-Ever since the 300SL was launched in the 1950s, Mercedes-Benz’s flagship roadster has been an icon of style. The original 300SL inspired the elegant 190SL, and the later “Pagoda” version, designed by Paul Bracq, stood out for its lithe, compact shape. The R129, launched in 1989, was the epitome of sleek modernism. But something went wrong with the current model, which debuted for 2013. We’ve previously called it “slightly awkward” and noted that it broke a long line of beautiful design. No one at Mercedes-Benz has been particularly eager to defend its aesthetics since former design chief Peter Pfeiffer retired. READ MORE ››
