The new Mercedes C-Class? Don't count on it

Here at Leftlane we love artist's illustrations of yet-to-be-released cars as much as the next guy. But such images become a problem when folks start passing them off as the real thing -- especially when said illustrations are very believable. This morning, a number of automotive websites began running images of what they say is the 2007/2008 Mercedes C-Class. Official photo leaks are certainly not uncommon, but these images are anything but official. See the images and an explanation after the jump...





While relatively realistic, there are a few flaws in these photos that confirm they are not authentic:

• Note the shape of the headlight. It is sharper and more stretched than the spy shots show.


• Have a look at the seam between the hood and the a-pillar. In the spy photos, the seam runs vertically. In the "leaked" photos, it runs horizontally, as on the past C-Class.


• The shape of the rear taillight is completely wrong -- it does not match any recent spy photos.


• The seams that converge at the headlights are not placed correctly.