Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Wolfgang]

Mercedes considering Allroad variants of the C- & E-Class Estate

Mercedes is reportedly considering a competitor to the Audi A4 and A6 Allroad.

In an interview with Motoring, Mercedes' Matthias Luhrs said "We are looking at every single niche" and this includes off-road focused wagons. The executive said nothing has been decided but "we are looking obviously at [the] C-Class and [the] E-Class."

However, Luhrs noted the popularity of crossover-inspired wagons is largely market dependent. As he explained, they're virtually a no-go in Germany and northern Europe and American's "don't like station wagons" regardless of how long, short or high they are.

Luhrs also downplayed the possibility of an Volvo S60 Cross Country competitor by saying an off-road inspired sedan is something they are not studying.

Source: Motoring

Bad idea IMO. Those don't sell enough to warrant the expense IMO. I'm sure the worldwide numbers look better for these vehicles.

M

jesmb may have found a C-class offroader, based on the limo instead of the Estate.

Photos: Michael Meyer via jesmb.de

 

[Merc1]

^^ OH NO lol......

M

 

[W201]

No, no, no, no...

If they want to experiment and be avant-garde, I'd much rather like to see 3/5 GT competitors OR heavily rethought R Class.

But first, we need to see CLC.

 

[Wolfgang]

Jesmb also speculates it may be an older test mule for this one?


width at wheels
C-Class W205 ...... 1810 mm
GLC-Class X253 ... 1890 mm (+80 mm / +3.15 inches)

 

[Merc1]

Well lets see: S550 Cabriolet, S63 AMG Cabriolet, GLC450 AMG Sport, E-Class Sedan, C300 Coupe, C450 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C450 AMG Sport Cabrio, C63 AMG Cabrio, GLC Coupe, SL Facelift, SLK to SLC facelift/transition, GL to GLS facelift/transition....all within the next 6-12 months.

Will they do a S65 AMG Cabriolet, AMG GT Roadster and a S600 Maybach S?

Exciting times at Mercedes-Benz. It is almost certain I will be back in a new Benz in the next year or so.

M

 

[lukeswiss]

Please don't kill me for discussing this again... but does anyone have an updated version of this time plan ? The Smart Cabrio never got introduced in April ... What is the chance of the real Brabus and the cabrio being introduced at the IAA ? You still can't even order the Brabus tailor made they have been showing since November last. I am sure they'll bring the cabrio, but it would be really awesome if I could finally order a Brabus @Wolfgang ?

 

[Merc1]

I too would like to know what an updated version of that plan looks like. So far that was pretty accurate. There is no mention of the S Cabrio either, but I would be that is coming to IAA also.

M

 

[lukeswiss]

With so many new models I doubt Merc can only introduce one new car per show. They just have too many different vehicles now.

 

[Merc1]

I'm just going to fall out my chair when I see the C63 AMG Coupe and the S Cabrio models.

M

 

[lukeswiss]

I am gonna be there.... kicking children out of the drivers seats so that I can have a look.

 

[Wolfgang]

Please don't kill me for discussing this again... but does anyone have an updated version of this time plan ? The Smart Cabrio never got introduced in April ... What is the chance of the real Brabus and the cabrio being introduced at the IAA ? You still can't even order the Brabus tailor made they have been showing since November last. I am sure they'll bring the cabrio, but it would be really awesome if I could finally order a Brabus @Wolfgang ?

The last smart of the previous generation just rolled off the line recently, and suspect they may now switch the tailor made program to the new generation. Both the smart cabrio and the smart Brabus are still expected at the IAA in September according to recent rumors.

http://www.germancarforum.com/threads/smart-fortwo-facelift-2011.33785/page-2#post-752719

 

[lukeswiss]

@Wolfgang, I love you.

 

[Wolfgang]

Daimler just uploaded this pic for you.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

That could almost be @martinbo...

 

[DjordjeC63]

SLR was much better than that Vision SLR concept.

 

[Wolfgang]

That's true, they cut some corners, perhaps because they didn't have much time. The project started in the spring of 1998 and was only finished on December 29, three days before it was shown in Detroit. Here's a picture of the design team. From all the proposals two were selected for the final prototype, the one from Steffen Köhl and the one from Gorden Wagener.

Auto & Design, Spring 1999

http://www.germancarforum.com/threa...xhaust-and-in-depth-review.48350/#post-627736

 

[Yaz]

SLR was much better than that Vision SLR concept.

Yes. The only production car that blows the concept version away.

 

[Monster]

Yes. The only production car that blows the concept version away.

Agree, the SLR still look amazing and fresh today, even after 12 years.

 

[alexschoen]

It's amazing how much fresh wind Gorden Wagener has brought to the Mercedes-Benz brand. Press and public dismissively writing off MB in the race for the top of the premium segment. Since he took helm, things have turned around so breathtakingly well, the launch of the W222 S-Class was the real turning point.

One MB top manager told me "the currently single most valuable person we have in the whole company is Gorden Wagener". Even in Munich and Ingolstadt, executives are admitting that Mercedes-Benz is currently having a winning streak (behind closed doors even admitting them being behind on design and innovation). I can't wait to see the new E-Class, SL, SLK etc. carry the Wagener design signature!

 

[Wolfgang]