Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Uygar]

I always thought the photo was fake, just a fantasy mock-up.
However, isn't there still a mystery coupe still being tested?

There are spy shots of what looks to be an S-Class coupe, but we still haven’t seen them on the road. So basically there’s no information.
I can’t tell if it’s a coupe or just the camo fooling us into believing that.

 

[Design FIRST]

There are spy shots of what looks to be an S-Class coupe, but we still haven’t seen them on the road. So basically there’s no information.
I can’t tell if it’s a coupe or just the camo fooling us into believing that.

Yes, this really remains quite the "mystery car". Just taking a wild guess, this may be a very early prototype of the successor to the current W/V223 and EQS sedans. Offering BEV/EREV as well as ICE hybrid configurations with very similar sheetmetal and proportions. It should be noted that the camouflague foil used here is quite thick, almost completely veiling sculpturing and details as well as optically altering some finer nuances of the architecture itself.

 

[mr.Mister]

Please stop dreaming. There will be no S-coupe.
Dr. Storpp said nicely when he left how much he fought for the C217 to be made - but at the same time he admitted that the cars (i.e. coupe and convertible) did not bring profit. Ola will certainly not go into the production of such cars in the current situation of the auto industry, when the whole of Daimler is engaged in a cost cutting program. If I am not mistaken, it has even been announced that there will be no more A and B classes as a new generation, and with the W214 they even abolished the Taxi program.
Mercedes is heading for ''bankruptcy'', and Dr. Z is probably just holding his head in shame over what has been done to the company he co-built for 40 years.
Abolition of small classes that brought profits because they want to be a more premium brand.
Abolition of the taxi program - cars that were the biggest advertisement for the durability and quality of this brand.
Defeating workmanship, quality, materials in current models..
A total flop with all EQ models...
The only one that sells well and makes a good profit is the good old G.

 

[Merc1]

How in the world do you know that they don’t make a profit on any other vehicle they sell? That doesn’t even make sense.

M

 

[Rolf]

How in the world do you know that they don’t make a profit on any other vehicle they sell? That doesn’t even make sense.

M

Yes definitely the G-class is selling 40K units a year and although it may make alot of profit markup per unit sold, Mercedes still need high volume of cars to sustain their current overall revenue and margin targets. They did mention in 2019 that they would reduce their entry level models, which is true as we will witness the introduction of the MMA platform of cars in EV and ICE (CLA, GLA, GLB and CLA Shooting Break) which will replace the current A-class (Saloon and Hatch), B-class, CLA, CLA Shooting Break, EQA, EQB, GLA and GLB. So this entry level will reduce from 9 to 4 models. They want to increase sales in the Top-End, hence why they are introducing more exclusive models (like SL Maybach, Mythos, AMG EV etc.) and keep Core sales more or less the same.

They also committed to reduce costs by 2025 by 20% compared to 2019 levels. In light of recent developments, I read somewhere they are targeting to reduce costs this year alone by 5 Billion Euros.

Lets hope the cost cutting will not affect the interior quality of their newer cars and make them even more cheap looking.

 

[Luca]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Luca]

[Mod edit]
Fixed it for you.

 

[Design FIRST]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

This actually looks quite "athletic"-and all the more so for an elevated ride height vehicle.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I’m shocked at how many CLEs they’re moving. There are people who clearly still want a 2-door.

M

The market is starved for an MB Coupe.

Unfortunately the CLE is sub standard in terms of quality of finish, particularly at its price point.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

A W223 chop IMO is a realistic prospect and the market should react quite positively to it.

If they can price it closer to the sedan variant, compared to a bespoke S coupe, there will be demand.

Mercedes has currently abandoned their high end luxury coupe market. My drive of the AMG GT confirms what some reviews have said, that Mercedes has tried to incorporate some of the S coupes luxury appeal into the GT. Its bloody impressive for sure, but still not a true luxury coupe. The packaging and seating ergonomics are not focused enough on comfort.

A W223 chop could also overcome the C217's rear space shortcommings. It had less rear room than the C213 E coupe.

The AMG GT is a fantastic product and will do far better than the SL. The SL should have been a chopped GT with a broader range of luxury trims and comfort suspension tuning. There was no need for a unique design that is actually more generic.

 

[Luca]

 

[Serpens]

A W223 chop IMO is a realistic prospect and the market should react quite positively to it.

Does the market reacting positively actually mean sales? Because people liked the W222 coupe and convertible but it did not sell well enough in their key market of concern, China.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Does the market reacting positively actually mean sales? Because people liked the W222 coupe and convertible but it did not sell well enough in their key market of concern, China.

I do mean sales. It should be a relatively low cost job to chop a W223 so if they can keep the premium a minimum it would be a very desirable variant IMO.

 

[Merc1]

That will be seen as half-assed effort and only end in disaster. Why bother if you’re not gonna do it right? It would be a terrible follow up to the last S coupe.

M

 

[GTA45E]

That will be seen as half-assed effort and only end in disaster. Why bother if you’re not gonna do it right? It would be a terrible follow up to the last S coupe.

M

Completely agree.
The W223 render of the S-Class with 2-doors suggests another S-Class coupe. If MB goes in this direction again It might be another sales flop. The Bentley Continental GT is a sales success. It is a bold, ambitious, sporty GT Luxury performance car. The previous S-Coupe while beautiful, was hardly any of these.
It was just a large luxury boat. That time has seen its day with the older clients. There is a younger clientele at play and they are looking for something bold, ambitious and sporty at the same time.

Mercedes needs to move upmarket with the next-generation S Coupe by letting AMG take over the project. The world's oldest car maker should create a direct competitor to the Bentley Continental GT( and or Rolls-Royce Spectre). A competent package convincing enough to put the Bentley Continental GT, in particular, on notice.

Priced between the two (around $345,000- $375,000), it could be based on a stretched AMG GT/SL chassis with a slightly higher roofline with space in the rear for average-sized adults.
Its length slightly smaller than the previous generation C217 S-Class coupe with far better driving dynamics (than any other S-Coupe.)
It should feature coach-built, hand-crafted interior parts with the finest leathers and wood veneers with a few bi-spoke features and manual hvac controls. A Maybach package could easily work with these ideas.
The render is vaporware I found on Facebook. The C217 was a beautiful car and could see its evolution and fusion with the newer Merc models with a few design changes taken over by AMG.
I am just pulling this out of the air of course but I believe Mercedes could actually pull some of this off.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Completely agree.
The W223 render of the S-Class with 2-doors suggests another S-Class coupe. If MB goes in this direction again It might be another sales flop. The Bentley Continental GT is a sales success. It is a bold, ambitious, sporty GT Luxury performance car. The previous S-Coupe while beautiful, was hardly any of these.
It was just a large luxury boat. That time has seen its day with the older clients. There is a younger clientele at play and they are looking for something bold, ambitious and sporty at the same time.

The new AMG GT coupe already has a lot of the S coupes virtues combined with the more dynamic elements you speak of. The refinement is top notch, bar some wind rustle around the mirrors, and the ride is actually very very well judged. It also tracks supremely on the freeway.

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

Completely agree.
The W223 render of the S-Class with 2-doors suggests another S-Class coupe. If MB goes in this direction again It might be another sales flop. The Bentley Continental GT is a sales success. It is a bold, ambitious, sporty GT Luxury performance car. The previous S-Coupe while beautiful, was hardly any of these.
It was just a large luxury boat. That time has seen its day with the older clients. There is a younger clientele at play and they are looking for something bold, ambitious and sporty at the same time.

The Conti is very fast, and athletic, but it's not a sports car.
The C217 if anything just needed to be taughtened up a little bit, whilst maintaining it's perfect rise quality.

But yeah the new AMG GT is basically already the half-sport/half-GT. If the S coupe is to be reduced: AMG or not, it needs to be more GT than sports car.

 

[Design FIRST]

... it could be based on a stretched AMG GT/SL chassis with a slightly higher roofline with space in the rear for average-sized adults.
Its length slightly smaller than the previous generation C217 S-Class coupe with far better driving dynamics (than any other S-Coupe.)

At least remotely in the vein of the most powerful specification C107 SLC models. I love those cars.

 

[Centurion]

There is room for Mercedes to innovate above the S-Class. Bentley and Rolls Royce went from almost dying 20 years ago, to in the past 24months starting to sell reskinned cars for Bugatti money.

The key is for Mercedes to not half arse the execution. Look at Brabus, they are selling G-Wagons for Rolls Royce money. Ffrom engine modifications to interior customisation the execution is 10/10.

 

[AndreB]

There is room for Mercedes to innovate above the S-Class.

I don't know, those who buy Porsche or Bentley won't buy any MB except the S or G.
Its because Mercedes makes many cheap cars with similar interior as the expensive versions, a GLS Maybach is the same car as a GLE just more leather inside so its not special enough like a Range Rover.

When I drove a Conti GT it felt its something special even if its a Panamera platform and tech.