What's Wrong With This Picture: SLS AMG/Acura CL Edition
Published: September 29th, 2009
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I understand the idea of retro-inspired cars. Well, in theory anyway. But could someone explain why Mercedes would chose to crib the rear end of a 1998 Acura CL for their SLS AMG?
More by Paul Niedermeyer
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I don't see it at all...there are more similarities between the SLS and the 300SL... And even if you insist that there are similarities, I highly doubt that anyone in Stuttgart has ever seen this America-only car. So if there are similarities at all, they're most likely coincidental.
If those pics are are what passes for similarity, then I'm a dead ringer for Fabio!
The SLS' rear end is an evolved instance of the current paradigm of trunk-lip design, characterized by its cleaving away, its weaning away, from the tail-lamp section and rear flanks. Whom do we have to thank for this design increment? It is Chris Bangle, who introduced and popularized it on the 2001+ 7-series. This might be the full-blown incarnation of this design element on a two seat coupé (the 6-series is the four-seat coupé intro); the Z4's rear is a tamed version of this move.
I see similarities to the Mazda RX-8 at first glance. Not so much the rear in particular as much as the entire rear/side view.