Hypersonic

Do you mean like configuration of the signals and how they are placed? -- those outer parts of the light (I'm not sure if they are the turn-indicators or reversing lights) look a lot better in the official pictures than in the previous PS's we were seeing.

I'm very keen to see the interior.

Curb Zone

 

The Emperor

Short and clear comment from Tycoon about the new CL: Bravo, MB, you've managed to ruin the nicest car you've ever made! Give me the old CL over the new one any day!

Osnabrueck

You're misreading me Roberto. The C215 and it's sibling, the W220, were both very appealing to their conservative audience while at the same time sported groundbreaking and highly influential designs.

I'm not griping that the new CL isn't loud or dramatic enough; in fact I'm of the mind that it may be a scoach too loud and brawny. What I'm griping about is the lack of fresh "invented at Benz" details that defined these cars in the late 90s.

It's a good looking car, but it doesn't convey the idea of "supernatural luxury" the way its predecessor did. Mind you, the CL commands an exotic-car caliber price, and has full licence to flaunt its status as the world's premiere "big ass coupe." I just don't feel the sense of occasion here, and judging by the CLS, Benz has it in them to reach higher than this.

I'll again reiterate that I like this car, and would love to take one in black or charcoal. Most of the lines are spot-on, but better detailing (on the level of the CLS or E-Klasse facelift) could have cranked up the drool-ometer to 11.

MikeJ

Mmm....no.

I've been looking at the pics over and over again, and now I've come to the conclusion that I don't like it. The rear is quite nice even though I have that nagging feeling I've seen it somewhere before... The front has that big-nosed look to it that I'm not a fan of. Give it the right colour and the right rims and it just might look good, but it's certainly not a design masterpiece like the old model was.

Osnabrueck

Yep.



Bland city.

The only reason Mercedes can get away with all these "round body" shenanigans is because they do it better than anybody else. Nevertheless, effect of "graceful tension" falls to pieces when you view a car like the SLK at a less than flattering angle. When the SLK debuted I was convinced I'd grow to like the rear lights, especially since there were some interesting detail lines crossing the boot. Now some time has passed and the look still teeters on cheap in my view.

Where's the bite? Where are the lines that signal to the world "I'm exclusive, damnit."

I credit the rear lights of the CL for tying in the blinker(?) area with the body line. My compliments end there. The rest of the unit is "just there" with all drama and flair of an Acura RL. The W221 S-Klasse has got some rather neat rear lights. I don't see why the CL, the extravagance that it is, isn't in league with that.

The Emperor

Second that, Mike, second that!

Tumbo

Now I finally remembered what car this reminded me of, when I looked at the new CL.

This:





I know they look different in all, but hey, that's what I thought at first.

Osnabrueck

On a sidenote - This made us forget about the E92 3er real quickly, didn't it?

10 pages of comments in less than a day! Just goes to show how much value we GCZ'ers place in the Mercedes' top range cars. Despite the snafus that have been maligning MB, they remain the standard by which we judge luxury sub-exotics.

The Emperor

Absolutely!

Raj

Overall, I quite like the design. I presume that with better rims and in a darker colour it will look less bulbous. In addition, you have to realise that this is a very big car - no matter how good the designer's pen is it will still look big to an extent.

Have we got any official interior shots yet?

Curb Zone