Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[hannaz]

The next-gen AMG GT 4 door is shaping up to look great to me.

I too believe it to be so

 

[Centurion]

Hopefully the design language of that coupe will be reflected well across the range. The e-Tron GT is gorgeous but the rest of Audi’s EVs are generic, bloated or soft.

However I’m optimistic that Mercedes have learned lesson from the EQ range.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Hopefully the design language of that coupe will be reflected well across the range. The e-Tron GT is gorgeous but the rest of Audi’s EVs are generic, bloated or soft.

However I’m optimistic that Mercedes have learned lesson from the EQ range.

I'm in London at the moment. Finally seeing a few GTs on the road as they are a rare sight in Australia. It's such an overwrought and over hyped design. The plethora of Taycans look far better.

Nice to see the W223s dominating presence in London. It's as gracefull and elegant as ever in this landscape. This city seems to have a love affair with Mercedes as the W223's, W214's, EQE's and EQS's far outnumber their BMW counterparts. Strangely though, the wider UK market doesn't seem to reflect MB's stronghold in London.

 

[MercFan]

BMW's share was down 11.7% 10 days ago partially due to weak Chinese demand as well. China's experiencing a major economic situation that makes luxury vehicles unappealing.

This is a big correction. Mercedes announced they're going to have China-exclusive models like the long-wheelbase GLE and an ultra-lux minivan while also mentioning they're going to be rationalizing their head-first EV transition for all other markets. I'm more confident in the next few years for them than I was during the pandemic years.

Best-selling vehicle brands ranking in China, first half of 2024

BYD, Volkswagen, and Chery took the overall top 3 spots.

carnewschina.com

Chinese market is OK. German big 3 have been producing second-rate products for years now. Here is the result. Some chinese car's interiors seem to be of better quality than german ones. The multimedia in german cars is a mess. Most chinese multimedia on the other hand feels like a top android smartphone or an iphone before Apple starts taking care of your battery)

 

[Serpens]

Chinese market is OK. German big 3 have been producing second-rate products for years now. Here is the result. Some chinese car's interiors seem to be of better quality than german ones. The multimedia in german cars is a mess. Most chinese multimedia on the other hand feels like a top android smartphone or an iphone before Apple starts taking care of your battery)

Their luxury market is not ok, and that spans past automotive. There has been much talk about this over the last few months. Watches, purses, real estate, cars, you name it.

That doesn’t excuse the Germans completely of course. Mercedes themselves acknowledged Chinese brands have the best infotainment systems globally at the moment.

 

[Fastpaddy]

Their luxury market is not ok, and that spans past automotive. There has been much talk about this over the last few months. Watches, purses, real estate, cars, you name it.

That doesn’t excuse the Germans completely of course. Mercedes themselves acknowledged Chinese brands have the best infotainment systems globally at the moment.

Yeah we have noticed alot of our millionaire clients arent spending money at the moment, much to our frustration

 

[Fastpaddy]

Interesting reading regarding AMGs electric future and its AMG.EA toolkit.

This is cool but at the same time, people dont want EV supercars. Hopefully they will have learnt for the c63 4 pot failure and allow the car to also be sold with a v8

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

This is cool but at the same time, people dont want EV supercars. Hopefully they will have learnt for the c63 4 pot failure and allow the car to also be sold with a v8

People do and they don't. People love the Rimac Nevera for example.

We don't really know what the landscape is gonna look like in 2030 and beyond, which is probably when the AMG EV Supercar comes out. Having one designed and ready for a market that may well be even more restrictive than it is now, is probably a good idea.
Especially if that EV model (and rumoured SUV) help to offset the emissions of any ICE supercars they might want to make.

 

[Matski]

This city seems to have a love affair with Mercedes as the W223's, W214's, EQE's and EQS's far outnumber their BMW counterparts. Strangely though, the wider UK market doesn't seem to reflect MB's stronghold in London.

Generally speaking you are more likely to see a BMW on the road here, but there's not much in it - 1.7 million Mercs versus 2 million BMWs, out of 40 million vehicles. About 0.9% of those BMWs are 7-ers of one kind or another, versus about 1.4% of the Mercs being S-Classes of one type or another

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

I'm in London at the moment. Finally seeing a few GTs on the road as they are a rare sight in Australia. It's such an overwrought and over hyped design. The plethora of Taycans look far better.

Nice to see the W223s dominating presence in London. It's as gracefull and elegant as ever in this landscape. This city seems to have a love affair with Mercedes as the W223's, W214's, EQE's and EQS's far outnumber their BMW counterparts. Strangely though, the wider UK market doesn't seem to reflect MB's stronghold in London.

No congestion charge for hybrids and EVs and some favourable lease deals and company car schemes is probably to do with it in London. I imagine they're the car of choice for Uber Exec.
Someone I know thinks the EQ cars look "cool" cause they look like spaceships, which I think is very strange, but hey ho.

 

[Fastpaddy]

People do and they don't. People love the Rimac Nevera for example.

We don't really know what the landscape is gonna look like in 2030 and beyond, which is probably when the AMG EV Supercar comes out. Having one designed and ready for a market that may well be even more restrictive than it is now, is probably a good idea.
Especially if that EV model (and rumoured SUV) help to offset the emissions of any ICE supercars they might want to make.

People dont love the rimac nevera, because its not selling. They cannot even sell out the tiny allocation.

Its the reason why the latest bugatti isnt electric. Rimac himself is on record saying that people dont want to buy EV supercars

I believe whatever this car will be, it will form the basis as AMG’s new GT3 racecar, as the new amg GT isnt suitable, and mercedes say they will have something new for 2026

 

[Matski]

I believe whatever this car will be, it will form the basis as AMG’s new GT3 racecar, as the new amg GT isnt suitable, and mercedes say they will have something new for 2026

When they announced the recently formed Affalterbach Racing GmbH, Mercedes said the next GT3 car would be based on the AMG GT.

The next “Made in Affalterbach” GT3 racing car is based on a derivative of the Mercedes‑AMG GT family. The second generation of the two-door AMG GT was presented in 2023 and the sports car family has been growing steadily ever since. The fifth member, the Mercedes‑AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+[1], [2] recently celebrated its world premiere in Brooklands (England).

Mercedes-AMG strategically reorganises its GT Sport division.

Mercedes AMG has taken groundbreaking measures to strategically reorganise its motorsport division to meet future requirements and plans. To this end, the performance and sports car brand of Mercedes Benz has founded a new subsidiary under the name “Affalterbach Racing GmbH”. In the future, the...

customerracing.mercedes-amg.com

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

When they announced the recently formed Affalterbach Racing GmbH, Mercedes said the next GT3 car would be based on the AMG GT.

I'm excited to see what they can do with the platform.
Namely with weight reduction.

 

[Matski]

Namely with weight reduction.

BOP weights for the recent IMSA race at Indy...

.. it'll be in that range, or less (pre-ballast).

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Generally speaking you are more likely to see a BMW on the road here, but there's not much in it - 1.7 million Mercs versus 2 million BMWs, out of 40 million vehicles. About 0.9% of those BMWs are 7-ers of one kind or another, versus about 1.4% of the Mercs being S-Classes of one type or another

I wouldn't be wrong in my assessment though would I? That despite BMW outselling MB nationally, Central London is very much MBs ground?

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

BOP weights for the recent IMSA race at Indy...

.. it'll be in that range, or less (pre-ballast).

Nice thanks.
Hopefully some of the weight savings can be translated into a road going version.

 

[Fastpaddy]

When they announced the recently formed Affalterbach Racing GmbH, Mercedes said the next GT3 car would be based on the AMG GT.

Is there a date for this article?

Because the last few interviews with the mercedes boss said they currently dont have anything within the mercedes portfolio that is suitable.

They basically said the mk2 amg gt is too heavy, and the weight distribution is wrong.

And that the replacement of the existing car has to be superior, which the new amg gt is not.

Also at spa 24hrs a person well connected in the series said the AMG engineers told him the mk2 amg gt is not suitable and that they are working on a new car

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

Is there a date for this article?

Because the last few interviews with the mercedes boss said they currently dont have anything within the mercedes portfolio that is suitable.

They basically said the mk2 amg gt is too heavy, and the weight distribution is wrong.

And that the replacement of the existing car has to be superior, which the new amg gt is not.

Also at spa 24hrs a person well connected in the series said the AMG engineers told him the mk2 amg gt is not suitable and that they are working on a new car

They could be working on something new using the same platform I guess? It is modular after all.
Shrink the wheelbase a tiny bit, get rid of the rear seats and push the cabin rearwards. Dry sump the engine.
Not sure if they can put a transaxle in MSA. Someone mentioned it isn't designed for it, but I can't imagine it being completely impossible.

Side note: what makes the Mk 2 GT so heavy anyway?

 

[Matski]

Is there a date for this article?

The announcement was made at the end of July.

 

[klier]

Nice thanks.
Hopefully some of the weight savings can be translated into a road going version.

They are the same cars only in name, and nothing will be translated to road cars.