Is this Mercedes' next sports car?

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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david999 - 9/25/2007 11:58:05 AM

-2 Boost

Heavily borrowing from Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, but that's a good thing.

Airliner - 9/25/2007 12:38:57 PM

+2 Boost

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.

M35MT - 9/25/2007 12:56:39 PM

+5 Boost

It's a chop, those are the current E class headlights.

david989 - 9/25/2007 1:39:22 PM

-8 Boost

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!

Cynical - 9/25/2007 1:49:46 PM

+5 Boost

@ 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?

M35MT - 9/25/2007 2:30:00 PM

+3 Boost

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.

Threepoint1415926 - 9/25/2007 2:40:02 PM

+1 Boost

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

w211Benz - 9/25/2007 9:59:51 PM

+4 Boost

"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.

golfer38 - 9/25/2007 12:21:08 PM

0 Boost

I love it, although its a chop using the Alfa.

Designer1 - 9/25/2007 12:24:04 PM

0 Boost

Very nice design, but it does look like Ferrari and Alfa and Porsche.

w209w114 - 9/25/2007 1:42:46 PM

+2 Boost

It looks more like the original than anything.

Designer1 - 9/25/2007 1:53:44 PM

+2 Boost

You're right it does as well.

nembogt - 9/25/2007 12:24:13 PM

+1 Boost

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!

SixxFive - 9/25/2007 12:33:06 PM

+1 Boost

Wow..interesting!

snatchandgrab - 9/25/2007 12:36:42 PM

+1 Boost

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

DaHarder - 9/25/2007 2:09:36 PM

0 Boost

Interesting... In a good way!

Certainly looks like an SL-300 G/W successor to me...

mmeecc - 9/25/2007 2:30:06 PM

0 Boost

Great post Cynical!!
You totally owned David, no news since...LOL

LexSucks - 9/25/2007 2:40:59 PM

-1 Boost

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.

Kinger - 9/26/2007 8:21:46 AM

+3 Boost

lol

mmeecc - 9/25/2007 2:53:17 PM

-1 Boost

Good one Lex.... Almost had me going there.

07mcs - 9/25/2007 6:42:33 PM

+1 Boost

Wow, what a stunning interpretation of the classic 300SL gullwings. I like it.

S4cabriofoxone - 9/25/2007 11:07:16 PM

+1 Boost

Where would this fit into the lineup? More expensive than SL? Kind of competing with the 911 and R8?

S4cabriofoxone - 9/26/2007 12:53:49 AM

+1 Boost

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.

kablaam - 9/26/2007 12:54:12 AM

+2 Boost

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. "

XYZZ - 9/26/2007 7:05:55 AM

+1 Boost

"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.

LexSucks - 9/26/2007 11:37:10 AM

+1 Boost

Didn't MB have 4 separated lights on their cars from the seventies?

Spectator - 9/26/2007 3:28:22 PM

+1 Boost

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 - 9/27/2007 12:26:49 PM

+1 Boost

point well made

Spectator - 9/27/2007 12:26:55 PM

+1 Boost

point well made