This article has just appeared in the Australian Wheels Magazine. The picture was previously subject to speculation (also on this Forum) as to the look of the new S-Class. We all know what the 2006 S-Class looks like, but the photo refuses to die. Even our Lexus-comparisons have become universal.
Now there is the rear view and a story to back it up. Nice read, especially the bits about the deletion of the W211 brake-by-wire system and a return to the more traditional "foot-on-the-master-cylinder" approach.
Reduced size forum photo may be too small to read unless you zoom-in.
Email me for a full size scanned copy.

 

hmmm i hope not...

 

Double Hope-Not! The nice thing about the W211 is that it is a modern, clean design with classic Mercedes design elements. That pic looks like the b*stard offspring of a Vegas tryst between a Lexus GS and a 5-series...

 

Now this is even worst than the Bangle BMW's...OMFG!!!

 

That made me laugh out loud!!

 

Formulating opinion on this is a lot like counting your chicks before you've bought your farm. But besides that... the front 3/4 looks like a Photoshop of a 5-series and a GS, while the rear 3/4 looks like a combo of a Flying Spur and a Sonata or an A6. I hope they keep the round headlights...

 

Its the referrence to the 426Kw, 6.3l engine thats the interesting bit in this article!

 

OMG - It's an Acura RL front end with a Catera rear end (2001). Please tell mesomeone is pulling our leg (Again)!

 

That looks like my dad's GS...WTF???

 

The rear looks like its taken from a Saab.

 

i was about to post in your thread.. "NOW WHERE HAVE I SEEN THAT BEFORE...."

 

I tell you what... Mercedes needs to discover this whole craze with "retro" like Ford and Chrysler have... I think if they return to their design roots, they'd be much better served that trying to copy the Japanese.

 

Arrrggggh..... we got cursed by bimmer lovers

I feel that my current benz is my last benz

 

What IS going on with German car design? First I buy an E46 M3, which -- rather suddenly -- turns out to be one of the last good-looking BMWs made. Then I buy my E55 wagon; now Mercedes appears to have been infected by the same virus. At least Audis are still reasonably attractive -- if you make them wear a bra in public, that is...

Case in point: pick up Motor Trend's September issue; now turn to pages 20 and 21. This is the ugliest picture yet printed of the new S-Class. That wheel-well blistering looks OK on the new Miata, but it really doesn't fly on a Mercedes. The new C-Class on page 21 is even worse; my God -- how many Acura styling cues has Mercedes poached for that POS!!! Even worse, the headlights are a direct riff off of the BMW 7-series "eyebrow" headlamps...

Have I suddenly become, at 45, an old fart who doesn't get it? I think not. One thing I know instinctively is good product design. Somehow, these companies need to get it through their skulls that (long-term, at least) beauty sells. The Germans are flushing their design heritage down the toilet, instead of capitalizing on these themes to design unique (yet beautiful) products.

You can dress up a BMW 5-series all you want, but you're still left with a butt-ugly car. I wanted to like the M5 -- and still have one on order -- but do I want to drive something I have to make constant apologies for? Owning the M5 would be like having an ugly wife who's dynamite in bed; peformance only takes you so far (though the bed part is, admittedly, d*mned important). Hey, you want to enjoy looking at your car as you're walking back to her in the parking lot, instead of wondering what mixture of crystal meth and rock cocaine went through the stylist's pipe...

 

actually, i think the front looks quite nice. and let's not forget the round headlamp look was NEVER on merc's design vocabulary until the W210. well, unless you count the 1930's cars, of course...

the rear lights actually comes from the original B-class concept. i do hope they change it though -- too anonymous. heck, they even ditched it from the actual B-class, so i guess merc knows it's not gonna work.

i'm sure the new E won't look like this: but it probably won't look anything like the current one as well.

remember, when the W220 came out everyone hated it as well. "going to the dogs.." "following the japs" all these were familiar comments at the time. then now, almost everyone says it's the most beautiful S-class ever designed so far. tastes will change. lycra pants, anyone? :P

 

Hello Honda Accord.

 

I do actually like the front . But the back tail lights really turn me off! I hope they at MBZ monitor our opinions unlike the clowns at BMW who let the freak Bangle designs to to market. Please MBZ take our opinions into account!!

 

Come on guys, don't you see that rear is clearly from Infinity Q45 Second Gen?
Side looks like a soap bar and frond is from Hyundai!

In genereal everybodys desighn is going down the toilet.
Tak a look at the e55. 210 is the pretty one. And when you see E55 you know it. When you look at 211 - Honda Accord or worse Toyota Camry,
and except for the rims, nothing is catchning the eye in E55 version.
I'm sure there is something, but I don't see it as good as on 210 version.
And this 09 pictures? New S class ? NEW G CLASS, how can you raise a hand on G class? Create new H B whatever class, but don't touch the "cube".
BMWs are all look like japanese. Japanese cars well, you have to give them credit, still look like japanese cars.

American cars - Ugly as never. New Jeep GC - one of the ugliest.
300c? front is ok, but the rear is baaaaaaad, looks like it's been welded from another car. Russian Volga may be.
Even Bentlys now look like penises. Those ugly Contis.

Ferrari and Lambo still got it. Aston more or less - and that's it.

 

Ferrari hasn't been making the prettiest cars as of late. The F430 has those nostril things, the Enzo, the Superamerica's rear end. But they are Ferraris, so that's all that matters.

I remember someone said the W140 looked like a Volvo. And you know what? It does. Doesn't make it a bad car. Just calm the hell down already, and try and be a little more open-minded. Or at least stay away from the "muck-raking" of "IT LOOKS LIKE A x" where x is any "low-class" car brand. It's geting very, very old.

imo, the W211 is not an exciting car but not an ugly one either. I like the new S-Class. The G, however, is disappointing because it's not square enough.