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We usually try and reserve judgment when it comes to aftermarket styling packages. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and different people prefer different styles. In this case, however, we have to take exception with this body kit from Wald. First the name - Black Bison Edition? We can understand the metaphor of a prancing horse or a raging bull, but this one just doesn't make sense. And the actual body kit? The massive rear wing on a Mercedes-Benz screams boy racer, and the excessive vents don't go very well with subtle German styling. The only redemption are the semi-attractive two-tone wheels. We'll have to pass on this one...
[Source: eMercedesBenz.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Mike @ Jul 24th 2008 4:06PM
Will it blend?
Dave @ Jul 24th 2008 4:17PM
No, absolutely not. Nothing on there blends. At all.The saddest thing about this is that someone, somewhere, found this car to be attractive.
Wow-ed @ Jul 24th 2008 4:48PM
Don't be a queer and take it our of context...
That being said, "WALD smoke, don't breathe [or buy] this."
GeoTracker @ Jul 24th 2008 6:01PM
Think he was referring to this:
http://www.willitblend.com/
Geeky1 @ Jul 24th 2008 4:07PM
So THAT'S where the wings Subaru had left over from the last-gen STI went. Jesus.
Seriously though guys, does it really need a carrying handle?
Torrent @ Jul 24th 2008 5:03PM
http://www.allpar.com/images/Superbird.jpg
Torrent @ Jul 24th 2008 6:04PM
Stupid link
There you go:
http://www.dreams-cars.net/images/Galerie/Plymouth/Plymouth_Superbird_1970/Plymouth_Superbird_1970_05.jpg
PJ @ Jul 24th 2008 10:35PM
Somewhere, a Merc 190E 2.5 16V Evo II is rolling in its grave...
Erik Tomlinson @ Jul 24th 2008 10:48PM
It looks like a pig with a popped collar. The guys who drive this will probably have popped collars too... I just feel like punching anyone who would buy this poor car.
nighttime @ Jul 24th 2008 10:59PM
I'd rather see a REAL Bison fly sideways around a track, than this
thing!
Geeky1 @ Jul 24th 2008 11:17PM
PJ: No joke.
Vintage @ Jul 24th 2008 4:07PM
Foglights of fury!
Alex @ Jul 24th 2008 4:08PM
if it's functional, i'll deal with it.
otherwise, get it off the car.
=]
BlackCanary @ Jul 24th 2008 4:10PM
functional or not it is ugly.
mk @ Jul 25th 2008 1:34AM
It is completely out of place aesthetically...
But I have always wondered, don't roof-edge spoilers, like this car and other "tuned" sedans sometimes have, actually disturb the laminar boundary layer of airflow, and separate it from the surface of the back glass? It would theoretically be a tumble generator, and a true "spoiler", creating air vortices in the area behind the rear glass, above the trunk, raising the ambient air pressure in that area, and lowering aerodynamic drag. A similar principle to having a spoiler on the trailing edge of the trunk lid to generate vortices behind the vehicle.
The thing is, employing an inverse airfoil wing behind such a vortex generator, doesn't that lessen any high velocity linear aerodynamic flow over that airfoil, rendering it pretty much extra weight?
Either leaving the roof spoiler off, or employing some sort of laminar flow aid (like the 2007 WRX STI's odd wing at the top of the rear glass) that would keep the laminar flow attached to the rear glass, and channeling that flow under and over that rear wing surface would optimize the inverse lift of the inverted wing. Velocity differential is how wings work, so I would think smooth high velocity flow would be desireable. Not crazy vortices.
But that assumes that there are actual aerodynamic forces being planned for this car, and that this isn't just an excercise in fashion, rather than 'fast'. Chances are, it is for looks, and looks alone.
Duders @ Jul 25th 2008 3:17AM
I'm excited to see someone else on here with some general fluid dynamics knowledge. PS mk, you're totally right. I wanted to provide another theory as to how that spoiler might play some positive role in creating more downforce for the rear end of the car but figured it wasn't worth the time just to, in essence, play devil's advocate. My argument was based around the fact that the first spoiler would create an area under itself and, depending on how fast the c ar was moving, behind itself of low pressure. Allowing the faster moving air to travel above it directly into the rear spoiler, more drag and thus more downforce. But I'm sure that this spoiler is merely cosmetic and does absolutely nothing.
BlackCanary @ Jul 24th 2008 4:09PM
Looks like a 16yr old kid was able to put some mods on his Dad's benz that he ordered from the local ricer race shop!
richbum @ Jul 24th 2008 4:52PM
Well then if you're 16, thats probably a ridiculously awsome car to own. Hell, I would be damn proud to drive it.
azzo45 @ Jul 24th 2008 5:10PM
OK... this package sucks, especially for a Benz...
...BUT all the "ricer" comments... I hate that F-ing term!!! The Evo & WRXsti have the large wings because the WRC versions had 'em & could this kit be a cheesy nod to the Mercedes DTM cars???
That would not be "ricer"... sorry to vent but I really HATE that term!
Geeky1 @ Jul 24th 2008 6:43PM
azzo:
I drive a STI (Limited, purchased in no small part because it doesn't have the wing) and even *I* think the STI wing is rice. It serves no purpose except to attract unwanted attention and block the view out of the rear window. It looks absolutely, utterly retarded and is virtually a textbook case of rice.