German Car Zone

You could be right.

At the same time it somehow suits the car, since it looks like a mini GL with a portion of 1980s MB styling themes, mainly W201 and W124.

I can see this interior for the GLK, it is supposed to be basic and "truck like". What worries me is that all the spy pics seem to indicate that the next E and CLK have the same setup. The current E interior is a wonderful and very original interior for a Benz IMO and I'd had to see them go backwards.

M

You are referring strictly to the interior aren't you?

Interior and exterior. Except I don't see much W201 in the GLK interior. More W124, W202 and a bit W210.

^ Christian .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .... I really cannot see what on earth you are referring to (regarding the exterior)

I actually think the angular design of the interior works much better with the GLK than with the C-Class.

I really hated the C class interior cause i thought it was an interior for 90's not for our times, strangely though i like this one.

I don't think that the interior as a whole is a disappointment, I do think that it could have been executed a whole lot better though. It's pretty obvious that MB is trying to mimic to their mid-80s/mid-90s designs, and looking at the GLK interior i think they'e doing a nice job at it, but the designers seem to be failing to integrate more modern/luxury elements into the design. It's like the designers think that all the straight lines and sharp angles compensate for the elements that make a good interior.

If you examine the interior more closely you will see that the area where good design is best reconciled with the retro look (IMO) is the armrest/cupholders area which manages to be both anguar yet have nice design elements such as crome rings surrounding the top of the cupholders, and the COMAND wheel's placement is quite innovative, although I have no idea how practical it is.

The steering wheel isn't half bad, and I really like the area around the CD/DVD opening and the A/C dials below it. The transmission level and the glove compartment area would have benefited from some extra design effort, while the area around the vents are quite positively the disaster in this design: they look boring, cheap, and overall unbecoming of an MB.

I think that overall MB is quite close to nailing this direction of 'reincarnated W124', I just hope that they do a better job with the upcoming E-Class.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I even like it much more than the C-class interior which has too few panels. This interior has flair, personality and MB DNA all over it.

^ Well I do agree that it has MB DNA ......but personality?

Please ...this is the Kevin Costner of auto interiors.