26 Votes

Is this Mercedes' next sports car?

dannyboy2 submitted on 9/25/2007 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 10:22:18 AM

33 user comments | Category: Spy Shots | Source: | SOURCE: www.motorauthority.com

Mercedes-Benz and its performance divisions AMG and HWA are working on a host of new sports cars with a number of prototypes already spotted testing at both the Nurburgring and America’s Death Valley.

Yesterday, spy images of a new Black Series version of the facelifted SL surfaced and last month images of another prototype dubbed the SLC turned up. We now have new renderings of a third Mercedes sports car said to be in development, a gull-winged coupe based on a shortened SL platform described as a spiritual successor to the original 300 SL.

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— dannyboy2 (View Profile)

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Heavily borrowing from Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, but that's a good thing.
— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 11:58:05 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

I guess you could say that… but since Mercedes-Benz had previously used these lines of design it would be more retro than a take or “borrowing” of another manufacturer’s designs. Remember ‘david999’ we are talking about Mercedes-Benz here not Lexus. MB is not about to copy a design to get people motivated around their product; they are true leaders in design and innovation.
— Airliner (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 12:38:57 PM | | Votes: 2

It's a chop, those are the current E class headlights.
— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 12:56:39 PM | | Votes: 5

Excuse me Airliner? Mercedes copied the 4 headlights of their E class from the Lexus SC300 and SC400 and the original GS. Do some research before you post!
— david989 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 1:39:22 PM | | Votes: -8

@ David 989 - the original GS had ONE headlight on each side, whereas MB introduced the 4 headlights as late as 1995 E-Class. The first time Lexus GS had four headlights was during the 1997/8 introduction of the second model year. Why do you consistently post inaccuracies?
— Cynical (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 1:49:46 PM | | Votes: 5

correction, 1996 e-class. 1995 was still on the w124/300e platform
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 2:21:19 PM | | Votes: 2

Cynical, to be completely acurate, the 4-round-headlight design on the E Class was introduced on the 1996 model year. In mid 97 a similar design was on the Lexus GS (98 model year). Although the SC had the 4 round headlights even earlier than the E class, its a different type of car, so, if you really want to argue about it, the GS copied the Merc - but - that GS was way ahead of the 96 E class...which MB remedied quite nicely in 2003.
— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 2:30:00 PM | | Votes: 3

I think the US-Spec W123 was actually the first Mercedes to use the 4 light design for that model range.

http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/pines/6633/gallery/w123_300D_Turbo.jpg
— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 2:40:02 PM | | Votes: 1

"Excuse me Airliner? Mercedes copied the 4 headlights of their E class from the Lexus SC300 and SC400 and the original GS. Do some research before you post!"

Well if you want to talk about copy, the first Mercedes cars were circular headlights, and that was LONG LONG LONG time ago.
— w211Benz (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 9:59:51 PM | | Votes: 4

I love it, although its a chop using the Alfa.
— golfer38 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 12:21:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Very nice design, but it does look like Ferrari and Alfa and Porsche.
— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 12:24:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

It looks more like the original than anything.
— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 1:42:46 PM | | Votes: 2

You're right it does as well.
— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 1:53:44 PM | | Votes: 2

i say that the car will have the front of the new c-class. It'll be sharp and angular like the Caddy's XLR, but done right!
— nembogt (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 12:24:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Wow..interesting!
— SixxFive (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 12:33:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

looks good, but I prefer the other concept sl gullwing.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mandrews.exclusivestm.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/gull1.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://www.mandrews.exclusivestm.com/%3Fp%3D65&h=360&w=480&sz=80&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=zLnh8hK4q6GVUM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3D300sl%2Bgullwing%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
— snatchandgrab (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 12:36:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Interesting... In a good way!

Certainly looks like an SL-300 G/W successor to me...
— DaHarder (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 2:09:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

best photoshop i've ever seen. produce it...NOW!
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 2:22:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Great post Cynical!!
You totally owned David, no news since...LOL
— mmeecc (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 2:30:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

is it a Lexus? if not then it isn't anything.

Why do MB, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche, Bugatti, and all the other "premuim" brands even bother? Lexus is wiping the floor with them.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 2:40:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

lol
— Kinger (View Profile)

Posted on 9/26/2007 8:21:46 AM | | Votes: 3

Good one Lex.... Almost had me going there.
— mmeecc (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 2:53:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Wow, what a stunning interpretation of the classic 300SL gullwings. I like it.
— 07mcs (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 6:42:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Where would this fit into the lineup? More expensive than SL? Kind of competing with the 911 and R8?
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2007 11:07:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Didn't even look at the article. Of COURSE it would be more than the SL. You're looking at $250K for this one- far out of R8 territory.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 9/26/2007 12:53:49 AM | | Votes: 1

Mercedes copied lexus because it used a 4 light design? This is probably the funniest thing I have ever heard. Mercedes invented most of the worlds automotive safety and technological features including Airbags, ABS, crumple zones, Traction Control etc. Not to mention they practically invented the AUTOMOBILE! So I guess if you used that mind-set, every automobile company copied MB??

"Karl Benz was the German mechanical engineer who designed and in 1885 built the world's first practical automobile to be powered by an internal-combustion engine. "
— kablaam (View Profile)

Posted on 9/26/2007 12:54:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

"Mercedes copied lexus because it used a 4 light design?"

yup.

mb also copied the TOYOTA 4Runner, in the sleek c-pillars they put on the current ML.

the 4 separated headlights were also used on the early 90's celica.
— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 9/26/2007 7:05:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Didn't MB have 4 separated lights on their cars from the seventies?
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/26/2007 11:37:10 AM | | Votes: 1

I agree, great photoshop design, though if merc built this porsche would scream bloody murder. The front facia (from the headlights on down) is a 911 Turbo with a merc badge...nothin' but.

No one mentioned this vehcile (but since most people on this sight don't like domestics I'm not surprised) but the body lines are EXTREMELY similar to a 1963 Corvette.
— Spectator (View Profile)

Posted on 9/26/2007 3:28:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

consider the similarities between the vette and gullwing...
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/27/2007 10:56:05 AM | | Votes: 1

point well made
— Spectator (View Profile)

Posted on 9/27/2007 12:26:49 PM | | Votes: 1

point well made
— Spectator (View Profile)

Posted on 9/27/2007 12:26:55 PM | | Votes: 1

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Is this Mercedes' next sports car?

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