First Drive: 2013 Mercedes SL550
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,549
Likes: 230
From: San Francisco, CA
Yes, that bothered me from the day it came out. Its also prevalent on the SLC (then SLK). I could never own a car that had an overall symmetrical theme but was not fully symmetrical.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,445
Likes: 373
From: ON/NY
That is why I had mentioned it, I never noticed it in previous pictures, but the moment I sat down inside the car I noticed it right away. I cannot believe that Mercedes would have some sort of reason or excuse for doing it. It seems to odd for such an expensive car. Its almost like Mercedes has a design flaw.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,430
Likes: 249
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
What was astonishing was that the centre screen, HVAC vents were not lined up with the centre of the stack. I thought this was unacceptable from a design standpoint. If you look carefully, the top half of the dash looks out of place with the bottom part.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this matter?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,309
Likes: 31
From: Canada
IMO, it has to do with available real estate (horizontal space on the dashboard and vertical space on the centre stack), and styling language requirements.
Unlike the C-Class and E-Class coupes, which are more 2-door versions of 4-door sedans, the S-Class coupes have always been true low-slung coupes. That gives little vertical centre-stack space. That means all displays and HVAC vents must be arrayed horizontally.
The main instrument display pod containing the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temp gauges, and monitoring lights will require a certain amount of horizontal space. The HVAC vents will require space, and now that MB has gone back to traditional, round vents, they seem to require greater horizontal space.
That leaves limited space for the infotainment display. To keep the display screen centred, MB could have placed it above the vents (as they do in the sedans and SUVs) but that would either leave the display screen sticking up very high (as in the Toyota C-HR) or leave the HVAC and audio controls very low and in front of the traditional gearshift lever (remembering that vertical space is very limited in a coupe).
Placing the infotainment display screen between the vents, albeit off-centre, keeps the dashboard as low as possible.
Unlike the C-Class and E-Class coupes, which are more 2-door versions of 4-door sedans, the S-Class coupes have always been true low-slung coupes. That gives little vertical centre-stack space. That means all displays and HVAC vents must be arrayed horizontally.
The main instrument display pod containing the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temp gauges, and monitoring lights will require a certain amount of horizontal space. The HVAC vents will require space, and now that MB has gone back to traditional, round vents, they seem to require greater horizontal space.
That leaves limited space for the infotainment display. To keep the display screen centred, MB could have placed it above the vents (as they do in the sedans and SUVs) but that would either leave the display screen sticking up very high (as in the Toyota C-HR) or leave the HVAC and audio controls very low and in front of the traditional gearshift lever (remembering that vertical space is very limited in a coupe).
Placing the infotainment display screen between the vents, albeit off-centre, keeps the dashboard as low as possible.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,430
Likes: 249
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
IMO, it has to do with available real estate (horizontal space on the dashboard and vertical space on the centre stack), and styling language requirements.
Unlike the C-Class and E-Class coupes, which are more 2-door versions of 4-door sedans, the S-Class coupes have always been true low-slung coupes. That gives little vertical centre-stack space. That means all displays and HVAC vents must be arrayed horizontally.
The main instrument display pod containing the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temp gauges, and monitoring lights will require a certain amount of horizontal space. The HVAC vents will require space, and now that MB has gone back to traditional, round vents, they seem to require greater horizontal space.
That leaves limited space for the infotainment display. To keep the display screen centred, MB could have placed it above the vents (as they do in the sedans and SUVs) but that would either leave the display screen sticking up very high (as in the Toyota C-HR) or leave the HVAC and audio controls very low and in front of the traditional gearshift lever (remembering that vertical space is very limited in a coupe).
Placing the infotainment display screen between the vents, albeit off-centre, keeps the dashboard as low as possible.
Unlike the C-Class and E-Class coupes, which are more 2-door versions of 4-door sedans, the S-Class coupes have always been true low-slung coupes. That gives little vertical centre-stack space. That means all displays and HVAC vents must be arrayed horizontally.
The main instrument display pod containing the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temp gauges, and monitoring lights will require a certain amount of horizontal space. The HVAC vents will require space, and now that MB has gone back to traditional, round vents, they seem to require greater horizontal space.
That leaves limited space for the infotainment display. To keep the display screen centred, MB could have placed it above the vents (as they do in the sedans and SUVs) but that would either leave the display screen sticking up very high (as in the Toyota C-HR) or leave the HVAC and audio controls very low and in front of the traditional gearshift lever (remembering that vertical space is very limited in a coupe).
Placing the infotainment display screen between the vents, albeit off-centre, keeps the dashboard as low as possible.
However, the Camaro is also a low-slung car, and, conversely, they addressed the air vent spacing problem (and using quite large circular vents at that) by putting the vents very low in front of the console. That generally works, though, of course, it means chilling or baking your hand down there when you are using the shifter or other controls. The vents are also unique in that you rotate them left or right to mix in heat or cold (note the red/blue arrows).
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,309
Likes: 31
From: Canada
Generally a good overall summary.
However, the Camaro is also a low-slung car, and, conversely, they addressed the air vent spacing problem (and using quite large circular vents at that) by putting the vents very low in front of the console. That generally works, though, of course, it means chilling or baking your hand down there when you are using the shifter or other controls. The vents are also unique in that you rotate them left or right to mix in heat or cold (note the red/blue arrows).
However, the Camaro is also a low-slung car, and, conversely, they addressed the air vent spacing problem (and using quite large circular vents at that) by putting the vents very low in front of the console. That generally works, though, of course, it means chilling or baking your hand down there when you are using the shifter or other controls. The vents are also unique in that you rotate them left or right to mix in heat or cold (note the red/blue arrows).
