E-Class (W214) [Renders] Next generation E-Class (W214)

[Rolf]

It's strange that the next E-class is supposed to be launched in less than 2 years time but we still not seeing any development car spy pics.

 

[Merc1]

Yeah a new E is a huge deal and expense. Maybe they really did can it. If so That means the current car will be around forever like in the W123 and W124 days.

M

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I thought maybe they did can it, but there are mules on the previous page.

Then again, maybe those mules are testing something else besides a future E, like the rumored "CLE?"

 

[fortuner]

My feeling is it’s canned and they will extend this one with a major face lift especially inside

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

My feeling is it’s canned and they will extend this one with a major face lift especially inside

Possibly.

I wonder though if the smaller-volume CLE, if it's still on the table, will likely use the MRA 2 platform like the C and the S class, why wouldn't they then utilize it for something that is a higher volume model line like the E-class? Maybe they want to fully shift all resources (and more) to the EQE? Maybe then continue to utilize the MRA 1 platform for a heavily re-skinned W213 for markets not ready for BEV thus producing decent margins from it?

 

[klier]

My feeling is it’s canned and they will extend this one with a major face lift especially inside

And why not? Maybe the next 5er is exactly that too (an extended CLAR platform facelift).
A major facelift is all these two cars need next to the upcoming lines of dedicated EV cars, from my POV; not because they [ICE] are better, but because they're so vastly different from EV there's no point in even comparing them anymore.

But then again....they should be testing it either way, new car or heavy facelift. And we should have had tons of vids/pics. Yet instead.........crickets.

Maybe then continue to utilize the MRA 1 platform for a heavily re-skinned W213 for markets not ready for BEV thus producing decent margins from it?

That would still require millions of on road km in testing, and we have seen zip.

 

[klier]

W210: 1995
E39: 1995 (little later in the year than W210)

W211: 2002
E60: 2003

W212: 2009
F10: 2009 (again, a little later)

W213: 2016
G30: 2017

W214: ???

G60:

The BMW is much further along if that red car is even a new E class and not some testing of something random. And if it indeed is the new E class W214, it's simply YEARS away. We're looking at a first stage mule then.
Which is strange because as you see above, the Benz historically launches first.

Not to mention, the longer you wait with launching a new ICE dinosaur, the more insane it becomes. 2025 sounds a little absurd for a new ICE E class when in 5 years they are not allowed to be sold anymore in many EU places (2030).

 

[Rolf]

W210: 1995
E39: 1995 (little later in the year than W210)

W211: 2002
E60: 2003

W212: 2009
F10: 2009 (again, a little later)

W213: 2016
G30: 2017

W214: ???

G60:

The BMW is much further along if that red car is even a new E class and not some testing of something random. And if it indeed is the new E class W214, it's simply YEARS away. We're looking at a first stage mule then.
Which is strange because as you see above, the Benz historically launches first.

Not to mention, the longer you wait with launching a new ICE dinosaur, the more insane it becomes. 2025 sounds a little absurd for a new ICE E class when in 5 years they are not allowed to be sold anymore in many EU places (2030).

Maybe the current E-c;lass will go on for a while and get another heavy FL, maybe all plug in hybrids and then EQE will fully replace it in near future.

 

[Sunny]

Yea,they should just facelift the current one again. And put the resources into a new EQE that doesn't look like some dog poop.

 

[SKY]

I believe if we see no evidence of a W214 in the works this 2021, it will mean it simply won't happen. W214 should be introduced in March 2023.

My guess is a new FL will appear in 2023 to keep the model fresh for another 3 years and that will be it. MB will replace both E-Class and EQE with a unified vehicle. Same as will happen with the S-Class and EQS.

Doesn't look like Audi will release a new A6 or A4 either...

 

[Antti]

Could well be that they simply facelift the E, redesign the interior (could they bring in the hyperscreen, or is that just for the EQ’s?), make the exterior look like the new S and C, new wheel options, new colours, longer range plug-in hybrids. And that would take it to 2030 and the end of ICE in Europe. Then again, the E Class is probably the most important model they have, so it’s risky also not investing in it properly.

The other option is that it’s simply delayed by 1 year due to the semiconductor shortages and a brand new model will be introduced at the end of 2023 as a 2024 model. That would still give it the 7 year normal model run before the 2030 ban.

 

[SCOTT27]

Or real-world testing has not begun yet.
Personally,I think it’s been delayed in order to establish EQE. The E-Klasse is their biggest fleet model. If I was at Daimler I would rather see the huge fleets as an example Taxi’s being EQE rather than more diesel E-Klasses.
It boosts your environmental credentials As well as possible tax breaks and government contracts.

 

[fortuner]

Or real-world testing has not begun yet.
Personally,I think it’s been delayed in order to establish EQE. The E-Klasse is their biggest fleet model. If I was at Daimler I would rather see the huge fleets as an example Taxi’s being EQE rather than more diesel E-Klasses.
It boosts your environmental credentials As well as possible tax breaks and government contracts.

Well its not all about Daimler of the taxi drivers dont want a EV then they will end up buying a Audi or Bmw or other so that doesn't work

 

[hovabongZA]

No

 

[Centurion]

Maybe the current E-c;lass will go on for a while and get another heavy FL, maybe all plug in hybrids and then EQE will fully replace it in near future.

I think there will be another full generation of ICE and hybrid Eclass.

It will take 10 years from now for developing nations to have the charging infrastructure for EVs to be viable.

 

[fortuner]

I think there will be another full generation of ICE and hybrid Eclass.

It will take 10 years from now for developing nations to have the charging infrastructure for EVs to be viable.

I think some will take been longer then 10 years

 

[Antti]

I think there will be another full generation of ICE and hybrid Eclass.

It will take 10 years from now for developing nations to have the charging infrastructure for EVs to be viable.

I doubt that developing countries can even bother with EV’s. They are exempt from emission controls on the account of being developing countries, so why would they care? It’s only the “West” and other developed countries that will do the whole EV thing.

 

[Sunny]

It will take 10 years from now for developing nations to have the charging infrastructure for EVs to be viable.

But how does that matter? The vast bulk of Mercedes sales is in developed countries.

Here is 2020 breakdown by region/country -

It doesn't list Africa or South America*, sso that leaves developing countries in Asia. Asia-pacific figure minus China is 250k. Again a big part of that is from developed countries like Japan (57k), SKorea (77k), Australia (30k) etc. Tha leaves <100k. Even if consider all of that is from developing countries, that is < 5% of their global sales in 2020.

*Another chart from the 2020 Daimler financial report that seems to imply Africa + S America is ~3%

Add the two and we have 8%. So, at best, we probably have developing countries make up < 10% of the Mercedes cars global sales. How does it make any sense to let 10% of the market decide your product strategy?

 

[Antti]

But how does that matter? The vast bulk of Mercedes sales is in developed countries.

Here is 2020 breakdown by region/country -

It doesn't list Africa or South America*, sso that leaves developing countries in Asia. Asia-pacific figure minus China is 250k. Again a big part of that is from developed countries like Japan (57k), SKorea (77k), Australia (30k) etc. Tha leaves <100k. Even if consider all of that is from developing countries, that is < 5% of their global sales in 2020.

*Another chart from the 2020 Daimler financial report that seems to imply Africa + S America is ~3%

Add the two and we have 8%. So, at best, we probably have developing countries make up < 10% of the Mercedes cars global sales. How does it make any sense to let 10% of the market decide your product strategy?

Where is Middle East in these figures? Would imagine the Gulf region to buy lots of Mercedes’s with their oil money

 

[Centurion]

But how does that matter? The vast bulk of Mercedes sales is in developed countries.

Here is 2020 breakdown by region/country -

It doesn't list Africa or South America*, sso that leaves developing countries in Asia. Asia-pacific figure minus China is 250k. Again a big part of that is from developed countries like Japan (57k), SKorea (77k), Australia (30k) etc. Tha leaves <100k. Even if consider all of that is from developing countries, that is < 5% of their global sales in 2020.

*Another chart from the 2020 Daimler financial report that seems to imply Africa + S America is ~3%

Add the two and we have 8%. So, at best, we probably have developing countries make up < 10% of the Mercedes cars global sales. How does it make any sense to let 10% of the market decide your product strategy?

It is correct that the vast majority of sales are generated in developed nations.

Although these countries have major metropolitan and urban cities, some of the outskirts and rural areas are agricultural or behind the times.

The installation of EV chargers would have to be led by governments. However there are a fair number of governments in developed countries that are either slow, corrupt or hamstrung by outdated legislation.

I wouldn't expect fast EV charger in non-metroplitan Italy to all of a sudden start cropping up like daffodils in the next 3 years.

Mercedes will no doubt shift its resources to EVs but not a 100% by 2030 like Volvo and possibly Audi. I expect Mercedes to still have a few selection of hybrids in 2028-2030.