Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Merc1]

For what it's worth:

IMHO, M-B AMG corporate product promotion seriously dropped the ball with the AMG 4 door GT EV presentation vehicles.

It will never top that awful C_Class EV introduction. That was the worst presentation of a new car I can remember.

M

 

[leylandi]

They should take a break, rethink their design strategy because the cars are looking more and more awful. I would say BMW Neue Klasse is more successful and Audi’s direction with the Concept C is far more attractive than either design aesthetic. The fact of the matter is, no matter how good the tech/engineering is, if the car is ugly it won’t sell well to the masses as most people aren’t “car people”, they’re just customers.

The new design direction was expressed with the GLC. Cars currently on the market were designed according to the old philosophy. Given the interest in the GLC, this seems like the right direction.

 

[SNB]

None of that is even feasible at this point. The designs are done and ready to go. To just "take a break" would cause massive losses and result in a company truly in financial crisis. Everyone cries about looks, but I've been waiting for a while to see a direct correlation to sales drops and styling. More successful to whom and how? You mean liked online? Sure. The SUV is good looking for sure, but the i3 sedan looks terrible, again IMO, just like your take on Mercedes' newest models is your opinion. Not everyone finds the same cars ugly or good looking. They'll be just fine. A lot of comments on this forum are really detached from reality at times.

M

While I agree forums are one thing and sales are another, I don’t see anyone spending Taycan, E-Tron money for the AMG GT EV (an opinion obviously). I think MB deserves more beautiful and stately cars, they had a lot of successful designs in recent history but the GT EV, EQS/E and the “bow” design has been a low.

 

[Design FIRST]

It will never top that awful C_Class EV introduction. That was the worst presentation of a new car I can remember.

M

Oh yes. That was genuinely cringe worthy !

 

[leylandi]

The era of expensive EVs is over. Nobody even cares about Rimac anymore. Mercedes and BMW missed that trend. Mercedes had to produce such a car because they invested early. It was a bold decision made prematurely, and it ended badly.

 

[Design FIRST]

I think MB deserves more beautiful and stately cars

Certainly far more elegant cars. That particular characteristic appears to have eluded the brand in more recent times.

 

[Merc1]

While I agree forums are one thing and sales are another, I don’t see anyone spending Taycan, E-Tron money for the AMG GT EV (an opinion obviously). I think MB deserves more beautiful and stately cars, they had a lot of successful designs in recent history but the GT EV, EQS/E and the “bow” design has been a low.

You just said forums are one thing and forums are another, you just said that you don't see anyone else buying a car based on your outlook. EQ is leaving and like others have said the GLC EV points towards something else so it's beating a dead horse at this point about the EQ cars. Once they get past the FL EQS that whole line will be gone.

M

 

[SKY]

So......what's next?

GLE and GLS AMG June 26th
CLA AMG
GLS Maybach
CLE63 Mythos/Black Series
C-Class facelift / C53 AMG
S63 AMG
VLS Maybach
GLA
CLE63
GT AMG SUV


M

Saw yesterday a couple of spy pics of the CLE63. Looks like the FL will have a way more brutal front end.

 

[Dopebouy]

Gents, Mercedes is scaring me.

S-class looks generic, GLE/GLS are now ugly, A-class is gone, CLA is an EV First, AMG GT 4dr is now EV with no ICE V8 variant, E-class has no V8 variant & as for the C-class…it does not seem to be keeping up with the 3er is it?

What is going Gentlemen? Lack of strategy/leadership?

 

[leylandi]

We'll start seeing V8s and new designs in 2027.

 

[Dopebouy]

We'll start seeing V8s and new designs in 2027.

I can’t till all that happens, The past 5 years been a sh*thole.

 

[leylandi]

Apart from the E-Class, they haven't offered anything I particularly liked in terms of design. However, they are still hardworking and innovative in areas such as software, platform, and engine. Ola's flawed strategy and obsession with low costs harmed Mercedes.

 

[Design FIRST]

Apart from the E-Class, they haven't offered anything I particularly liked in terms of design. However, they are still hardworking and innovative in areas such as software, platform, and engine. Ola's flawed strategy and obsession with low costs harmed Mercedes.

My take: The ongoing promotion of a corporate and product image campaign that has transformed into something clearly "lifestyle and Zeitgeist focused" rather than an image focused on engineering excellence, the setting of standards in assembly/material/fit and finish quality and a mature design paradigm focused on functional, less susceptible to dating quickly clarity.

 

[hannaz]

For me it look like a Nepali Mask

 

[Adr5]

Mercedes Updates: Baby G-Class Is ICE or EV, New AMG V-8 Coming, CLE63 Mythos Detailed
Mercedes executives shared hints and clues about what’s joining the lineup. Here’s what we learned.

The Little Mercedes G-Class Will Be ICE or EV, and a New AMG V-8 Is Coming

At the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe reveal, Mercedes executives shared clues about what’s joining the luxury automaker’s lineup. Here’s what we learned.

www.motortrend.com

 

[Merc1]

From that article:

The new AMG V-8 will debut in the CLE63 coupe, which Mercedes showed an image of during a presentation for investors. It builds on the CLE53’s familiar coupe body with more aggressive cues. The enlarged grille extends all the way down to the bumper’s lower edge and is flanked by big cooling inlets. Painted white, the car in the image also wore white-painted wheels. A black “63” hood decal visually conveys the powerplant.

A limited-run variant of the CLE63 will be introduced as part of Mercedes’ nascent Mythos series of exclusive cars. It shares the CLE63’s huge grille, but gains a hood scoop, front wheel fender vents, and a giant rear wing.

Only 30 copies will be built, all already presold to top Mercedes customers. Those customers were offered a €50,000 package that allowed them to build the engine for their own CLE63 Mythos at AMG’s German facility, adorned by a traditional dedication plate bearing their names.

The AMG GT SUV

The grille is taller, with vertical slat inlets on either side. Although the headlights share three-pronged LED accents, they won’t be connected by a light bar as is optional on the GT 4-Door Coupe. Instead, there’s a vent between them, just ahead of the hood.

In summary

Mercedes sees the U.S. as a main target for its high-end wares, but knows it must appeal to aspirational demographics, too. As part of its goal of 400,000 U.S. sales by 2030, three ICE and three EV entry-level models, eight ICE and four EV core models, and 14 ICE and eight EVs at the top level will join Mercedes’ lineup between now and 2028

The Little Mercedes G-Class Will Be ICE or EV, and a New AMG V-8 Is Coming

At the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe reveal, Mercedes executives shared clues about what’s joining the luxury automaker’s lineup. Here’s what we learned.

www.motortrend.com

Really good reading. I soon won’t be able to name every Mercedes on sale without looking them up first. I have never had this issue in the 40 years I’ve known the brand.


M

 

[Swissbob]

30 is absolutely ridiculous, they should offer a normal CLE63 trackpack with all the aero and limit it to 1000 cars.

These 30 cars will end up in collections or with speculators instead being driven around.

The 30 cars limit should be only for the possibility to build the engine, special colors and materials in the interior, like with other Maybach limited editions.

Otherwise it’s simply not worth the effort to build such a crazy car for so ridiculously small numbers even if’s 1m $/car.

 

[Swissbob]

I am really curious what happens next, I must admit that personally only care about the CLE63 convertible as I am not a coupe fan tbh.

 

[Dopebouy]

I can’t wait till 1:1 Alibaba CLE Mythos kits get available to see them on a normal CLE63.

Everybody remember the R230 SL Black Series kits?

 

[hannaz]

Mercedes Updates: Baby G-Class Is ICE or EV, New AMG V-8 Coming, CLE63 Mythos Detailed
Mercedes executives shared hints and clues about what’s joining the lineup. Here’s what we learned.

The Little Mercedes G-Class Will Be ICE or EV, and a New AMG V-8 Is Coming

At the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe reveal, Mercedes executives shared clues about what’s joining the luxury automaker’s lineup. Here’s what we learned.

www.motortrend.com