German Car Zone

A week tops, both cars.

^MBUSA already has the 2010 CL posted. Doesn't look like the facelift model either. Guess it will be a 2011 model....interesting Benz decided to wait that long. I don't know what Merc1 is going to do now. MB is holding on to the CL and the SLS.

Yes...I saw that...it is odd. Hmm...I saw an article on an MBZ blog that stated the SL would have no MY 2010- it would skip to MY 2011. Maybe the CL will skip to a 2011 after the unveiling- which would mean that the 2010 CL is short lived.

As for the excruciatingly long time that MB is taking to unveil the two cars, I'm surprised the SLS made it this far without being unveiled or at least leaked again. However the S-Coupe will probably be revealed a little closer to IAA.

I wouldn't say "old" but I've never been to big on the design. Overall it's a bit to sparse and bare IMO, especially that hideous huge compartment door in the under the A/C controls. The pre-F.L had the lower console also way too bare, but the F.L at least adds some much needed wood there. Quality is supreme all over though.

I saw the '10 F.L today, looks more or less the same, but those L.E.D's make it look like the car is driving with Christmas Lights on all the time, they're EVERYWHERE. Besides that, it looks about the same, I do like the pre-F.L rear lights better with the unique and classy painted strips, but I am glad M-B is going back to their nice and trademark double-white-strip tails. The rear of the car from a distance especially, kind of can be mistaken for a pre-F.L W220/W211.

The launch of the W212 has really enhanced my appreciation of the W221, as it's kind of the only M-B Sedan to me that looks like an M-B right off the bat. If does have some areas that are a bit unrefined in the design IMO, but all in all I've started to really have some funny thoughts about wanting one....

Why? The CL pretty much is in a class of it's own, and really doesn't need a facelift compared to e.g a Continental GT. There is very little competition in this class, so it's pretty logical that Mercedes is taking it's sweet time with the CL.

FL S-class is pretty dull.

Yes it is better in some areas. Headlights look much better, but I never liked the shape of the headlights, and changing the guts doesn't change the basic shape. They did go to a light gray for the ash interior, but it doesn't have any contrast. It is all light gray and washes out. Should have gone with dark carpet. They also kept the ugly tan. Wheels on the standard US model are not good. The 19" upgrade also lacks.

They could have done more without spending a lot.

Really?

Big luxury sedans aren't the most exciting cars in the world, but I certainly wouldn't go as far as to say that the S is dull. But to each his own...

I find it interesting that people are seemingly already getting bored of the S-Class after just a few years, hearing words like "dated", "boring", etc. getting thrown around. It's interesting because when it was first launched it was very fresh. Is this because of all the gimmicks and design over-steppings M-B did with it? They usually fore-go all the gimmicks (in the past at least), to keep the models in a sense of lasting power. I mean, it still has a whole 4 years left in its Production cycle.

Ironically I'm appreciating the car more these days like I said. That might be simply because I don't like anything else they're really putting out though.

I do agree with the person above about the headlights, I never understood why they put those generic, sharply slanted things on that every other car has.... I actually like the W220's more unique and elegant offerings. The rear boot is a bit sloppy and late-to-the-game (bangle-butt style), the rear tails are a bit sloppy in how they mate with the fenders I think, the interior a little sparse, I wish the hood kept the "double hump" curves toward the edges (adds an elegant touch) that other models had/have, the fender flares are definitely polarizing, but can become tiring to look at I guess, but besides that, I think it's a very class design, albeit fighting a bit too far on the bloated/fat side, but not far enough to make me hate it, and can be stunning when equipped right in certain lights. If they refined some areas I think it would be damn near perfect.

I wouldnt' be surprised to see the next S as a MY 20113.

yes, dull. In regards to a facelift, it is dull. There is nothing that excites me about the facelift.

K-A is on the money. The S relied on gimmicks. Bulky fender flares, Maybach butt. And now those gimmicks are dating the car.