2013 Mercedes S-Class Mule First Spy Photos

i fully agree

It's looks were the only good thing going for it...

And considering the prestige of an S class, looks are pretty important.

I completely agree.Mercedes went from setting the trend when it came to designing good looking cars to know producing the ugliest cars in the automotive industry. Why they ever copied Bangles designs is a mystery to me.

if you're referring to the trunk design on the w221 for being bangle-inspired, you must realize that this design first emerged on the maybach which predates the famed "bangle-butt". as for the w220, as beautiful that car was (i liked it too when it came out), it was one of the most flawed s-classes ever made. it was problematic, did not have the quality of the previous w140 and certainly lacked the presence of both the w221 and w140. though the car was sleek, it was also small and underwhelming in presence. and in some angles it looked downright plain (like the side profile). and the interior, though modern and brimming with technology, did not have the quality that the w140 and its predecessors did. it would take a maybach and the w221 to match the older s-class' interior quality.

i agree completely with pismeov. the w220 looked great but it was engineered during MB's cost-cutting Chrysler days. they featured cheap plastics and too many mechanical issues for a car with a star on the bonnet. the w221 is back to the build quality of the w140, it may even surpass it but only time will tell. but the best s-class in recent memory for me is without a doubt the w126. it had more presence than any other large luxury sedan i've ever seen. the w220 fits in, i've confused with the c-class from a distance looking at it from the rear. w126 hands down.

The so called "bangle-butt", or high rear trunk-lid, is an aerodynamic trick to keep moving air attached to the vehicle body as long as possible. This creates considerably less turbulence behind the vehicle when it finally does separate. If you notice, EVERYONE is designing like this now. Complain about the looks each time you pass a gas-station... I love the W126(especially the coupes) but, for me, the 140 is king. (that may just be because I don't have to pay for service though, they are pigs lol)

The "Bangle Butt" was actually on Hyundai models like the Grandeur XG and the Elantra before either the Maybach or the BMW 7. I don't like the current S too much. It looks too much like a Maybach from the rear, the interior is just weird, feels like something between old-fashioned and abstract, and to me isn't as accommodating as the interior of an A8 or a 7 Series. And I never got quite used to the bug-eyed front. The thing about the W220 and even the W140 is that they had class, oozed elegance and were very conservatively handsome. I honestly don't see that in the W221. By all means it is a nice car, but to me it doesn't carry the prestige that previous generations had (and still have).

"the interior is just weird, feels like something between old-fashioned and abstract, and to me isn't as accommodating as the interior of an A8 or a 7 Series. And I never got quite used to the bug-eyed front. The thing about the W220 and even the W140 is that they had class, oozed elegance and were very conservatively handsome. I honestly don't see that in the W221. By all means it is a nice car, but to me it doesn't carry the prestige that previous generations had (and still have)." the interior of the w221 was meant to be a break from the previous interiors of the w140 and w220 which were just littered with too many buttons. the w221 was a return to the simple, elegant, luxury style that the pre-w140 generations had while having more functionality than any generation before it. and its quality far outstrips the w220. and this is the most important thing for a car of this type. the w220 was derided for it cost-cutting. the interior was... humble in terms of quality--much like its style. although the w221 was more aggressively styled than its predecessors, this was a welcome change as the w220 was dull in its base forms and always needed an amg package to have more presence. and i don't understand by your mention of the "bug-eyed front". if you mean the headlights, the w220 also had projectors in it facelifted appearance. all in all, i think the w221 was the return to the imposing, large presence that the s-class lost with the w220. the w220 was small and underwhelming in its presentation. sure it was sleek and it may be a timeless design, but it was a humble design for a class that should be anything but.

...They did not say they would discontinue the 600 class vehicles...the article said the new 5.5 litre twin turbo AMG engine may replace the current V12s...much like what BMW does with the 760 which utilizes a 4.4 litre twin turbo. Both AMG and M power have stated the new models will downsize engines and use turbo charging to increase power and efficiency.

The 760's got a 6.0L twin-turbo V-12...

i fully agree. they should make the ocean drive 4-seat convertible and charge handily for it. that car was simply epic, so beautiful.

I think every manufacturer (at least in this segment) has a long term (10-20 year) business plan set up to ensure that they're never caught in that situation. That, combined with ever-changing technology, and the consumer will always have something new. The manufacturer needs something better the next year model to make sure YOU want to buy it again.

Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Porsche have not given up an inch in the sport department. New Fuel laws require higher fleet mileage and without selling millions of small cars the auto companies must use D.I, turbo charging and other tech to maximize horsepower and decrease fuel consumption. Even Ferrari has stated they will use a new twin turbo V8...so it's kinda hard to say it's the end of performance. The new fuel laws mean it's the end of Old-School performance through big ole inefficient engines that waste fuel. I like the future, all the car makers need to do is design great looking cars with smarter engines that use less fuel.

I wouldmt buy it if it looked like the F700. That is gahstly

s class was allays better than bmw 7!!! bmw was never even close

AMG is applying twin-turbos to the 5.5. litre V8 engine for AMG duty. It hasn't been reported yet but I would imagine they will also twin turbo a 3.0 litre or 3.5 litre for a V6 AMG engine.

agree 100%

Gordon Wagener's not designing it?

Gordon is head of design, but Robert is designer of s-class actually. His concept of S was choosen. Robert also designed Iroc (new scirocco) and he was in team who designed kia soul.