment.

 

What do you guys think, do you see Jar Jar in the new SL’s interior?