Revised Maybach range revealed

[Centurion]

The CLS has done just that, carved an entirely new niche which everyone has tried to enter and emulate.

That was 7 years ago the CLS was conceived. Now other manufacturers are milking the four door concept but earning much higher margins -- like Porsche. BMW has had a major success with the 1-series which Mercedes while Mercedes' R&D department is scrabbling together ideas about how to restructure the A,B and C-Class range to respond to the 1er. Further more the brand extensions for Mini and RR have been victorious. I don't think I need to mention the plethora of achieving models that VAG has launched in the recent years.

If Mercedes keep staying still and not introduce leading products then they'll lag behind their major rivals in sales. In the past 10 years, the CLS is pretty much the only successful model introduction MB has to speak of.

 

[Merc1]

Porsche should be earning much higher margins, they make higher margins on everything they make so whats your point?

BMW has had a major success with the 1-series which Mercedes while Mercedes' R&D department is scrabbling together ideas about how to restructure the A,B and C-Class range to respond to the 1er.

True and Mercedes is behind, but not out as you seem to want to imply. The C-Class isn't being repositioned to deal with the 1-Series. The C competes with the 3-Series.

If Mercedes keep staying still and not introduce leading products then they'll lag behind their major rivals in sales. In the past 10 years, the CLS is pretty much the only successful model introduction MB has to speak of.

How can be staying still if they're about to introduce a lot of new products? Its either one or the other. They only rival they lag is BMW when it comes to sales. Audi will likely pass both in a few years. Thing is Mercedes doesn't need to be the sales leader, only to be build the best cars they can. On price (at least in the U.S.) Mercedes shouldn't be a sales leader anyway. Their range is too skewed toward the upper end to lead a sales race. Sales aren't everything.


M

 

[SCOTT27]

BMW has the flop of the 5GT also, hardly a success.

Our Projections for first year sales of the 5er GT were about 15,000 units.
In our first year we have exceeded to 20,000 units which is very good for a low volume car . If 5er GT was a flop we would not be bringing the 3er GT to the market (Look for the first signs very,very soon).

What is signifcant about the GT's success but never mentioned is that a great majority of the number of GT owners are first time BMW owners and to my surprise when I found out on a trip to London before christmas was how many Hotels and businesses are using the 5er GT as a shuttle for clients and when sitting in the rear instead of behind the wheel is that you get the feeling of why this car was created because it transports you effortlessly in opulence and in silence , an experience like a Rolls-Royce at a fraction of the cost.

Mercedes-Benz'es replacement for the R-Klasse is said to be reminiscient of the F500 Concept from 2005 from the very school of thought that exists with the 5er GT. Personal transport in a more sporting and unconventional shape of what this car should be - ie a Van with windows.

Maybach got it wrong but if they want to do it right than they have to start from scratch. Maybach has to appeal to more customers , figures relate to Maybach show sales being replinished by existing owners replacing their older models with the latest version. New customers are almost non-existent. At Rolls-Royce it is very much a different story. The Ghost is continually attracting new customers and so is the Phantom series.
When The Ghost begins it's product expansion later this year Maybach are going to be left completely exposed. If they are serious about prolonging Maybach then they have to do something which takes notice to communicate the Maybach message or else it will remain on life-support waiting for Damiler to pull the plug. Which their shareholders want them to do.

 

[MBFanToDeath]

Thing is Mercedes doesn't need to be the sales leader, only to be build the best cars they can. Sales aren't everything. M

 

[aleks_16]

I dont think that MB builds for everybody the best cars.......

 

[Centurion]

Their range is too skewed toward the upper end to lead a sales race. Sales aren't everything.

That is true. Mercedes is the epitomiser of high-end cars and most of their offerings command borderline terribly high prices. Make no mistake though. They do have an interest in going down market and have attempted this using the A/B-Class and the Smart brand, but neither have succeed in shaking the market.

Sales but most importantly profits are critical for being able to afford the use of high quality materials. Let's not forget that we're talking about Mercedes as Daimler AG here and sales do matter as much as they do to the board at VW and BMW. If Mercedes had no interest in sourcing sales from the entry-level segment then they wouldn't have introduced the SMART brand or A/B-Class.

How can be staying still if they're about to introduce a lot of new products?

What new products are you speaking of? The C-Class Coupe? That's a response to the high selling 1er coupe. With the exception of the SLS Mercedes don't aren't launching products that are entirely new to market. The GLK was a rather late response to the X3 and now MB have a new task of responding to the X1.

 

[Merc1]

Our Projections for first year sales of the 5er GT were about 15,000 units.
In our first year we have exceeded to 20,000 units which is very good for a low volume car . If 5er GT was a flop we would not be bringing the 3er GT to the market (Look for the first signs very,very soon).

I was just looking at from a U.S. market perspective. I didn't know it sold better outside the U.S. Not that I doubt what you're saying, but you've been ridiculously wrong with sales figures before so do you have a link to a press release for the 5GT sales worldwide for the first year?


M

 

[Merc1]

That is true. Mercedes is the epitomiser of high-end cars and most of their offerings command borderline terribly high prices. Make no mistake though. They do have an interest in going down market and have attempted this using the A/B-Class and the Smart brand, but neither have succeed in shaking the market.

Sales but most importantly profits are critical for being able to afford the use of high quality materials. Let's not forget that we're talking about Mercedes as Daimler AG here and sales do matter as much as they do to the board at VW and BMW. If Mercedes had no interest in sourcing sales from the entry-level segment then they wouldn't have introduced the SMART brand or A/B-Class.

See I didn't say sales aren't important, I just said that they aren't the end-all. Mercedes is very profitable now, with higher margins than BMW I believe. Profitability is really, and they're profitable.

What new products are you speaking of? The C-Class Coupe? That's a response to the high selling 1er coupe. With the exception of the SLS Mercedes don't aren't launching products that are entirely new to market. The GLK was a rather late response to the X3 and now MB have a new task of responding to the X1.

I don't think it is, but we'll have to see where the position it. I think it will cost more than the C Sedan with will make it a 3-Series coupe competitor, not the 1-Series.

Where is it written that MB has to follow everyone else into a market segment? Sure they're going to do it because Germans are just that, but I'd rather they stick to what they know. Mercedes doesn't do small and cheap that well, it has taken them until now with the facelift to get the C-Class "right". Interior, engines etc. it hasn't been a complete car until now. I'm not convinced another FWD A/B replacement is the answer for them, but I guess they know best.


M

 

[Nicks]

. BMW has had a major success with the 1-series which Mercedes while Mercedes' R&D department is scrabbling together ideas about how to restructure the A,B and C-Class range to respond to the 1er.

lolwhat? A and B class are one of the most selling MBs in Europe

 

[K-A]

To me, "Mercedes" shouldn't be about pure sales, it degrades the brand.

BMW's goofy hideous new "niches" are great for sales it seems, but IMO, it degrades the brands premium value.

In a perfect world, M-B would stick to their core models, keep perfecting them, and ride high as the ultimate cache brand.

However, with these attempted "BMW-like" carving of new niches, they're failing, and helping smear their good name, with the exception of the CLS.

Let Audi pass, let Lexus lead in sales, BMW, etc. However, I'd love for Mercedes to be tactful enough to stay profitable, however, keep the cars on the "higher end" scale, so they still command that respect, and they aren't whored out everywhere.

However, humans are in charge, and we are a species of capitalization, and that's exactly what M-B will realistically do. They will attempt to grow, "out-smart" and outsell their competitors, etc.

 

[SCOTT27]

I was just looking at from a U.S. market perspective. I didn't know it sold better outside the U.S. Not that I doubt what you're saying, but you've been ridiculously wrong with sales figures before so do you have a link to a press release for the 5GT sales worldwide for the first year?

Since an official release is incoming to coincide with the NAIAS regarding 2010.
This below showcases the sales reaction to the BMW 5er Gran Turismo. The 5er Gran Turismo arrived on the market in November 2009.

BMW brand
BMW brand sales were 19.7% higher in November, at 108,187 units (prev. yr. 90,391). Over the course of the year, retail volumes have risen to a total of 1,108,715 vehicles (+15%; prev. yr. 963,721 units).
The main growth drivers in November were the new BMW 5 Series models and the BMW X family: Sales of the 5 Series Sedan were up 86.9%, to 20,702 vehicles, while 5 Series Touring volumes climbed 62.9% to 5,073 units. Deliveries of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo more than doubled to 2,460 units. The company sold 9,160 BMW X1 vehicles in November, passing the 100,000-unit mark one year after its market launch at the end of October 2009. The BMW X5 continued to expand its segment leadership, as sales rose 17.2% to 8,853 vehicles in November. The BMW X6 was able to maintain its high level of sales at 4,018 units (+0.5%). The second generation of the BMW X3, introduced only last month, reported exceptionally strong new orders and a total of 1,062 vehicles were delivered to their new owners in November. The vehicle is slated for launch in the largest X3 market, the U.S., in January 2011.

 

[63Bonneville]

Here we go again with the Maybach saga...

Now, according to this report, the Daimler CEO, at the Detroit Auto Show/NAIAS, states that Maybach is essentially on the bubble in 2012, where he wants a decision reached by year end, of the brand will survive or die. Zetsche states, "The success or failure of Maybach hardly shows up on our results, but it is something I want to have a decision on by year-end. And everything is on the table". Regarding the recent news of Aston-Martin/Lagonda partnering with Daimler, pursuing future Maybach development, Zetsche said that partnerships like that are also on the table to see if there is a viable business model for the business, according to this report.

Here are potential scenarios that I see:

• New-generation of Maybachs and line-up expansion, courtesy of Aston-Martin/Lagonda (the hopeful arrangement)
• Maybach reaching the end of the line after life-cycle ends, and next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class (larger) variants taking it's place, and what was to be developed as some Maybachs to become Lagondas instead.

Here is a link to this report, posted below:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/13/d...ubble-in-2012/

 

[Deleted member 1071]

I would be surprised if anything other than letting Maybach demise were to be decided by the M-B board under Dr. Zetsche.

Perhaps a bonafide Mercedes-Benz flagship in the form of a CLS type of 4 door coupe based on the upcoming W222 S-Class would be a more viable proposal. Or a sleek Lagonda sedan with M-B underpinnings.

 

[Wunderkind]

I would be surprised if anything other than letting Maybach demise were to be decided by the M-B board under Dr. Zetsche.

Perhaps a bonafide Mercedes-Benz flagship in the form of a CLS type of 4 door coupe based on the upcoming W222 S-Class would be a more viable proposal. Or a sleek Lagonda sedan with M-B underpinnings.

A new Maybach CANNOT be a sleek 4-door coupe. It has to be HUGE and possess immense road presence. It has to have a large upright grille like that of the RR Phantom or the old Mercedes 600 Pullman.

The problem with today's Maybach is that it looks like a glorified S-Class and small right next to a RR Phantom.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

A new Maybach CANNOT be a sleek 4-door coupe.

Wunderkind,

I speculate that there will not be a new Maybach. The envisaged sleek 4 door coupe based on the upcoming W222 would be a Mercedes-Benz. And I am simply guessing.

Actually, I question the viability of M-B attempting to compete in the segment of hyper-sized, hyper-priced sedans. Does the world really need any more of these behemoths ? RRs' Phantom is enough.

 

[Human]

Our Projections for first year sales of the 5er GT were about 15,000 units.
In our first year we have exceeded to 20,000 units which is very good for a low volume car . If 5er GT was a flop we would not be bringing the 3er GT to the market (Look for the first signs very,very soon).

What is signifcant about the GT's success but never mentioned is that a great majority of the number of GT owners are first time BMW owners and to my surprise when I found out on a trip to London before christmas was how many Hotels and businesses are using the 5er GT as a shuttle for clients and when sitting in the rear instead of behind the wheel is that you get the feeling of why this car was created because it transports you effortlessly in opulence and in silence , an experience like a Rolls-Royce at a fraction of the cost.

Mercedes-Benz'es replacement for the R-Klasse is said to be reminiscient of the F500 Concept from 2005 from the very school of thought that exists with the 5er GT. Personal transport in a more sporting and unconventional shape of what this car should be - ie a Van with windows.

Maybach got it wrong but if they want to do it right than they have to start from scratch. Maybach has to appeal to more customers , figures relate to Maybach show sales being replinished by existing owners replacing their older models with the latest version. New customers are almost non-existent. At Rolls-Royce it is very much a different story. The Ghost is continually attracting new customers and so is the Phantom series.
When The Ghost begins it's product expansion later this year Maybach are going to be left completely exposed. If they are serious about prolonging Maybach then they have to do something which takes notice to communicate the Maybach message or else it will remain on life-support waiting for Damiler to pull the plug. Which their shareholders want them to do.

And I am playing with the idea of replacing my X6 with a 550i GT this year

 

[K-A]

A new Maybach CANNOT be a sleek 4-door coupe. It has to be HUGE and possess immense road presence. It has to have a large upright grille like that of the RR Phantom or the old Mercedes 600 Pullman.

The problem with today's Maybach is that it looks like a glorified S-Class and small right next to a RR Phantom.

Agreed. No sleek for a Maybach. Maybach has to be a Sedan's Sedan; stately, large, strong, powerful, imposing. Making it swoopy would make it almost pointless, IMO.

 

[FFranek]

Agreed. No sleek for a Maybach. Maybach has to be a Sedan's Sedan; stately, large, strong, powerful, imposing. Making it swoopy would make it almost pointless, IMO.

Also agreed. Who needs sleek aerodynamic line with V12 engine.
I hope interior will be also more traditional with big piece of wood.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Agreed. No sleek for a Maybach. Maybach has to be a Sedan's Sedan; stately, large, strong, powerful, imposing. Making it swoopy would make it almost pointless, IMO.

Exactly! It has been the award winning formula for Bentley and Rolls for years. I think that is why the current Maybach looks so "regular" up against the other two..

 

[Deleted member 1071]

I think that there are some folks that would beg to differ.

Quite a few people went rather gaga over the Exelero coupe concept. It can surely be argued whether the car was attractive, but it was most certainly sleek. And a spiritual successor to the Maybach streamlined aerocoupes of the late 1930s'.

Maybach has a history of treading sleek territory.