We know being 'Sporty' sells cars nowadays, as being associated with 'Sporty' means on perception wise, your car must drive and handle well, which is what all customers are constantly thinking - Thanks to BMW for their never ending 'Ultimate Driving Machine' and of course all motor journalists that seems to want to take a test car out for a spin through the corners or doing a kick start that involves spinning tyres and tarmac burning action - Even if those are luxury limos, vans, mpvs or mini city cars.
The point is, being SPORTY is overrated, not to say if that's the only qualification of a car you're looking at when buying, then you'll be a traffic offender 100% of your time. Of course, not everyone drives like that, and hell perhaps 99% of drivers around the world don't even do that with their cars.
Therefore, its the impression of someone being seen as a 'Sporty Driver' that helps sells cars nowadays.
Now besides having a sporty profile, engine output, what else is best shouting around to people that you own a sportscar? Or one that befits your 'Sporty' personality?
It seems automaker's marketing department had came up with the best solution ever - Deliberately render the center passenger seats UN-SEATABLE. Absurd right? Take a look and hold your breath whilst considering to shoot your father in law first or his spouse, and if your wife's already pregnant with the third child, and you loved the new Mercedes E-Class Coupe, you might want to push her down the stairs and say sorry.
This is the very problem when some ass holes with a double degree in marketing and sales heads the engineering department. At least Audi's approach in the Sportsback Concept was more subtle and BMW's approach in the new 5-Series GT Concept had that absurdly comfy looking armrest (Below) compared to Mercedes Benz's approach above.
