Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Centurion]

What car will be the E-Class EQ be based on?

 

[Serpens]

What car will be the E-Class EQ be based on?

What do you mean? It's on the MB.EA platform.

 

[klier]

What do you mean? It's on the MB.EA platform.

And the next ICE E class?

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

And the next ICE E class?

Probably MRA2

 

[Serpens]

And the next ICE E class?

Probably MRA2

Heavily modified MRA II is a very good bet given it'll be under other vehicles well into the 2030s.

 

[hannaz]

https://www.motor1.com/news/751544/mercedes-admits-huge-screens-not-luxury/

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

What do you mean? It's on the MB.EA platform.

I don't believe MB will replace EQE after only 3-4 years of production. My bet is - this is an EQE facelift with a change in the name.

 

[Luca]

It seems to me that Wagener's words go against the trend with respect to future cla-type models ... where a large screen is still expected

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

It seems to me that Wagener's words go against the trend with respect to future cla-type models ... where a large screen is still expected

CLA can get away with it, because the market segment is lower down, and there is an expectation of flashiness and gimmicks. And that's ok.
Not every Merc needs to be exactly the same.

 

[SilverArrows]

I think we will see less screen approach in next gen S-Class

 

[klier]

It seems to me that Wagener's words go against the trend with respect to future cla-type models ... where a large screen is still expected

Seems to me that you are absolutely right. He should have saved those words for when they actually apply. Or actually he should have acted like this years ago already, so we wouldn't be stuck with all these horrific screens.

I think we will see less screen approach in next gen S-Class

One screens for the central instrument cluster ought to be enough. It's required by law and when you don't want to make physical gauges anymore, just stick it there and give us proper buttons for the normal car operation. The passenger DOES NOT NEED HIS/HER OWN SCREEN(S).

 

[Serpens]

I don't believe MB will replace EQE after only 3-4 years of production. My bet is - this is an EQE facelift with a change in the name.

EQE production started in 2022 and the E-class electric is scheduled to start in 2027. 5 years (so not 3-4) would be short but the EQE is an abject failure in every single market. With the electric C-class debuting in 2026 and the electric S-class debuting in 2028, it's not far fetched at all. It also fits in perfectly with the E-class facelift timing which would unify the styling of the ICE and electric lines.

The remaining news that hasn't been clarified is what they're doing with the EVA2 SUVs. They may have to wait until the next-gen GLE and GLS are ready in 2029 or so.

 

[Design FIRST]

A bit of automotive trivia:

German subsidiaries of U.S. manufacturers ( Ford Cologne and Opel) have some history regarding the rapid cease of production of particular model lines due to customers not approving exterior design.

One case in point is the 1967 Ford (Cologne) 17m/20m model lineup (code P7-A). It was deemed to be "too bloated, too "American" " and lasted only a single model year. It was succeeded by a stylistically "reduced, less flamboyant, far more elegant" P7 in 1968. That car was produced for 4 model years. Another example was the 1957 Opel Kapitän (P2.5) which only lasted for two model years. That car very much resembled a shrunken 1957 Oldsmobile and it estranged many customers.

Just a bit of frivolous info...

 

[Tuffode]

So Audi comes out and says our cars are cheaper quality and customers are noticing, referring to brand new cars that have barely even released yet, and now MB is saying large screens aren't luxurious in tandem with them rolling out huge screens in these cars.

It's hilarious, anyone with a functioning brain could have told them both of these things would not be a good move 5 years ago, but they have no clue what they are doing. Same with the 4 cylinder in the C63, and the egg shaped EQs. I just don't get what they are smoking over there in Germany.

 

[klier]

I just don't get what they are smoking over there in Germany.

Russian natural gas

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

So Audi comes out and says our cars are cheaper quality and customers are noticing, referring to brand new cars that have barely even released yet, and now MB is saying large screens aren't luxurious in tandem with them rolling out huge screens in these cars.

It's hilarious, anyone with a functioning brain could have told them both of these things would not be a good move 5 years ago, but they have no clue what they are doing. Same with the 4 cylinder in the C63, and the egg shaped EQs. I just don't get what they are smoking over there in Germany.

Because marketing people and accountants have undue sway over engineers.
Also designers tend to be head-in-the-clouds type people.

Unfortunately, the stuff in the EQS was probably known to be a failure long before it launched, but the money had already been spent 3-4 years before in the tooling and manufacturing.
Those things will probably change, but again, it takes years for the manufacturing to adjust.

 

[Serpens]

Because marketing people and accountants have undue sway over engineers.
Also designers tend to be head-in-the-clouds type people.

Unfortunately, the stuff in the EQS was probably known to be a failure long before it launched, but the money had already been spent 3-4 years before in the tooling and manufacturing.
Those things will probably change, but again, it takes years for the manufacturing to adjust.

That's not really how it works. If they knew it was going to be a failure before it launched they would've adjusted sales targets and manufacturing volume accordingly. They were expecting EV adoption to happen rapidly AND were expecting the futuristic styling to resonate. It was a huge risk compounded by the fact that the EQS wasn't a one off model, but rather just the beginning of a several similarly styled vehicles.

So Audi comes out and says our cars are cheaper quality and customers are noticing, referring to brand new cars that have barely even released yet, and now MB is saying large screens aren't luxurious in tandem with them rolling out huge screens in these cars.

It's hilarious, anyone with a functioning brain could have told them both of these things would not be a good move 5 years ago, but they have no clue what they are doing. Same with the 4 cylinder in the C63, and the egg shaped EQs. I just don't get what they are smoking over there in Germany.

Mercedes at least was/is far too drunk on Chinese money. The screens were inspired by that market and so too were their styling choices, although the EQ designs were rejected there too.

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

That's not really how it works. If they knew it was going to be a failure before it launched they would've adjusted sales targets and manufacturing volume accordingly. They were expecting EV adoption to happen rapidly AND were expecting the futuristic styling to resonate. It was a huge risk compounded by the fact that the EQS wasn't a one off model, but rather just the beginning of a several similarly styled vehicles.

When I say they knew, I mean they knew, but the people in charge had their heads stuffed too far up their own arses to listen and so ploughed on ahead.

I can't imagine engineers and designers wanted to ship turds like the EQS. Similarly, the screen obsession reeks of focus testing and the desire to eliminate cost through "minimalism".

 

[klier]

Mercedes at least was/is far too drunk on Chinese money. The screens were inspired by that market and so too were their styling choices, although the EQ designs were rejected there too.

Rather soon the EU will be the most important primary market again. Hopefully they return to German styling.

 

[Matski]

the screen obsession reeks of focus testing and the desire to eliminate cost through "minimalism".

Look back at the early years of the Tesla Model S and Model 3, there were (and likely still are) many, many people that desire screens because they represent an advancement in technology, and people that were critical of the decision to rely so heavily on screens were criticised for living in the past... (dO yOU STILL UsE A BLaCKbERrY!11!z)

Having a decent touchscreen and all the software that backs that up, AND a whole raft of decent, well made, well laid out physical controls is more expensive than having one or the other, unfortunately, so there's very little excuse for upper segment cars not to embrace both ways... but on lower models, the touchscreen is likely to win out.