SL-Class [Renders] 2021 Mercedes-Benz SL

[lukeswiss]

Yesterday I saw the current SL, and it was good to realize how huge the car is, unfitting for its purpose, like an S coupe wannabe. I’m glad to see a smaller, lower and sportier SL, as it used to be

I don't think this is smaller. It just looks smaller.

 

[Ozy]

I don't think this is smaller. It just looks smaller.

Good enough, even better actually

 

[SCOTT27]

Surprised that side intake is not lower down than the SL norm.

 

[klier]

Pasting the A-Class front end on this car is a mistake.

The whole car looks cheap. Proportion wise it looks like a new C class. Only redeeming factor seems to be a nice interior for a cabriolet.

If they wanted to make an impact, it should have been electric. Another obsolete car before release by Daimler AG.

 

[fan_of_642]

I think, that in reality especially the rear lights will look more rounded, finally even better than in the sketches above.

 

[leylandi]

 

[Serpens]

Anyone know how long the new SL will be? Looks like the size of a SLK (or SLC or what the heck they are calling the last one…).

It's 15 inches longer than the SLC. People have been saying it looks just as short as the SLC/SLK in this thread so many times but when I look at pictures I'm just not seeing it. The SLC looks far more stubby to me.

 

[bmwz4coupe]

It's 15 inches longer than the SLC. People have been saying it looks just as short as the SLC/SLK in this thread so many times but when I look at pictures I'm just not seeing it. The SLC looks far more stubby to me.

So around 10 cm (4 inches) shorter than the outgoing SL. It looks very short and compact, I guess it is because of the high waist line. I would have prefered a more sleek and long design with similar proportions as the SL from the 90’s, this new one looks like a TT or Z4 to me?
But lets wait until it gets released before our final verdicts.

 

[Serpens]

So around 10 cm (4 inches) shorter than the outgoing SL. It looks very short and compact, I guess it is because of the high waist line. I would have prefered a more sleek and long design with similar proportions as the SL from the 90’s, this new one looks like a TT or Z4 to me?
But lets wait until it gets released before our final verdicts.

My apologies, I did my math wrong because I was looking at figures too fast. The new SL is 3 in longer than the current, so make that 22-23 inches longer.

 

[burana800]

I have a question for people old enough to remember R129 and R230 launches: were people upset about the SL sharing headlight design with cheaper models back in the day?

The patent design images certainly don't do justice to the design of this car. Gonna be a looker.

 

[mini_cooper4]

I have a question for people old enough to remember R129 and R230 launches: were people upset about the SL sharing headlight design with cheaper models back in the day?

The patent design images certainly don't do justice to the design of this car. Gonna be a looker.

Yes, I remember it like yesterday.
During the R129 live stream unveiling people were already going crazy on Twitter.

 

[dalab]

people old enough to remember

You mean us young people with experience?
Let me take the memory pill and I'll tell you

Speaking specifically of the R129, at a time when photos were only seen in monthly magazines and information was not abundant, it was more difficult to determine if they were accurate to another more expensive or cheaper model of the brand.

Only those of us who like and see details in the cars that others do not see, could determine something like that, but as I said, it implied seeing it very "up close."

In general, they looked with family resemblance but, basically they were larger or smaller rectangles, they had to be measured, since at that time or the lights of a car were round or square / rectangular

To your specific question, when I saw it for the first time I only saw that the lights were the ones that illuminated it from outside, that car was a divine apparition that stood out as a whole and shine like a masterpiece never seen until that moment.
If someone had complained about the lights we would have hit them.

The ones on the R230 are disgusting

 

[fan_of_642]

I have a question for people old enough to remember R129 and R230 launches: were people upset about the SL sharing headlight design with cheaper models back in the day?

The patent design images certainly don't do justice to the design of this car. Gonna be a looker.

Well, in these days we all haven't been obviously so feeded with so many designs, so many variations, so many car manufacturers, so many new car segments.
So, yes, the R129 was a kind of well-known rectangular design (head- and rear-lights), but, in a newish, not-seen-before variant.
I was totally fallen in love with that extremely fitting scenario of a front turning light, little bit angry looking besides a friendly, modern grille.
I was impressed by rear-lights with a not-seen integration of the white inlay.
I was very impressed by a totally informative and wide instrument cluster, by wood in the center in "3D".
I'm still impressed by that car, which never aged. I think there's no chance of any car in the world of been better in total.
Think about the automatic rolloverprotection, think about the integral-seats. As well with the automatic rooftop, which in these days (there were two germanies at the beginning) weren't widely available.
I do not complain, if the R232 can't show many unique points. Today, it's hard enough to be attractive, qualitish, energy-saving AND substainable.
The last point, however, is hardly reachable - with only AMG engines.

 

[Merc1]

It's been an exciting day, a new RR and a Z06, but now I'm ready to see this SL.

M

 

[Deleted member 57437]

I have a question for people old enough to remember R129 and R230 launches: were people upset about the SL sharing headlight design with cheaper models back in the day?

No. Not one bit.

I clearly recall the local M-B dealership presentation of the R129 featuring a metallic medium anthracite example with lighter grey leather. I believe that there wasn't a guest that wasn't absolutely awe-struck.

 

[Merc1]

I have a question for people old enough to remember R129 and R230 launches: were people upset about the SL sharing headlight design with cheaper models back in the day?

The patent design images certainly don't do justice to the design of this car. Gonna be a looker.

No not at all. The R129 was one of the most stunning cars Mercedes has introduced in the modern era. Even though it was 10 years newer than the 190E, 300E and 560SEL of the day it fit right in, yet looked futuristic and pointed to the future at the same time. A real neat trick. The R231 SL did it in reverse, it aged the min it came out and looked terrible.

I know it's off topic, but this road test of the 1990 500SL says it all.

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M

 

[Gamblerman]

 

[PINHEAD]

I miss the collapsible hard top and don't like the black shiny plastic inner parts.

 

[wagnechris]

Wow, is this the A Class Facelift?

 

[sl123]

Also off topic: Popped out roll over bar of the R129 saved the drivers life. High tech at its best

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