Mercedes-Benz used to be able to charge whatever it wanted for its luxury cars because, well, it could. But times have clearly changed, with formidable competition coming not just from BMW, Audi, and Cadillac, but also from Lexus, Infiniti, and even Hyundai’s compelling Genesis. Add to that an economic crisis that has even fancy folks hoarding their dollars, and the luxury-sedan picture is one where even Mercedes-Benz has to get aggressive about the pricing of its products. And so the $49,475 base price of the V-6–powered 2010 E350 sedan, which represents a massive $4600 drop in price from 2009, should be of no surprise. Still, the huge price reduction is noteworthy, especially considering the new standard equipment such as Attention Assist, driver knee and front pelvis airbags, and full-panic Pre-Safe automatic emergency braking system. If two doors and sexier styling is your thing, the 2010 E350 coupe will actually undercut its four-door sibling with a base price of $48,925. That’s roughly the same price as the 2009 CLK350, the car the E350 coupe replaces. The 382-hp, V-8–powered E550 sedan, previously $62,575, tumbles $5400 to $57,175, while its coupe counterpart starts at $55,525, somewhat lower than the 2009 CLK550. All prices include an $875 destination fee, but E550 coupe buyers may face an additional gas-guzzler surcharge. 4Matic all-wheel-drive will add $2500 to the price of either sedan, but it won’t be offered on the coupe. Future Model Timeline Provided The E-class coupes and the rear-wheel-drive versions of the sedans will be the first to arrive at dealerships in June of this year. All-wheel-drive sedans will appear in September. We will see the fire-breathing 518-hp E63 AMG sedan in November. In March 2010, Mercedes-Benz will launch the next-generation diesel-powered, 50-state compliant E350 BlueTec four-door. Finally, the E350 wagon will appear in June of 2010 with standard all-wheel drive and a lower price following the example of the sedans; it will probably start in the low- to mid-$50K range. According to Bernhard Glaser, general manager of product development, a hybrid model “is in the works, but a couple of years out.” Mercedes-Benz E-Class Pricing Announced (U.S.) Just like I stated from the start, this is only a name change......the new E "Coupe" is priced just like the CLK was...less than the E-Class sedans. Why they felt the need to change the name and not the actual positioning of the car in price/stature is beyond me. M
The article claims the prices of the vehicles have dropped because of an economic crisis? Sounds more to me like Mercedes is feeling the heat from its competitors and is reacting in this manor to counter it. Good for the consumer.
I think so too. Mercs have a tendency to be more expensive than BMW and Audi counter parts and cutting the price does make the cars more appealing to the consumers, especially now when car sales are in the toilet. Like Marcus said, changing the name to E-Coupe is stupidity of the year. This will not make life easier for consumers, especially when the they step inside the E-coupe to find that it has an inferior interior to the E, and has a smaller option list. Pure and simple false marketing.
^ASAIK MB officially said that the E-coupe shares with the new E much more than it does with the C so i think all is good
Interesting Automobile Magazine look at the coupe: The CLK enjoyed two generations (the 1998 C208-chassis and the 2003 C209-chassis), the second being the far better car, with interior materials again befitting a vehicle wearing a three-pointed star. (If we're being honest, the C208-like many late 1990s Mercedes models-wasn't quite up to the quality and reliability standards that buyers of Daimler-Benz vehicles had come to expect.) Thankfully, Mercedes has cleaned up its act considerably-in terms of quality, and now it's cleaning house in terms of its naming scheme. The CLK name proved confusing to customers, not by virtue of the particular three letters, but because there are so many other vehicles in the Mercedes lineup. Quick quiz: what's the difference between a C, CL, CLK, and CLS? You get the point. To help customers keep track of what Mercedes is what, the CLK is being renamed the E-class coupe for the C207-chassis. Unlike the old C124, it's not merely a two-door version of the sedan. In fact, it's not really based on the sedan at all. Mercedes insist that sixty percent of the coupe's structure and parts comes from E-class, but of course that means that the other forty come from somewhere else. In this case, it's the C-class. 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupe - Mercedes Benz Luxury Coupe Review - Automobile Magazine M
To put prices in a clear perspective: 2010 E350 Sedan $48,600 - $4600 less than the 2009 E350 2010 E350 Coupe $48,050 - $50 less than the 2009 CLK350 2010 E550 Sedan $56,300 - $5400 less than the 2009 E550 2010 E550 Coupe $54,650 - $2150 less than the 2009 CLK550 Mercedes Benz | Atlanta Classic Cars | Jesse Cannon-Wallace M
That tells me that it will have longer option list, and more expensive options, which means more confusion. MB shouldn't apologize for price. Cut the options, build the best, ask the most. Anyone got access to an official press release?
Very smart move by M-B, as I think they'll need it. Both for the current Economic climate, and for the polarizing styling (we'll see where the general opinion consensus shifts after the cars been out for a couple of years). What worries me though, is that there must be cost savings done here and there to the vehicle in comparison to the last model (I've noticed this in the current years with M-B). If think the W204 was a big step down from the W203 in terms of luxury and refinement, and am wondering if (especially with the lower price) if the E is going the same route.... Either way, this will keep the car competitive and units moving.
There is no way on earth the W204 is a step down from the W203 in any form or fashion. The W203, especially pre-facelift was an embarrassment of the worst kind. The only thing the W204 needs are some updated engines and a some richer trim pieces in certain key areas. W203 to W204 no contest, the W204 is superior in 99 percent of the criteria. M
Well, stylistically speaking I'll say I'm torn between the two, I'd been staring at W203's for the last 7 years (they're EVERYWHERE in L.A, literally everywhere) so when the W204 came out I saw it as an improvement. Now I'd say tie in terms of looks, the W204 has a more angular look which helps a car of a smaller size look stronger, but the W203 has a sleeker and smoother design albeit a bit too soft for a car of such a small size. I will say in the the 203's defense, I don't see it as looking dated in the least since the W204 came out. I know a girl who has a late model 203 and when I showed her and her friend a 204 saying it's the replacement of the 203, they thought it (the 204) looked older, of course these aren't "car people" so these things go over their heads a lot. Of course looks are subjective, but that's my opinion. Interior wise I'd say the W203 has a huge advantage over the W204, I've driven both more than enough and am in no way impressed with the 204's more solid and durable vibe over the 203's more elegant approach, to me a Benz should be about the latter (solid and durable are great, but not when that's all you get, i.e an industrialized vibe like the 204's). I can't stress enough how displeased I am with what M-B did with the 204's interior. Plus the 203 had a proper built in screen, the 204 has what to me personally is a cheesy pop up screen akin to an aftermarket unit. And the small hooded non-Nav unit just looks low-fi all around to me. But I will agree that engineering wise and solidity wise, handling, reliability, Safety, etc. etc. the W204 is a big improvement as it should be. I have no doubts the W212 will be an improvement over the 211 in those areas as well, but it's all the other stuff that I so far think are the other way around.
Ok so you don't like the design and asthetics....that is a personal thing and worlds different from saying its a bad car. For me, what the W204 lacks in interior warmth and sleekness of exterior compared to the facelifted W203 is easily trumped by its better build quality, solidy and available features....and the last C350 Sport I drove with the 18 inch wheels was an absolute riot to drive. Car handles likes it on rails. M
Yeah looks like agree with you on all those. Build quality is up with the 204, but the emotion isn't there as much as the 203 IMO, less fancy and warm interior, and although a nicely appointed 204 will make me turn my head every now and then, when I see a super clean '06-'07 203 driving all decked out with the AMG package, I really admire the flawlessly cohesive design and how it doesn't look like an "old" model at all.... To me that says a lot as I've seen so many 203's in my life I'm partially numb to them, and usually don't even consider myself a fan of the car due to that. The 204's plus points I agree with too, handles amazing (although you get a little trade-off with a relatively hard and low dampened reaction to rough bumps). The car is rock solid, but that's where M-B stopped with it IMO, they just didn't finesse and charm it enough on top of the solidity. BTW have you seen it's IIHS Side Crash Test results? :eusa_clap Literally looks like NOTHING hit it.
Well I guess I see it as them going back to their stark/asture past....same thing with the new E. Yes the C350 Sport I drove did give a "sporty" ride on bumpy roads true...something that must be experienced/driven before someone purchases. That type of safety is what makes a Mercedes a Mercedes....I'm sure they'll touch up the interior come facelift time. Though I don't know how much S-Class you can build into a C-Class interior. The old W203 had more interior improvements because they were sorely needed and the cheaped out on the whole car, but not this time around so in the reverse something had to give....hence a few cold/hard trim pieces here and there. I just realized (from your avatar) you're on MBWorld too...great! M
You know, on the subject of Safety I want to bring this up, as it seems there are some pretty "in the know" people here.... The W211 which has proved to be one of the safest cars ever made (the last IIHS stats chart released showed it had the lowest death rate stat using a scale per every 100K or so cars sold, in the mid-size and below segment - I think there was only one car that had a lower d. rate than it, the 7-Series). However looking at its Side Crash Test on IIHS, it performed far differently than the W204, as there was more intrusion from the B-Pillar into the driver seat, giving it a relatively low Side score. I know M-B's are all about "real world Safety", but that kind of made me think, either these Tests don't tell the full story in how safe a car is (IIHS just released a Story stating that very fact actually), or the W211 isn't as "tank-like" as one (who drives one) would hope. Also, isn't the W211 the first car to use ultra high strength steel extensively? Or was it ultra light weight aluminum that it introduced....
