Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Design FIRST]

Due to different A pillar and frunk it's obviously not a LWB C.

...although it should be noted that the A-pillar on the 3 box sedan prototype is a bit more camo-cloaked. But of course, you may be right. And since M-B has often tested camo'ed production bodied prototypes on public roads some 2 years + prior to official presentation, it could indeed by the E-Class EQ. So far, I'm hoping that it isn't...but that's just me.

 

[Design FIRST]

...and on the 3-box sedan prototype the rearward ascending surfacing above the rockers and the the surfacing below the sideglass sills are plastic or foam camo-pieces covered in foil. The hoodline is disguised by a large camo-piece. The so-called prestige gap appears identical to that of the C-Class EQ sedan.

Whatever...it remains a bit of mystery to all who are not "M-B insiders" or invitation only design clinic guests.

 

[Rolf]

This looks very boxy for an E-class and the door handles look positioned too low on the doors. I would suspect they would put flush door handles on the E-class. The hood line looks very high and now low and sleek like an E-class normally is.

 

[Uygar]

Still a very early prototype though. After all the cladding comes off it will probably look sleeker. Now it looks too boxy and oddly proportioned.

 

[Uygar]

It would be too bad if it uses the same taillights as the GLC.

Probably something very similar if not the same. Its overall shape looks very egg-like, especially at the rear, compared to the E-Class EV.

 

[Uygar]

I expect something like this.
Also tried to get rid of the claddings.

 

[Design FIRST]

Perhaps merely an optical illusion, but this prototype appears shorter and narrower than the W214 E-Class sedan:

 

[Design FIRST]

Konjunkturflaute: Neuer Rückschlag für Mercedes: Gewinn bricht ein

Zölle, Absatzflaute, Stellenabbau: Warum Mercedes trotz Milliardenumsatz den Gürtel enger schnallen muss – und was hinter den Zahlen steckt.

www.tagesspiegel.de

Bad news for Ola & Co.

 

[fortuner]

Definitely getting W212 vibes more I see it

Konjunkturflaute: Neuer Rückschlag für Mercedes: Gewinn bricht ein

Zölle, Absatzflaute, Stellenabbau: Warum Mercedes trotz Milliardenumsatz den Gürtel enger schnallen muss – und was hinter den Zahlen steckt.

www.tagesspiegel.de

Bad news for Ola & Co.

Any summary in English

 

[Design FIRST]

Perhaps merely an optical illusion, but this prototype appears shorter and narrower than the W214 E-Class sedan:

Still not sold on these prototypes being the upcoming E-Class EQ sedan:

Still leaning towards a C-Class EQ 3-box LWB sedan. That W214 is already looking soooo much more elegant and substantial.

 

[Design FIRST]

Definitely getting W212 vibes more I see it



Any summary in English

Economic downturn: New setback for Mercedes: Profit collapses
Tariffs, slump in sales, job cuts: Why Mercedes has to tighten its belt despite billions in sales – and what's behind the numbers.

As of today, 7:17 a.m.

Mercedes-Benz's profit fell by half in the first nine months. Group profit fell by 50.3 percent year-on-year, from €7.80 billion to €3.87 billion, the Stuttgart-based automaker announced. The Swabian company cited tariffs, lower sales figures, and expenses for efficiency measures as reasons for this.

CEO Ola Källenius said the quarterly results were in line with the full-year forecast. Group profit fell by almost 31 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, from €1.71 billion to €1.19 billion. Sales fell by 6.9 percent to €32.14 billion.

Staff Reductions in Germany
In order to increase profitability again, the Board of Management announced a cost-cutting program in February: Production costs are to be reduced by ten percent by 2027, as are fixed costs. Material costs are also to be improved. Mercedes agreed on a package with the General Works Council, including a severance package for employees in indirect areas. According to management, the cost-cutting program amounts to approximately €5 billion compared to previous internal plans.

The automaker's adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to €2 billion in the third quarter, compared to €2.5 billion in the same period last year. The manufacturer further announced that Group EBIT was adjusted for special items totaling €1.34 billion. A large portion of this – €876 million – was attributable to staff reductions in Germany and cost-cutting measures abroad. The number of people leaving the company in Germany was not disclosed.

Another sales decline
Weak business in China and the USA resulted in another sales decline for Mercedes-Benz. From July to September, the automaker sold 525,300 cars and vans to dealers – twelve percent fewer than in the same period last year.

For the first nine months of the year, Mercedes's car and van sales fell by nine percent to around 1.6 million vehicles. In 2024, the Swabian company's sales had already fallen by four percent to just under 2.4 million due to the crisis in the auto industry.

 

[Uygar]

What’s causing the sales decline in Mercedes? What are they doing wrong? It cannot be solely because of the “design” because except EQ models they all look great. I’m curious how the CLA and GLC will sell.

 

[Design FIRST]

Regardless of whether the car on the bottom is an E-Class EQ sedan prototype or not, it simply looks awkward to me. So far, of course.

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

What’s causing the sales decline in Mercedes? What are they doing wrong? It cannot be solely because of the “design” because except EQ models they all look great. I’m curious how the CLA and GLC will sell.

Cars expensive, economy bad.
I would wager is a perceived value for money situation. I think BMWs are cheaper spec for spec. Perhaps a little loss in brand cache, or just a general lull as they're in-between model refreshes which usually send a shot in the arm of sales. Stuff like the S class facelift being delayed might play into it.

Regardless of whether the car on the bottom is an E-Class EQ sedan prototype or not, it simply looks awkward to me. So far, of course

I mean there are giant plastic pieces shunted into the bodywork at various places, so I doubt it's a reflection of how it'll actually look.

 

[Design FIRST]

What’s causing the sales decline in Mercedes? What are they doing wrong? It cannot be solely because of the “design” because except EQ models they all look great. I’m curious how the CLA and GLC will sell.

At least here in Germany, the sort of "exceptional aura" that was once synonymus with the brand has dimmed progressively over the course of the years. Competition becoming more fierce not only from it's traditional German rivals (especially BMW, but also Audi and in some cases Porsche) but also from mass volume brands such as Volkswagen and Skoda offering very appealing, very solid products for less money. In terms of technological innovation, M-B is a fascinating company and absolutely top-tier. But when the value-for-money equation is no longer solidly in it's favor, it has a problem.

 

[Swissbob]

The technology and reliability are still very good, but the interior detoriated in the newest models.

That’s the main issue, If you sit in a Mercedes Benz you want to feel the expensive materials, which are second to Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

 

[Design FIRST]

I mean there are giant plastic pieces shunted into the bodywork at various places, so I doubt it's a reflection of how it'll actually look.

More of a matter how I personally (so far) perceive the prototype's proportions. The visual is IMHO a bit narrow, a bit tall, a bit short. The prestige gap meager, hence obstructing a longer hooded, cabin-back, RWD silhouette. Optical illusion due to the angle of the photoshots ? Maybe.

 

[Uygar]

Without all the cladding the silhouette looks like this. Very similar to ICE model. Perhaps the wheelbase is longer.

 

[Rolf]

More of a matter how I personally (so far) perceive the prototype's proportions. The visual is IMHO a bit narrow, a bit tall, a bit short. The prestige gap meager, hence obstructing a longer hooded, cabin-back, RWD silhouette. Optical illusion due to the angle of the photoshots ? Maybe.

This mule does have a very odd appearance and stacks of plastic cladding that make the front appear alot taller and bulkier than is probably reality. The doors and the fenders also seem flat and upright giving the impression of a slab sided saloon. The door handles low down also appear odd. The profile from B-pillars back has E-class vibes and its good its a 3 box saloon shape. Its still early days but I have some hope for this car and I am sure next year we will see alot more of the design underneath.

 

[Design FIRST]

I'll admit to having my difficulties in accepting the notion that M-B will replace the current W214 with an automobile presenting the proportions of this alleged E-Class EQ prototype. The W214 is so elegant and ideally proportioned. BEV really need not be synonymous with questionable, short hooded proportions. We see the Polestar 5, new Xpeng P7 sedan, the new electric Volvo ES90, the Audi etron GT and soon the electric AMG 4 door GT as well as the Jaguar 00 based production car as examples.

Or could it be that M-B's announced "convergence of BEV and ICE sedan design" is in fact B.S. and that the ICE version proportions of the W214 successor will be very noticably different from those of the EQ version ?

My apologies to fervent M-B fans. But I cannot help but suspect that M-B design departments remain a bit lost. That would be a shame as the company has so much to offer in terms of innovative tech.