German Car Forum

Let's say these renditions of the A/S7 and BMW's four door coupe are accurate, who do you believe will lead the segment in the future?

CLS because that's the only REAL car.

I am sorry but this poll is not accurate.

Whereas the CLS and A7 will be positioned against each other .
The car based from the BMW Concept CS will be positioned above the new 7er whereas the A7 and CLS are E-Klasse/A6 based models. The CS will be built from the new 7er .

CS prices will begin where the A7 and CLS end. Not to mention the larger 7er wheelbase will provide it with more space and individuality from both the A7 and CLS.

The CS is described as BMW's "Bridge" to Rolls-Royce , The A7 and CLS are not as determined by both Audi and Mercedes-Benz that these cars will be the bridge to Bentley and Maybach.

I vote for the only real car

Well to my defense SCOTT27 I got the pic from this thread (Preview: 2009 BMW four-door coupe ). I'm not a auto industry insider or nothing like that, but it only makes sense that if BMW is calling this new model a four door coupe, it would only make sense for me to assume it's in the same class as the CLS Mercedes!

a for mondeo and a Rolls Royce Phantom are both sedans mr storebrand, should i assume they are in the same class?

If they were competitive company's then yes. Considering there's more then a $300,000 price gap then no!

BMW are calling the car "a 4-door GT".

Not a single time "4dr coupe" words have been used by BMW officials!

Btw, Aston Martin Rapide - it is also a 4dr coupe, and it doesn't compete with CLS - since the Rapide costs as much as RR or Bentley.

Or perhaps VW Passat CC - also a 4dr coupe - but quite much cheaper than CLS.


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As Scott said: 4dr GT will be based on 7er, and will be somewhere in MB CL price range.

The BMW 4dr coupe that actually competes with CLS price wise is ... X6.

The upcoming 8er from BMW will have the ODC from MB to fight with or maybe MB will move the next CLS upmarket to properly fight the 8er,either way the upcoming 8er will have a rival from MB for sure.

No ... even MB will be forced to move upmarket. To distinct the brand even more from brands like BMW, Audi, Lexus. To position Mercedes-Benz brand even higher - not with a supercar like SLR, but with a true super-luxury car: the ODC based car.

ODC will be positioned above CL - and therefore above BMW 4dr GT.

ODC will be MB's bridge to Maybach - since there very probably won't offer a baby Maybach - eg the "Maybach 53". While the new Maybach will still directly compete with Phantom - which will be positioned even higher in the next generation.

Tine,are you trying to say that MB will move the CLS upmarket to go against the 8er or will make a sedan from the ODC to properly fight the 8er?

No ...

CLS 4dr coupe will stay positioned between E-class & S-class.

ODC will be a 4dr cabrio, or perhaps even 4dr cabrio-coupe - positioned above CL-class (between CL & Maybach 57), and thus above the 8er (since the 8er will compete with CL - price wise).

Well now I'm really confused! You and SCOTT27 are saying that the 4 door GT will be positioned above the CLS, but some other members are saying Mercedes is attempting to move there products to a even more exclusive market rivaling much more exspensive vehicles.. Something tells me Mercedes will probably mark-up the cost of the next generation CLS in a efford to stadle both segments. Regardless comparisons will be made imo!

^

I'm 300% sure MB will come out with luxury car above CL. Ocean Drive Concept - a 4dr cabrio - showcased such a vehicle.

CLS will stay where it is now: between E & S. While ODC-like production car will be slotted above S & CL - as a bridge to Maybach.

Different strategy: in executive GT segment BMW is represented by 2dr coupe & cabrio (6-series), while MB offers a 4dr coupe in the same segment (CLS). OK, we can also count in an X6 - it's in the same price range, and it is a coupe. Kind a.

In luxury GT segment BMW will offer a 4dr coupe (CS Concpet based production car), while MB offers a 2dr coupe - a CL.

MB will offer an additional entry ultra-luxury car - ODC production car : in the range of Bentley Continental cars. While BMW won't be represented there exactly, but will offer a baby Rolls-Royce - positioned a bit higher than new Benz, and Bentley Conti. While Daimler won't offer a baby Maybach.

Mind that MB strive to have a higher status than any other brand. So an additional model above CL is a logical move.

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Segment line (price wise):


2dr 6er & 4dr CLS & 4dr X6 < 7er & S-class < 4dr 8er & 2dr CL < 4dr ODC cabrio & Bentley Continental < baby Rolls Royce (Silver Ghost) & Bentley Arnage < Rolls-Royce Phantom & Maybach

I thought the X6 was SAV? Something to compete against the Q5 and the GLK, o well I'll leave this discussion for you experts..

Yeah guy you're all mixed up...lol.

X6 competes mainly with the Infiniti FX and maybe the Porsche Cayenne for sporty driving bragging rights. Other than the FX there really isn't much else to compete with the X6 right now, in other words playing the same exact game. Which is a utility-compromised for the sake of style, sporty SUV. It is to the SUV world what the CLS was to the sedan world.

Anyway as to this poll, there is no way to know who will do what in the future until all these new cars hit the ground. Mercedes invented this segment, but they'll have the time of their lives trying to keep the CLS relevant in the face of all the new competition. This is why a new CLS is around the corner, likely a year and half after the new E is presented.

M

Very excited about the future models,MB is already the most premium and expensive german brand and i can't wait to see their next moves with ODC and all new MM.

^ I disagree. Porsche is much more premium if you ask me. MB have been diluted, as have BMW and Audi...

Don't worry Porsche is surely on its way to the same diluted status. Sedans, diesels, and more (smaller) SUVs if the rumor mill is correct.

M

I wonder how long Rolls Royce needs to be with BMW AG to be considered German? Off topic I know!!!

I wasn't talking about exclusivity there's a difference

MB performance cars might be seen more than Porsches but already more expensive than any Porsche model CGT excluded but it's not in production anymore and even if it is the SLR is more exclusive and expensive,that's what i meant.

We'll I don't see how the price of a product can equate to a reasonable measurement of any data in terms of luxury... The best product is the only acquisition I require to decided upon exclusivity, expense and luxury appeal...

Well people tends to measure the premium of car by how much they pay for it,if rarity is to decide the exclusivity of cars then chinese brands are the most exclusive rolling down the roads

Rarity and exclusivity are two different connotations.

Rarity refers to numbers. Numbers with cars of this type are pointless due production numbers...

Exclusivity refers to a minority. Porsche drivers are much smaller minority compared to MB owners...

Anyway... Way off topic. Back to CLS Rivals..

I'm looking forward to the AM Rapide and the BMW CS. They seem to be offering something new and different to this quickly expanding segment of vehicles...

Ok now that I know the up coming BMW 4 door coupe won't compete with the CLS, is the A/S7 going to be in the same class?