https://jalopnik.com/this-mercedes-benz-icon-e-concept-is-the-modern-w114-yo-1834395627
The rear and sides are beautiful, IMHO, but they could have done a little better on the front. Still very cool.
Not a fan. Looks like a luxury Chrysler.
This is a W114/W115. :wub:
(https://i.postimg.cc/W37SW0Qs/Untitled-1.jpg)
Not sure what this concept is supposed to be. Looks like a fattened-up Chrysler 300. The rear is nice and comes closest to looking like a retro-styled W114/W115. That's about it. I'm not feeling it.
Disgusting.
Quote from: MexicoCityM3 on April 30, 2019, 07:06:12 AM
Not a fan. Looks like a luxury Chrysler.
Yup. Looks like a Chryzler 300 with a Maybach-ish front/rear end.
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--XtDxbw_G--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/s4hzwbc113crflsls35p.jpg)
(https://www.netcarshow.com/Mercury-Milan-2006-1600-03.jpg)
I want to like it, but it just lacks to look of refined luxury. The back end looks very pedestrian.
(https://i.postimg.cc/PrHhsQ1y/hv4yrwdlhxotizta1okk.jpg)
I do like the wheel covers on this one though...
(https://i.postimg.cc/MKLDfdtb/s4hzwbc113crflsls35p.jpg)
Retro is so lazy. I'm tired of it. This is well executed... but so was the original, and they had nothing to reference when they made that. Let's get some new ideas
This looks a lot like a Toyota Century:
(https://s3.paultan.org/image/2018/06/Toyota-Century-4-e1529986087934.jpg)
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on April 30, 2019, 10:40:49 AM
Retro is so lazy. I'm tired of it. This is well executed... but so was the original, and they had nothing to reference when they made that. Let's get some new ideas
There are only so many shapes a vehicle can be made into; and all the good ones have already be used :huh:.
The only view I like of this concept is the 3/4 rear view, because I think it comes closest to the W114/W115 (also known as "Strich-8") design, including the infamous ribbed taillights. It actually looks very nice, classy and sophisticated from that angle.
Also, the wheels are gorgeous on the concept and a nod to the classic body-colored Mercedes-Benz hubcaps which sadly disappeared in the mid-1980s with the W201 and W124.
(https://i.postimg.cc/MKLDfdtb/s4hzwbc113crflsls35p.jpg)
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/m/mercedes-benz/250/mercedes-benz_250_10.jpeg)
Front and side profile are terrible, however. The front headlights are too huge as is the grille. I think there's a nicer way to style a retro Strich-8 without being to bulbous.
It's not an official MB concept. It's just some guy who does CAD drawings.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on April 30, 2019, 11:51:18 AM
It's not an official MB concept. It's just some guy who does CAD drawings.
Yes. He's done pretty interesting things like a Fiat 127 revival and some other concepts.
I'm not a fan of this. The problem is that a lot of the features on this car are too large, and they make the car look weird. Those headlights and grille are oversized and make the car look cheap.
Oof, I was only looking at the rear 3/4 view linked in this thread. I didn't click on the link until now. That front end is repulsive.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on April 30, 2019, 11:51:18 AM
It's not an official MB concept. It's just some guy who does CAD drawings.
Can we make a subforum for unofficial renderings like this? So that I can completely ignore them?
That car is considered retro? Jesus, I must be getting old.
Interesting nonetheless. Finally a rendering of the interior.
(https://www.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/styles/body-image/public/icone_grey_interior_1.jpg)
Source: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mercedes-benz-icon-e-concept-reimagined-classic-saloon?fbclid=IwAR1YKhWb65oBQ-HU_nVxPk_iV4VFbUYP9ng9LQwOCZDb_GKDnVYtPefKlZc
And here a W114/W115 interior.
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/m/mercedes-benz/280_c/mercedes-benz_280_c_3.jpeg)
He's a very talented digital artist.
But this design is ugly.
Quote from: 93JC on April 30, 2019, 10:44:01 AM
This looks a lot like a Toyota Century:
(https://s3.paultan.org/image/2018/06/Toyota-Century-4-e1529986087934.jpg)
Is that the one with the V12? I'd love to import one.
(https://www.mercedes-benz.com/all-time-stars-files/2018/03/W-124_500E_ALL-TIME-STARS-2-1180x787.jpg)
One of MB's greatest designs of all time.
Ribbed for your (viewing) pleasure.™
Quote from: Rockraven on April 30, 2019, 04:33:23 PM
Is that the one with the V12? I'd love to import one.
The previous Century had a V12. That's the new one and I think it has a V6 Hybrid or V8 Hybrid.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on April 30, 2019, 06:02:39 PM
(https://www.mercedes-benz.com/all-time-stars-files/2018/03/W-124_500E_ALL-TIME-STARS-2-1180x787.jpg)
One of MB's greatest designs of all time.
Ribbed for your (viewing) pleasure.™
For some reason the W124 (or the W201) never felt right to me. Probably because it looked dull compared to the glitzy W123. It didn't help that most of the W124s I grew up with looked like this...
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/mercedes-benz/e-klasse_124/autowp.ru_mercedes-benz_200d_1.jpg)
Cheap W124s are all over craigslist. I wouldn't mind one at all.
Quote from: cawimmer430 on April 30, 2019, 07:27:24 PM
For some reason the W124 (or the W201) never felt right to me. Probably because it looked dull compared to the glitzy W123. It didn't help that most of the W124s I grew up with looked like this...
+1 for the W124. It just looks boring and bland to me. But relative to the rest of the market from that era, it looks pretty good.
Oddly enough, I quite like the W201, despite the very similar styling. Maybe the proportions are better?
Quote from: cawimmer430 on April 30, 2019, 07:27:24 PM
For some reason the W124 (or the W201) never felt right to me. Probably because it looked dull compared to the glitzy W123. It didn't help that most of the W124s I grew up with looked like this...
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/mercedes-benz/e-klasse_124/autowp.ru_mercedes-benz_200d_1.jpg)
Looks a bit bloated compared to the W123.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on April 30, 2019, 07:35:39 PM
+1 for the W124. It just looks boring and bland to me. But relative to the rest of the market from that era, it looks pretty good.
Oddly enough, I quite like the W201, despite the very similar styling. Maybe the proportions are better?
I kinda feel the same way. The W201 looks better than the W124. Give it some nice wheels and a nice color and it looks pretty decent.
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/m/mercedes-benz/190_e_1.8_avantgarde_rosso/mercedes-benz_190_e_1.8_avantgarde_rosso_5.jpeg)
There's even a "Ricer" version; the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II... :lol:
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/mercedes-benz/c-klasse_201/autowp.ru_mercedes-benz_190e_2.5-16_evolution_ii_3.jpg)
Quote from: FoMoJo on April 30, 2019, 07:56:38 PM
Looks a bit bloated compared to the W123.
That and PLASTICKY. The plastic looks ok on the W201 since there was no real ancestor to compare it to. The W123 had chrome and glitz, the W124 had plastic all over. It was a huge change.
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/m/mercedes-benz/e-klasse_limousine/mercedes-benz_e-klasse_limousine_9.jpeg)
I think from that era the W126 S-Class did it best. It really wears the plastic cladding well compared to the W124.
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/mercedes-benz/s-klasse_126/autowp.ru_mercedes-benz_500sel_2.jpg)
Quote from: cawimmer430 on April 30, 2019, 07:27:24 PM
For some reason the W124 (or the W201) never felt right to me. Probably because it looked dull compared to the glitzy W123. It didn't help that most of the W124s I grew up with looked like this...
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/mercedes-benz/e-klasse_124/autowp.ru_mercedes-benz_200d_1.jpg)
There is a boutique Merc/Porsche/Land Rover (they deal mostly in defender 90's/110's)/Ferrari dealership north of Boston. They love their W124's - wagons, cabriolets and 500's in particular. They had a RENNtech E500...engine bored out to 6.0L, 460HP, 6 speed, etc. 20k miles and out the door for a touch above $80k.
They currently have a low mileage 94' E500 sitting on 18" AMG monoblocks....really, really tempting but also too expensive to justify given my life at the moment.
So, here: https://bringatrailer.com/2013/05/14/1-of-1-1992-renntech-mercedes-500e-6-speed/ is a BaT article about what appears to be the same E500. Looks like it has made its way back and forth across the country Looks like it has changed hands several times and recently ended up back at the same Massachusetts dealer. It is a 92' 500E, not a 94' E500 as I originally thought and has at least 28k miles as of 2013. Every subsequent sale has seen an increase in transaction price.
All '124s are considered future classics here and their prices are already on the rise. :ohyeah:
Design wise I've just never managed to fall in love with them. They can look good in 500E/E500 or in some AMG trim, but that's about it for me.
Again, most W124s I grew up with were cheapo trim taxis and base models that looked like this. Compared to the W123, where a base 200D could look classy, it just didn't work for me. ;)
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/m/mercedes-benz/e-klasse_taxi/mercedes-benz_e-klasse_taxi_2.jpeg)
Context is everything
MBs are still very good looking but they went through a dark period. The W204 and pre-facelift W212 (sorry Vin dude) were MB's design lows. Much too busy and angular in and out. By comparison the W124 has a simple elegance in and out, and it exudes quality. Look at those panel gaps!
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on May 02, 2019, 05:40:24 AM
Context is everything
MBs are still very good looking but they went through a dark period. The W204 and pre-facelift W212 (sorry Vin dude) were MB's design lows. Much too busy and angular in and out. By comparison the W124 has a simple elegance in and out, and it exudes quality. Look at those panel gaps!
I really like the W204. :lol: The W203 is DEFINITELY the low point of the C-Class, IMO. Not even close.
Agree on the pre-facelift W212 though.
I think you could argue for the W203 or W204. IMO things went downhill from the W201, and have been rectified several times over with the W205
Or more specifically, the S205. Mercedes is on a fucking roll, JFC just look at this thing.
(https://www.mercedes-benz.ca/content/dam/mb-nafta/ca/myco/my19/c/wagon/class-page/MBCAN-2019-C-WAGON-CATEGORY-HERO-2-1-DR.jpg)
(https://www.mercedes-benz.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/03/10-mercedes-benz-vehicles-c-class-estate-s-205-facelift-amg-line-2560x1440-1280x720.jpg)
Quote from: cawimmer430 on April 30, 2019, 07:27:24 PM
For some reason the W124 (or the W201) never felt right to me. Probably because it looked dull compared to the glitzy W123. It didn't help that most of the W124s I grew up with looked like this...
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/mercedes-benz/e-klasse_124/autowp.ru_mercedes-benz_200d_1.jpg)
Hell naw, MB didn't make as good looking a car as the W124 until the facelifted W211 imo (212 was great but aesthetically a step backwards imo. Same with the 213)
Quote from: BimmerM3 on May 02, 2019, 08:21:08 AM
The W203 is DEFINITELY the low point of the C-Class, IMO. Not even close.
The original W203 was an abomination. I had a summer job at a Benz dealer back in the day and these were awful in every regard; crap interior, unrefined engines (4-cylinder Kompressors) and horrible to drive (not sporty or comfortable). Terrible.
But the facelift did correct those flaws and the W203 actually became a very good car IMHO. The difference between a facelifted W203 and the original is like night and day. Everything was improved; interior, driving dynamics, comfort, engines - everything. Pick of the bunch, the agile C230/C350 V6 and the brutal and efficient C320 CDI. :ohyeah:
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 02, 2019, 11:38:10 PM
Hell naw, MB didn't make as good looking a car as the W124 until the facelifted W211 imo (212 was great but aesthetically a step backwards imo. Same with the 213)
I always thought MB screwed up on the facelifts.
Original W211? Very nice. Facelifted W211? So-so, nice but not as elegant as the original W211.
(https://i.postimg.cc/50Yh1pZm/Untitled-1.jpg)
Original W212? Nice. Facelifted W212? Terrible.
(https://i.postimg.cc/wBf1nTpm/Untitled-2.jpg)
Quote from: cawimmer430 on May 03, 2019, 08:46:29 AM
Original W212? Nice. Facelifted W212? Terrible.
Ew, no. The split headlights on the original are awful. Probably my least favorite front facia that MB has ever made.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on May 03, 2019, 09:05:00 AM
Ew, no. The split headlights on the original are awful. Probably my least favorite front facia that MB has ever made.
It's really interesting how different people perceive different designs. :tounge:
The facelifted W212 looks awful IMHO. Yesterday I saw this original W212 with some nice wheels and it caught my eye. It really stopped me dead in my tracks. :mrcool:
(https://i.postimg.cc/RCPCLVmr/59426349-702931603983-4273322597858410496-o.jpg)
Looks good from the side shot.
Yeah. Those split headlights looked fine when they were round. But then they went all shapely and modern and they look like shiiiiit.
Quote from: giant_mtb on May 03, 2019, 09:34:14 AM
Yeah. Those split headlights looked fine when they were round. But then they went all shapely and modern and they look like shiiiiit.
Yes, I do like the fish eye headlights.
W212 (pre-facelift) still looks good. :ohyeah:
(https://i.postimg.cc/vZ4H5LcP/EClass-1.jpg)
W213 E-Class needs the AMG Line trim and some nice wheels. This one looks great.
(https://i.postimg.cc/8zxk4JvT/EClass-2.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xd6v7WwP/DSC0287.jpg)
I'm pretty decent about keeping track of BMW chassis codes but can never get the MB ones down. It always goes into a jumble of W2 blah blah blah. Anyway, imo, MBs design language works better on rounder, softer shapes than on sharp, hard edges.
W20x = C Class, first one was the 190
W21x = E Class, first one in this name was the frog eye in 96
W22x = S Class, first one in this name was the soap bar that followed the monster W140 from the early 90s
I still have to count up on my fingers to remember what's what but that's the starting point
I just look them up on Wikipedia. :lol:
:hesaid:
Same with the BMW codes, I don't know any of them.
I worked on almost exclusively Mercedes vehicles at two different suppliers and still could never get the platform codes right.
Toyota was the craziest though. They'd totally change when they went from development to commercial. :lol: :facepalm:
I don't pay much attention to chassis codes, so I end up Googling them relatively often. I know a handful of the big ones just from repetition, but that's about it. :lol:
Sucks for you guys. Knowing chassis codes is really useful.
:cry:
I'm fairly fluent with all the chassis codes from 1945 to now, except for the new generation of SUVs which have an X_ _ _ designation and which don't interest me at all. :tounge:
Audi, BMW, Toyota etc. chassis codes I gotta google... :tounge:
Quote from: 93JC on May 09, 2019, 10:55:46 AM
:hesaid:
Same with the BMW codes, I don't know any of them.
I'm
pretty good with BMWs up til the E90 series.
The E-whatty series?
This is cute; the taxi version. :praise:
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8JL8Z5r/Icon-E-0.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cCpwnckv/Icon-E-1.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/13ZDRJNT/Icon-E-2.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/G3VkVc3b/Icon-E-3.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/zXhn193K/Icon-E-4.jpg)
And here the original. :wub:
(https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/m/mercedes-benz/e-klasse_taxi/mercedes-benz_e-klasse_taxi_1.jpeg)
Why does the 'original' always look sooo much more pleasing?.
Quote from: FoMoJo on May 31, 2019, 06:55:41 AM
Why does the 'original' always look sooo much more pleasing?.
Nostalgia perhaps? We're reminded of a time when there was more automotive freedom for both designers and engineers. ;)