Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Wolfgang]

The first live stream from Paris starts in a few minutes:

A star line-up from Mercedes-Benz and smart is in store at the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris this October: the new generation of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class and the new Mercedes-AMG C 63 - saloon and estate - will have their world premieres. The new Mercedes-AMG GT will also be making its first appearance at a motor show. And the spotlight will also be on the new smart fortwo and forfour when smart reveals the new two- and four-seaters to motor show visitors for the first time.

You can follow the events at the Paris Motor Show 2014 here live at the following dates:

Mercedes-Benz Media Night
October 1
6.30 p.m. (GMT)

Mercedes-Benz & smart Press Conference
October 2
1.15 p.m. (GMT)

Expert Talk "Mercedes-AMG GT"
October 2
3.45 p.m. (GMT)

Expert Talk "Alternative Drivers"
October 2
4.15 p.m. (GMT)

http://www.daimler.com/dccom/0-5-633234-1-1744728-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.html

 

[Wolfgang]

The second press conference just concluded.

These cars were shown (from memory):

New smart fortwo and smart forfour city cars - turning circle champions
Mercedes-AMG GT and GT S with 462 and 510 hp
Mercedes-AMG C 63 Limousine and C 63 Estate
V-Class 4Matic with DSR
New generation B-Class SportsTourer (facelift) with full LED headlamps
B-Class natural gas drive and B-Class electric drive
S 500/550 Plug-In Hybrid with 2.8 liter/100 km consumption and intelligent drive

 

[twistedlifestyle]

Bring on the Mercedes-AMG C Coupe already (impatient)

 

[Wolfgang]

From Autocar:

0942 Andrew Frankel reports: "AMG boss Tobias Moers confirms that all his cars from now will be a) Mercedes-AMGs and not Mercedes-Benzs and b) all rear-drive versions will be fitted with a limited-slip differential as standard."

 

[bum-man]

 

[Wolfgang]

 

[Merc1]

I really wish MB would sell the 4-door Smart here in the U.S. That would be the volume model they sorely need.

Anyway, now that we've got the B FL, S Hybrid, AMG GT and C63 models out the way, what is next? Wolfe?

The SUV coupe thingy? The XXL S-Class models? C Coupe? C450? CLA SB? I thought I read where they have 3 debuts for the L.A. show next month.

M

 

[Wolfgang]

I really wish MB would sell the 4-door Smart here in the U.S. That would be the volume model they sorely need.

With standardised safety regulations, chances may be higher...


Zetsche says the rules cost too much. “Take the example of U.S. and European automotive safety regulations. Both are the strictest in the world. However, the crash tests we carry out still vary. On top of that, different required equipment — think of taillights, turn signals, mirrors, etc. — makes the standardization of our cars, SUVs and trucks impossible,” Zetsche said. “Even small differences in safety regulations result in huge extra costs: We do research twice. We develop twice. We tool, procure and certify twice.” http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140905/AUTO0104/309050095

I thought I read where they have 3 debuts for the L.A. show next month.

M

Yes, here's the plan:

 

[DJRaze99]

Am I interesting whether SL will finally wait until the facelift, and however a brand new generation can?

 

[Wolfgang]

^ Haven't heard about a possible facelift so far. MBUSA just introduced a new lower priced model, the SL 400,
and sales last month increased quite a bit compared to prior months.

MBUSA

 

[twistedlifestyle]

Wonder if in future Mercedes-AMG will change their nomenclature as C63 is now far off from 6.2 litres and look at a car like the AMG GT.

I wonder if in future it's going to be Mercedes-AMG C etc...

 

[Merc1]

The U.S. market will get a slight product push from Jan-March of 2015: C300 RWD (needed now), C63, C63 S, S550 Hybrid, AMG GT S and possibly ML/GLE Facelift and the Coupe version?? When does the X6 competitor debut production form? What can the 3 cars MB says they have for the L.A. auto show be, if they aren't just the U.S. debuts of the C63 and GT?


M

 

[Wolfgang]

^ What's next? Hmmm. Might it be new names and the alleged Year of the SUV?

Benz to change names in November
http://www.motoring.com.au/news/201...s-benz/benz-to-change-names-in-november-46526

Benz plotting 'year of the SUV' in 2015
http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2014/mercedes-benz/benz-plotting-year-of-the-suv-in-2015-46068

 

[Merc1]

Interesting article on Motor Trend about Mercedes' future plans:

They say:

Insiders liken the concept to Audi’s S models or Cadillac’s Vsport, and the first of these cars to appear in the U.S. will be the C450, due next year. It will replace the newly launched C400, and will feature a higher-output version of the twin-turbo V-6, plus sportier suspension, wheels, and tires.

Interesting if true.


http://wot.motortrend.com/1410_mercedes_benz_to_launch_11_new_models_by_2020.html


M

 

[Merc1]

^ What's next? Hmmm. Might it be new names and the alleged Year of the SUV?

So ok then the 3 L.A premiers might be the ML/GLE and GL/GLS facelifts and the XXL S-Class then?

M

 

[Wolfgang]

^ Agreed, that looks reasonable. Suspect the GL/GLS facelift could also follow a little later.

 

[Bucketslash11]

Mercedes Working on Top Secret Avant-Garde Concept

What the hell is Mercedes up to?
Despite being almost completely under wraps, we felt it our duty to share these images of a very bizarre Mercedes concept taken by our spy photographer. A couple of clues point to this being some sort of EV. Exaggerated fenders housing very skinny tires is one indication, another is the long, sleek shape and cab-forward design that has doubtless been aerodynamically optimized. The shot of the door shows the concept is finished in Mercedes silver, while a lack of door handles is another sign it has been sculpted to be as slippery as possible.

This is Where Supercars Come Out to PlayBlue Electric Porsche 911 by Carlex DesignLamborghini Pushes Urus to the Back Burner
No other information accompanies these images, but we suspect it will debut at an upcoming auto show, with LA the next major event on the calendar. In the meantime, start speculating at what Mercedes is up to here.

 

[Merc1]

I think 2015 is going to see an explosion of new models and facelifts. For the U.S. market the 2016 model year is shaping up to be a big one as far as changes and new products go:

C450 AMG Sport
C Coupe (fingers cross for Detroit 2015 reveal)
GLK --> GLC
ML to GLE facelift
GL to GLS facelift
S Cabrio
S Maybach variants
SLK facelift?

M

 

[Seylan]

I think 2015 is going to see an explosion of new models and facelifts. For the U.S. market the 2016 model year is shaping up to be a big one as far as changes and new products go:

C450 AMG Sport
C Coupe (fingers cross for Detroit 2015 reveal)
GLK --> GLC
ML to GLE facelift
GL to GLS facelift
S Cabrio
S Maybach variants
SLK facelift?

M

It's weird that there haven't been any Slk facelift test mules captured yet...

 

[Merc1]

Wolfe, where is Mercedes' contribution to the L.A. auto show?

M