1. Does anyone really look at these cars (CLS500 and X6) and think they are coupes? I hear coupe, but I look at it and only see sedan. MB and BMW can call them whatever they want, but that doesn't change what they are. I still like both vehicles in concept and design though.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by MarkF

2. The CLS500 is a sedan so it's OK to call it a coupe, I guess. How do you call a 4-door SUV a coupe?

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Sid Ghosh

3. That thing needs a swastika and a gun turret.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Jim

4. No idea where else to put them.
These are the first official photos of the
new Mercedes S-Class.
http://www.auto-motor-sport.de/d/85285
I thought it is worth posting them somewhere on here.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Terp

5. They do just slab on sheetmetal to do testing. That you don't know this demonstrates a lack of automotive industry understanding.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by snod

6. Yes, the 4 door "coupe" marketing has got to stop and I wish magazines would stop repeating/reinforcing it. I think I already went off on that in another thread, so I'll spare the full repeat.

Besides the latest marketing B.S. oxymoron of a classification, it looks good. However, based on TCC's picture, the X6 looks so low to the ground that it seems hard to determine its place next to the 5.

Speaking of BMW... Most of the morning has gone by and still no Autoblog post about the US GP yet? The biggest thing in motorsports in awhile and not a word so far.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Motorin'

7. Read the actual story!
"The first development mule is now doing laps at Germany's famous N?rgring. These early development mules have a clever modular frame that allows all weight- (and, therefore, handling-) critical items to be positioned differently and in small steps, in order to find their optimum position for superior road-holding, handling, steering, and comfort. Similarly, the mules offer easy access to the suspension geometry, springs, dampers, and steering, which all can be varied and fine-tuned."

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by David Thomas

8. The pic on Car Connection gave the impression that is was some April Fools joke. Yeah, I know it is a development mule with the external design not even close to being finalized, but how can you extrapolate the production version from that mule pic?! Final design looks like something a 9 year with photoshop would come up with.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Digant Jariwala

9. Thanks for the link #4. I think the new S class is a disaster, style-wise. Expterior looks like a Lexus LS (yeah, yeah, Lexus copies Benz design, but every S class design was a step forward, not backward). And the interior looks like a close of the BMW 7 series, complete with iDrive.

For shame.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Digant Jariwala

10. Edit to #8

I meant to say, "Final design looks like something a 9 year old kid with photoshop would come up with."

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Digant Jariwala

11. I'd buy the mule.

At the price this is going to be, there will certainly be a market for someone who wants the newest "unique" thingy. Even if it's a 4x4 four door 'coupe.'

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Seth L

12. So is this going to be kind of like the Subaru Outback sedan? I realize the Outback is a lot cheaper, but it's kind of a soft-roading 4x4 coupe.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by wilsoch

13. I agree with MarkF's comments about four-door "coupes" - they're not fooling anyone. Instead, one ends up with a monsterous car that's got nearly unusable rear seats due to a lack of headroom. Either make a proper sedan, or don't bother with the second set of doors.

I don't know what to make of the "prototype" spy pics. Either it's a joke of some sort, or the Germans have a better sense of humor than they're given credit for having. It would be fun to drive such a vehicle around during rush hour, though.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Eric Bryant

14. UGLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who is coming up with these stupid ideas??

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by EBM14

15. WOW! BMW is making a Charger! How original!

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Mac

16. Four door coupe description suggests that coupes are "cool" or good looking and 4 door cars aren't.

Most coupes make little sense because they're as long and hard to park as their 4 door counterparts and are lower and harder to enter/exit. And having all those SUVs and trucks towering over you isn't such great fun, either.

Coupes need long doors for entry/exit for rear seat passengers. So, even for a single person who rarely uses the back seat, the driver must always use an oversized, heavy door that can be hard to open or close when the car is parked on a steep hill.

And wide doors swing in wide arcs making it very inconvenient if somebody parks too close in a parking lot.

I've had both 2 and 4 door cars and the 4 door models are much easier to live with IMO.

With respect to style, the Infiniti G35, Acura TL, Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series, and others are just as slick and much more useful than coupes, I think.

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by iQuack

17. Haha! Who cares about the pic on top, I want to see that BMW Tank on the streets. That would make my year!

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Scott

18. Well, if you agree with this defintion, not many meet the criteria:

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/coupe

Posted at 11:05PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Richard Warren