The future look of the big body 4 door MB - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

engatwork · #1 03-28-2004, 07:46 PM

could this be it. Does anyone really need 612 hp?

http://www.channel4.com/4car/gallery/spy-shots/2004/M/mercedes/mercedes-cls-amg-2603_page_4.html

Zeitgeist · #2 03-28-2004, 08:20 PM

Gawd, I'd love to talk to one of those retired MB design engineers from the '50's through the '80's to hear what they think of the current direction in Mercedes "design" and "engineering."

mikemover · #3 03-28-2004, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by engatwork
could this be it. Does anyone really need 612 hp?

http://www.channel4.com/4car/gallery/spy-shots/2004/M/mercedes/mercedes-cls-amg-2603_page_4.html

When you're talking that kind of horsepower, and price-point, the word "need" no longer applies.

I bet it's a BLAST to drive, but as far as the styling....It looks astoundingly boring.

Mike

joshhol · #4 03-28-2004, 10:49 PM

Styling cues that look to be towards the Lexus convertible with the retractable hard top, whatever model that is.

mikemover · #5 03-28-2004, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PaulC
I believe that they would look at the vehicle in question and see it as the logical extension of the 500K-540K series of the Thirties.

As far as powertrain and engineering? Yes. As far as styling?....No way! Lexus, Toyota, Infiniti and others used to imitate Mercedes styling....Why does Mercedes seem to imitate them now? Depressing....

Quote:

Originally posted by PaulC
BTW, I drove a 2004 CLK 500 coupe Friday night. Bleh.

Yep. Plastic-ey and poorly built. POS.

Mike

AustinsCE · #6 03-29-2004, 12:22 AM

its pretty funny that everyone I talk to thinks Im in bad taste when i say I hate the new MB's and only dig on the old, good looking ones. I kinda like the CLS, its unique, kinda. But so was the new beetle.... I sure hope Mercedes gets out of this god awful trend of making things uglier and cheaper real quick, cause I think their technology and performance is OK, at least for a little while?

mikemover · #7 03-29-2004, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AustinsCE
its pretty funny that everyone I talk to thinks Im in bad taste when i say I hate the new MB's and only dig on the old, good looking ones. I kinda like the CLS, its unique, kinda. But so was the new beetle.... I sure hope Mercedes gets out of this god awful trend of making things uglier and cheaper real quick, cause I think their technology and performance is OK, at least for a little while?

I agree....the older the better, in my opinion. The older models had personality, innovation, and easily set themselves apart from the herd.

From the late 80's to the present, I think Mercedes styling has been less and less adventurous and attractive.

The new G-Wagen is the only reminder of that heritage in the current lineup. It is an attractive and unique vehicle, and easily identifiable as a Mercedes.

The C-class has GOT to go! Generic, and cheap.

Mike

G-Benz · #8 03-29-2004, 01:53 PM

Can't fault the styling...

Unfortunately, as engineers and designers strive to reduce drag coefficients, while maintaining ample cockpit space and powertrain dimensions, certain proven designs will prevail over others...

...and with time, these designs are becoming more homogeneous...hence the similarities across car manufacturers...

#9 03-29-2004, 05:01 PM

With gas prices you think they would be trying to make an engine with fuel economy and start shying away from pure power. I know espically us americans love power but come on! We went from top speed wars to HP wars between car makers Just look at the new M5 or M6, good by gas.
Austin I'm like you I see something in the cars that younger people do not. Everyone calls my car ugly and it is but I see something in it and so do others after a spirited ride

Is it just me or is Porsche the only german comany sticking to the heritage of the cars?

#10 03-29-2004, 05:06 PM

I love the styling but I can get a Lexus that looks just like it for half the price.

yal · #11 03-29-2004, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MedMech
I love the styling but I can get a Lexus that looks just like it for half the price.

LOL

True indeed. With better customer service at that.

This car styling is kind of a modern interpretation off the old Citroen D series

! Anybody remember those? http://www.citroen.mb.ca/june00/FDphotos/index.html

I wouldn't mind test driving one though, it must go like a rocket....

#12 03-29-2004, 09:09 PM

The decline and fall, for me, began when they changed their basic nomenclature--they used to put the number first, then the letter, and it all meant something (cylinder displacement, body type, that sort of thing).

When they got away from the star on the grill, with the star and laurel badge underneath (which had been part of their tradition since the original merger of Benz and Daimler), they really lost part of their heritage. The last MBs to maintain this look were the W123, W124, and W126.

The merger with Chrysler has added an element of cheapness to some models. The C-Class is a disaster, from all I hear from my MB tech friends. Many nit-picky things go wrong with them, not to mention real reliability problems. The W210 chassis, I'm told, still has MB quality, but it fades rapidly after that.

I, for one, am content to keep my 1979 300TE (W123 wagon) and my 1989 300SE (W 126 sedan).

dtanesq · #13 03-29-2004, 09:36 PM

When I clicked on the link and the first photo came up, the first thing I thought of were those ugly black cockroach-like bugs which used to find their way into our kitchen. Same hunched-over look. F----ugly.

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with a friend of mine who has a veritable "vertical" of Benz styling in his garage. My friend owns an older 190E, a 300TE, a 500E, a C43 and an ML430. In the past the garage has held various diesels and a 300CE. In my view, Benz styling began to lose character after the W124 and its siblings were produced. I will admit to being somewhat smitten by my lady's 1999 E430, but compared to the silver 2002 BMW 530i with sport package a sibling parks nearby, it's a little boring.

Hatterasguy · #14 03-29-2004, 10:01 PM

Boreing, looks like everything else. I'd rather spend 100k or whatever they want for it and buy a boat.

joshhol · #15 03-30-2004, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Is it just me or is Porsche the only german comany sticking to the heritage of the cars?

Ya, I think so. Aren't they only building a certain limited number every year and doing a lot of it by hand?

It seems like they took the high road and are doing just fine.