S-Class spy shots

[darkswordsman17]

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/29/2014-mercedes-benz-s-class-interior-caught-in-spy-shots/

D: at that interior. Its like they took one of those squared off 80s dashes and slapped the wood trim from late 90s/early 2000s Cadillac and a couple of widescreen tablets onto it. Looks really chintzy to me.

 

[phucheneh]

Well that's a few MB threads popping up...

I like the outside of this better than some of their other stuff (was just critiquing the C in the other thread). It has a lot less of that 'someone took the car and bent it across their knee' thing going on.

That interior is weird, though. And are they really going through with that LCD cluster? That just does not seem like a good idea for night driving.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I think most car makers are moving to displays for gauge clusters. I'm not sure how it'll work out either. What I find baffling is that instead of using the freedom of placement of a display they're basically just putting it in the same place. Give us a big circular tablet steering wheel (or two displays, a top one for speed and gauges/critical info like that, and then a bottom one that allows you to customize controls and can change so if you get a call it automatically changes to buttons for that).

I wonder how long before we get a skin to complete the 80s digital look?

 

[manimal]

Well that's a few MB threads popping up...

I like the outside of this better than some of their other stuff (was just critiquing the C in the other thread). It has a lot less of that 'someone took the car and bent it across their knee' thing going on.

That interior is weird, though. And are they really going through with that LCD cluster? That just does not seem like a good idea for night driving.

Ya its mercedes week at the garage


Funny thing is I spent the day with a CL55AMG doing plugs, wires, evap temp sensor and its 100k service.


That interior has a retro feel. I dont mind it. The rear seat cluster looks like a robot!

 

[Throckmorton]

Enjoy navigating a menu to change your AC temperature setting. Because it's more advanced it must be better right? Right?

 

[phucheneh]

Enjoy navigating a menu to change your AC temperature setting. Because it's more advanced it must be better right? Right?

I've stated this more than once.

However, you will notice that they did at least include what appear to be actual buttons for base functionality. There are already manufacturers making completely non-tactile controls, though...

I honestly think they need to pass regulations. Just like there are emissions and safety standards, OBD compliance, and whatever other standards, we need some for driver controls. I think we've already settled on the steering wheel and 2/3 pedals...but I would fully support law that required standardized controls for basic HVAC and stereo functionality.

That could save lives on cars WITHOUT touchscreens. God help us when everyone is trying to use an iPad while they drive.

And standardize the damn wipers and lights, while you're at it. I hate damned backwards wiper switches.

 

[Pariah]

Spy shots? Looks more like a photoshoot. Those interior shots were clearly taken by someone seated inside the car. Did someone at Mercedes forget to lock the doors, while leaving the key in the ignition? Then the photographer snuck in, pulled the cover off the dash and started snapping photos? Has to be an intentional "leak" by Mercedes. Good move on their part, the interior is ugly and maybe the negative feedback will convince them to change it.

 

[mafia]

Or they are playing a massive trick on everyone, and in reality, the interior is completely different?

Usually whenever a new S class comes out, it symbolizes what most car interior will look like and what technologies we will see in the near future. Notice how in 2007 when the current body W221 came out, how all other luxury car brands started "copying" the general look of it, both inside and out.

 

[GoatMonkey]

I really hate 2 spoke steering wheels. That's just hideous.

I'm not so sure that lcd panel for gauges is real. It looks like someone stuck their tablet in front of the gauges. I have a hard time believing a lot of the stuff in that interior. Would a new S-class really have a key in the dash? Even cheap cars have keyless start now.

 

[Vic Vega]

Reminds me of "hang on air" from the 50s and 60s.

I'm surprised car interiors haven't gone this direction with large screens sooner.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Enjoy navigating a menu to change your AC temperature setting. Because it's more advanced it must be better right? Right?

I drove a 2012 C350 Coupe yesterday and none of the climate controls are accessed through the COMAND system. Only the entertainment system, NAV, and those various systems are controlled through it, and they are also voice controlled simply by pressing a button on the steering wheel. The heat and A/C are all controlled through two dials in front of the shift lever on the console. It works fairly well and I doubt I would have much trouble using it.

I guess you could do everything through voice commands but it would probably be confusing to some of the people in the target audience for a car like this (meaning rich old people who don't geek out on stuff like this).

 

[Insomniator]

Lol at that interior.

I actually like that they are trying to throwback to the old 80's style which i ****ing love... at least they are thinking about it! They just need to try again...

Just make this again please:

 

[nerp]

I've stated this more than once.

However, you will notice that they did at least include what appear to be actual buttons for base functionality. There are already manufacturers making completely non-tactile controls, though...

I honestly think they need to pass regulations. Just like there are emissions and safety standards, OBD compliance, and whatever other standards, we need some for driver controls. I think we've already settled on the steering wheel and 2/3 pedals...but I would fully support law that required standardized controls for basic HVAC and stereo functionality.

That could save lives on cars WITHOUT touchscreens. God help us when everyone is trying to use an iPad while they drive.

And standardize the damn wipers and lights, while you're at it. I hate damned backwards wiper switches.

One thing about my Dodge with the UConnect system is that it's very responsive and logical so it's not hard to access pretty much any control or setting easily without too much trouble. That said, I can still control the radio, volume, heat, A/C, and a few other things with actual buttons and knobs if I want to. It has the right amount of buttons. Too many buttons gets cluttery way too fast, man. I prefer things like whether my DRLs are on/off or the lights-on after engine off/clock duration buried in the menus. No need for every last toggle to be physically represented with a button somewhere in the car.

Interestingly, I tend to leave my car's heat/ac to "auto" and pick a temp of 73 degrees and never mess with the climate settings, ever. It's actually kind of nice not having to adjust the heat. I sometimes fantasize about driving from the top of a mountain into the hot desert and watch the system adjust as I drop altitude. Anyway, the automation for climate control works terrific in my car and I can see how removing buttons makes sense when the system works perfectly. It's when the system/software is a PITA and there's no manual override that you want to start gnawing on the steering wheel and scream out loud.

 

[amyklai]

LOL, the car has a license plate from my home town.