German Car Zone

You honestly cant???

Maybe it's the iDrive and the very similar interior design

I though we were talking about the exterior design

OK, the exterior has more common with Maybach than 7er, I agree.

OK. I want to point something out that has irritated me for some time and please give me your opinions.

For some time now, I have said that I find certain aspects of Mercedes Commencement du Siècle designs to be not fully resolved.

This is purely a matter of personal opinion and taste I guess, but I am sincere in my observations ...I am not trying to find fault with Mercedes for the hell of it.

I am particularly irritated by the mess around the A pillar on the S and CL classes. The SL is similar but because it does not have the dynamic curved cut-line of the S/CL models, it does not become so problematic.

The front door windowsill has long been annoying to me. The line the windowsill sits on is completely illogical. the line starts from the front wheel arch for no particular reason and then the window seems to cut in to the body like a jarring knife edge. It is further emphasized by the join-line where the A pillar meets the body of the vehicle (which sits level with the hood).



The dramatic main cut line in the body also starts at the front wheel-arch, just below the line that the window sits on. This line is a logical continuation of the join-line where the font plastic bumber meets the body. However, this creates a rather odd detail that has bothered me from the beginning (see picture above). The whole thing just looks untidy and not well resolved. In my opinion, the design would have been a lot stronger if the windows sat on the same line as the hood. I realize the designers were probably trying to create a more dynamic appearance ...but it just isn't harmonious at all. This inharmoniousness would be fine if it was intentional, but I honestly think it is quite a weak aspect of the design. It is even more pronounced on the CL.

I get what you mean Rob, the 'drooping-down' effect isn't very attractive, and it's one point of the car I don't like too.

ui can't stop staring at it rob now!

Well Rob, you seem to be looking the pure aesthetics of the design work without considering safty issues. Sure, you can gripe about the line "starting" on the arch, (I see it starts just after it, that starting point actually complements the lowered door lines, it`s ment to!) I personally think it looks pretty good. I also find the "knife edge" appearence, dramatic. Aside from the design, you must realize that a measure of space is needed in that area so the hood won`t damage the wind shield in an accident. The cut line in the a-pillar is rather high, but if you abserve the cut line from the a-pillar an run an invisible arch line in the doors, just above them, that cut line meets the cut line in the boot lid perfectly. the boot cut drops from that end like the Maybach but the boot lid continues with the cut line from the A-pillar. The door line has been lowered for visiblility reasons.
It`s the same with the CL. without the doors lowered these cars would have way too much mass, like thay don`t already.

Study the entire picture and see how the details work together, it will amaze you.

Rob, I first noticed this on the W209 CLK and didn't like. The R230 SL, and now the CL and S as you've put it, but I've just dealt with it because it isn't going to change anytime soon. You're right though this is less attractive than when door, a-pillar and fender all met at the same place with no droop as on the R129 SL:



M

Thanks for your feedback. Here is a quick PS I have just done.



I think you made a good point Carlton about the mass of the vehicle's body -- but I really find the broken line of the front windowsill/A-pillar join to be very aesthetically unpleasing to me.