Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[K-A]

I do feel like we're reaching some sort of converging point here.

It is worrisome when MB makes radical changes like this. It isn't particularly confidence-inspiring, and it makes customers wonder if they're buying something less 'valuable' when a company doesn't even really believe in what it is making. At the same time, I really like change. The same design for eight years is great for the person who bought it on the first year, but it does get tiring sometimes. While I feel like the F10 is quite the strong design, it does seem to be losing my interest at this point, four years in. Regardless of how I feel, sales are speaking for themselves and the 5er remains a blockbuster success. This car is indisputably one of BMW's most celebrated designs, and has not aged one bit since its release. I just wish BMW would go a bit more interesting with their LCI's.

I'd say a good middle ground is somewhere far from Mercedes and closer, but not exactly at BMW.

For me, as long as the original design is strong I think light facelifts are perfect, because if the design is THAT strong, messing with it will be like simply messing with "perfection", i.e like ruining the perfect balance the car was holistically designed as originally. A car can be a great art piece, and a great art piece doesn't get chopped and screwed after a short period of time. It as we said does send a great message to the consumers ("we know best, we did the best, and you will like it"), people love that when a company can actually pull it off.

It also allows the original version to age gracefully, and the entire generation to age with grace, and possibly go into "future icon" status.

To me, what made the F10 maybe less enticing than the E-Class originally is what has made it grow more and more on me so strongly. It is the anti-Mercedes design. There are no gimmicks, nothing to make you drop your jaw for when it came out.... but you quickly realize that it's flawlessly proportioned, how elegant and smooth it looks, how it "just works" (to quote Mr. Steve Jobs). It's like how old-school M-B's were: Purely and simply great, not complex and convoluted and messy like current M-B's.

The F10 will go down in history as one of the greatest Sedans of modern time I think, not nearly as revolutionary nor detested as the E60, and not as flawless as the E39, but it's a worthy child to the E39 in about every way but weight, and it is exactly because it is the anti-nu-Mercedes, it is simple, pure, focused, and probably won't be messed with much come facelift time.

Yes, it won't be as exciting as the E's new popping-smoke effect, but the E's effect will be short-lived until Mercedes do their next about-face and premature language change, while the F10 will just roll along as the design backed by its designers, "too good to mess with too much", and it will make the cars aura a much more premium and respectable one. Enthusiasts will respect the F10's careful changes as to preserve the dignity of the original design (as compared to M-B who massacre the dignity of their own designs with such massive reconstructions), and the consumer will have more trust in BMW's designers tastes.... as they won't be seen as going back on their own work so much.

That's how I see it.

 

[mini_cooper4]

I do feel like we're reaching some sort of converging point here.

It is worrisome when MB makes radical changes like this. It isn't particularly confidence-inspiring, and it makes customers wonder if they're buying something less 'valuable' when a company doesn't even really believe in what it is making. At the same time, I really like change. The same design for eight years is great for the person who bought it on the first year, but it does get tiring sometimes. While I feel like the F10 is quite the strong design, it does seem to be losing my interest at this point, four years in. Regardless of how I feel, sales are speaking for themselves and the 5er remains a blockbuster success. This car is indisputably one of BMW's most celebrated designs, and has not aged one bit since its release. I just wish BMW would go a bit more interesting with their LCI's.

I'd say a good middle ground is somewhere far from Mercedes and closer, but not exactly at BMW.

The F10 came 2.5 years ago

 

[tomazino]

F10 - more than 3 years from first internet pic (november 2009.), and almost 3 years from begining of sales (mart, 2010.)

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Oh yea Smart....

• Better built (Quality, Engineering, Design)
• Very distinctive look

Smart should also offer more models -

• Small Hatchback 2/4 door
• Entry Level sedan between the size of the CLA and C-class
• Entry Level coupe
• Midsize Sedan around the size of the Honda Accord
• Entry Level SUV/crossover

​

Still in the testing phases of the next-generation Smart Fortwo and the new Forfour model, Smart could also be planning a new crossover to reach into a more mainstream vehicle segment. According to Auto Express, soon after the redesigned Fortwo arrives in 2014, the Smart lineup will grow to include the other two models by 2015.

As expected, the renderings of the new Fortwo, Forfour and the unnamed Smart SUV are inspired heavily by recent concepts like the 2011 Forvision Concept and the 2012 Forstars Concept (pictured above). One interesting note is that Auto Express says both the Fortwo and Forfour will offer a removable tablet as a center stack display screen. The report says that while these cars were developed alongside the Renault Twingo, the French automaker will only be using the larger of the two hatchbacks for its new model.

This, reportedly, won't be the only tie up between Daimler and Nissan-Renault, though, as Smart also looks to add a new crossover based on the next-generation Nissan Juke, which could arrive by late 2015.

- http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/next-gen-smart-lineup-growing-to-three-models/

 

[K-A]

In the U.S, the F10 is just barely 2 years old, actually maybe 2 years and 4-5 months or so.

Just in time to get one as it's still fresh while BMW may have finally worked the kinks out.

 

[Merc1]

Well now that we have the E and the CLA, we await the biggest one of them all, the S-Class. Due in March at Geneva, which should mean we're about a month away from the official pics. 2013 is shaping up to be a big year for Mercedes. By the fall when all this product is on sale in most markets, we should see some big numbers put up just in time to close out 2013. I personally can't wait to see the CL and Maybach replacements. Those are critical from an image point of view for Mercedes.

M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Well now that we have the E and the CLA, we await the biggest one of them all, the S-Class. Due in March at Geneva, which should mean we're about a month away from the official pics. 2013 is shaping up to be a big year for Mercedes. By the fall when all this product is on sale in most markets, we should see some big numbers put up just in time to close out 2013. I personally can't wait to see the CL and Maybach replacements. Those are critical from an image point of view for Mercedes.

M

Precisely. While the A and CLA will be bolstering sales at the bottom end, the S, CL and Maybach replacements will be instrumental in maintaining the brand image that little notch above Audi and BMW. If the S receives the usual positive reaction from the media and a handful of 'best car in the world' accolades amongst the reviews, it will be a success, even if sales numbers struggle to better the W221.

I just pray they get the Maybach replacements right.

 

[Wolfgang]

An update.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

^Hmm...GLS (MLC), SLC, GLA..

What other models might there be?

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Wow.

Wolf will there be any GTesque models to take on the 5er GT and 3er GT or will Mercedes stick to the shootingbreak formula?

Also any more news on the R-class replacement?

 

[Wolfgang]

MB will want to stick with those elegant Shooting Breaks, I'd think, and in addition to the one pictured above may add the CLA Shooting Brake. The R-Class successor might be based on the next generation E-Class, and be based on the LWB China version, which is presently 5012 mm long with a wheelbase of 3014 mm, just in between the R-Class SWB and LWB.

 

[Merc1]

I just can't envision 13 totally new models. That is really going to be something. Is 2020 also the timeline for outselling BMW and Audi too, must be? I wish they would do one retro car, like a modern day W124 or W201.

M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

MB will want to stick with those elegant Shooting Breaks, I'd think, and in addition to the one pictured above may add the CLA Shooting Brake. The R-Class successor might be based on the next generation E-Class, and be based on the LWB China version, which is presently 5012 mm long with a wheelbase of 3014 mm, just in between the R-Class SWB and LWB.

I think the GT concept will have a greater appeal in the Chinese market than the Shooting Breaks. They love huge rear cabins over there, where the GT's clearly trump the SB's, so it will be interesting to see how global sales compare.

 

[Sunny]

^Hmm...GLS (MLC), SLC, GLA..

What other models might there be?

TLA.

 

[Wolfgang]

MBUSA To Add 30 New Models Over The Next Seven Years
Company Preparing For Biggest Growth Phase in Its History According to CEO Cannon

MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve Cannon, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today told members of the International Motor Press Association (IMPA) that the company plans to introduce 30 new models in the next seven years. He said this will constitute the biggest growth phase in MBUSA's history here in the U.S.

"We just had the highest sales year in our history and carried that over to our best January on record. And, according to just released registration data, more customers put a Mercedes-Benz in their driveway last year than any other luxury

make," Cannon said. "We're going to take this forward with a continuing influx of innovative new products for our current owners and we'll enter other segments to bring new buyers to the brand." Cannon estimated that the product offensive would average out to a new vehicle every quarter for the next seven years.

For 2013, the high points for the company will be a new generation of its flagship S-Class model line as well as a resetting of the "gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand" with the introduction of the all new CLA, a 208-hp turbocharged four door

coupe with aggressive styling and a base price to match ($29,900 MSRP). Both these models will arrive in the fall.

The CLA250, with its AMG and 4MATIC all-wheel drive

counterparts, is particularly important to MBUSA which ranks number one in loyalty within the luxury market. "The CLA will have the highest conquest of any of our models. This combination of top conquest and top loyalty means that when we bring new buyers to the brand, they tend to stay with us. Broadening our product offering helps ensure that whatever their needs, we have something in our portfolio for them," said Cannon.

MBUSA will also refresh in between its high-end and entry point in the spring when it brings in a "facelift" of its popular E-Class model line which will include 8,000 refinements to the current model line. The E-Class consists of sedan

, coupe, cabriolet and wagon models as well as high-performance AMG models. BlueTEC clean diesels and hybrid models are also part of the lineup.

"From top to bottom, we're going to reinvent and reinvigorate the Mercedes-Benz brand over the next few years and bring it to new places in this market both with product and with the customer experience," said Cannon.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/113022054092/mercedes-confirms-30-new-models-for-the-us-s-class-coming

 

[Merc1]

30 MORE MODELS?!?!?!?! IMPOSSIBLE.

CLA, GLA, SLC, S, S COUPE, MAYBACH REPLACMENT, MLC (X6 competitor), I don't see what else?????? Maybe they mean the different engine options also, there can't be 30 more models/segments/variations lol.

All I want is a 190E or W124 retro model.

"And, according to just released registration data, more customers put a Mercedes-Benz in their driveway last year than any other luxurymake," Cannon said"

UH OH, they're sticking with the registration thingy, a direct shot at BMW.

M

 

[FFranek]

Small cars: A 5d hatch, A 3d hatch, A cabrio , maybe A coupe ( BMW 2 competitor), CLA, CLA shooting brake, GLA (sporty), mini G
Medium: C cabrio, maybe C crossover, maybe C van, E shooting brake, E crossover, E van, ML coupe
Sport : SLC ,
Premium: S coupe, S cabrio, new Pullman, Big 4D coupe ( panamera)
Thats 20 models

 

[Wolfgang]

Guessing this includes these new AMG models for the USA: CLA 45 AMG, GLA 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG SB.

http://www.gtspirit.com/2013/02/18/mercedes-developing-three-more-a45-amg-based-models/

 

[Merc1]

Anyone wanna bet that Mercedes sales in the U.S. will hit 40K for the month of December of this year? New entry level product, CLA, refreshed middle E-class, and brand new S-Class. Going to be good times at the MB dealers $$$$.

M

 

[Merc1]

Mercedes-Benz is unleashing quite a few new models and fresh variants of a few existing vehicles in 2013, and we now have specific on-sale dates for all of them. (Hit the links for full info on each model.)

• Instrumented Test: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 / GLK350 4MATIC
• First Ride: 2013 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4MATIC Sedan
• Instrumented Test: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG

Working chronologically, expect to see the 2013 GL63 AMG next month, followed in May by the refreshed 2014 E-class (E350 sedan, E350 wagon, E400 hybrid, and E550 4MATIC.) The diesel-powered 2013 GLK250 BlueTec also is due in May.

The hyper-wicked 2014 SLS AMG Black Series will go on sale in July, along with the E250 diesel sedan and the reworked 2014 E-class coupe and convertible. The 2014 E63 AMG 4MATIC sedan and wagon and 2013 ML250 BlueTec arrive in August.

Finally, you can mark down the new 2014 CLA-class and redesigned S-class for September, and the 355-hp CLA45 AMG for November—just in time for holiday gift-giving.

For fans of Benz’s Smart division and/or electric propulsion, the 2013 Fortwo Electric Drive EV launches in April.


http://blog.caranddriver.com/launch...debuts-new-diesels-black-series-s-class-more/


This should put them over BMW for 2013 in the U.S. no matter how BMWs counts their sales.


M