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Mercedes-Benz: Future Models
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Comments
I think the concept is saleable overall (Golf has done pretty well for a hatch here), but why buy the Benz over a long-term player, now well-updated. If they'd made the B AWD, at least it would have a competitive angle against the incoming A3 (my personal current favorite for upcoming Lexus replacement).
I don't buy the "price point dilutes the brand" argument. For me, it wasn't the price point I was after when I bought compact, but rather the size and characteristics. Small, very sporty, and with a premium range of choices of amenities is what I want. What I don't want is anything larger than what I have.
Precious few options out there when you get right down to it.
wale_bate1,
I agree about the placement of the B-Class. I would think awd would be automatic option for the car, but nope. I really don't think the B-Class will be a hit, but they should sell as many of the R-Class as they can make.
M
M
2007 R-Class - Will debut at either the New York Auto Show this April or 2006 Detroit Auto Show and goes on sale in the spring of 2006, approx. one year after the M-Class. Expect two V8s and an AmG model at a later date. No V6 so it and new ML don't overlap, but a diesel hybrid is very likely sometime after launch.
2006 M-Class - Is in pilot production now. Goes on sale in April as the ML350 (new DOHC V6) and ML500. ML320 CDI will be offered after the U.S. diesel fuel supply is cleaned up. The deadline for this is Aug/Sept 2006. The ML320 CDI will be a 2007 model at the earliest.
2006 CLK - This current model will be facelifted and on sale late summer/early fall in the U.S. Interior/exterior changes are slight. CLK320 becomes the CLK350. Details will be made public at the Geneva Motorshow in March.
2006 E350 - Goes on sale last week of Feb/first week of March. New 268hp DOHC V6 from SLK, and a real Sport package (seats, supsension, exhaust, shift buttons one wheel) will be available on the E350 and E500.
2006 C-Class - Engine-revised models will be shown in March at the Geneva Motorshow. The C320 becomes the C350. A futher revised Sport package is on board also. The C240 is to be replaced by the C280/C300 (some debate as to how it will be badged). Either way it is said to have a 228hp version of the new DOHC V6. Unlikely to happen, but rumored: the 4-cylinder C230 is to be replaced by a 2.5L 205hp version of the new DOHC V6, named the C230, not "C250" because the C230 Sedan has been so popular. Not sure what will happen to the C "Coupe" uh..hatchback. In Europe it gets all the new changes as the sedans/wagons. The C350 Wagon will come to the U.S. this fall.
2006 SLK-Class - Will get the smaller 228hp V6 mentioned above as an entry-level SLK280/300 model. No 4-cylinder SLKs are coming to the U.S. this time around.
2006/07 S-Class - Will debut at the IAA (Frankfurt) Autoshow in Sept. Should debut here at the 2006 Detroit Auto show. Engine lineup is all over the place. Everything from a new V6 S350 to a S600 CDI, yes a V12 diesel with 460hp and 800lb-ft of torque is rumored.
After these and sometime in 2006 there will be a new CL, a G-Class replacment, a facelifted E-Class and truly frightening rumor...the SL gets a facelift to include a nose like the SLK/SLR!
M
They do that to the SL/CL and they will ruin one of the most beautiful cars on the road IMO. I'm definitely now a fan of the SLR nose. I am really looking forward to the R class in 06.
And my wife had one of those "unloved" C coupes for 3 years, so be nice
M
M
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0502/07/autos-82066.htm
I guess the exchange rates would make it too expensive and/or they wouldn't make any money on it for a low price.
M
We all know I don't buy into the whole marque-prestige thing, but this may be one instance in which so-called "bottom feeding" would in fact have been detrimental.
Ah well, I'll just wait until a suitable sport-lux RWD replacement for my car pops up. Until then, next years's AWD purchase will have to do!
M
Ya big snob. [-P
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New models:
C240 becomes the C280 (227hp)
SLK280 (227hp)
CLK320 becomes the CLK350 (268hp)
CLK lineup gets a facelift and new diesel Cabriolet model for Europe only.
The E240 becomes the E280, but is a Euro only model.
Ditto for the new CLK280 model.
C230 stays a "C230" but now has a 2.5L V6 with 200hp instead of the previous 1.8L supercharged 4-cylinder.
M
I say drive both and go from there. Neither car is going to set the reliability charts on fire. BMW usually ranks higher in reliability, but that is for their other models, I haven't seen anything on the new 6, and of course the CLS is a new model, but it does use mostly existing E-Class hardware, which has been greatly improved from the E's 2003 intro.
M
(kidding)
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2006 E350 (on sale now, 268hp V6)
2006 E55 Wagon (not confirmed yet)
2006 S65 AMG (On sale next month)
2006 CLS500 and CLS55 AMG (on sale now!)
2006 C350 (268hp V6)
2006 C280 (227hp V6)
2006 C230 (200hp V6)
All 3 on sale early summer/late spring 2005
SLK280 (227hp V6) On sale this fall.
ML350 (268hp V6)
ML500 (302hp V8)
Both on sale last week of April 2005
CLK - facelifted model range, including new CLK350. On sale this fall.
R-Class - debuts at New York Autoshow and goes on sale late fall/early winter 2005.
S-Class - debuts at the IAA (Frankfurt Auto Show) in Sept 2005, debuts here at Detroit 2006, goes on sale first quarter of 2006.
M
A S600CDI V12 diesel? Gee whiz.
http://www.cwwcardesign.com/mercedes_slk320_cdi.html
"A new V8 engine generates 231 kW/315 hp in the Vision SL 400 CDI and provides the eight-cylinder’s crankshaft with an outstanding torque of 730 Nm. The SLK 320 CDI tri-turbo, meanwhile, can generate an impressive 210 kW/286 hp and 630 Nm of torque from three litres of displacement (70.3 kW and 211 Nm per litre of displacement)."
M
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/models/main.jsp&modelCode=S350V
Have you recieved one of these yet?
M
Any word on when the new C350, C280 and V6 C230 will arrive? I'm so glad to see that I4 "Kompressor" engine leave the U.S. market.
M
BTW, I really like the current I-4 Komp in 1.8 liter guise, but in addition to my normal bias, it's also because the prior 2.3 liter motor was so much more rude and crusty.
I suspect if the Euro/dollar situation ever changes we'll get the B-Class I wouldn't be honest in saying I want it here. Wale_bate1 calls me a snob for this but I can't help it..lol.
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Thanks!
Through an official confirmation, the 2006 C-Class will be available in June 2005 at your local MB dealers. The new 2006 models are as follows:
C 230
C 280
C 280 4MATIC
C 350
C 350 4 MATIC
The prices should be within the range of the current 2005 models.
Sound about right?
M
Thanks
M
Stroudman,
On my usual Sunday stroll through the local Benz lot I noticed today that the dealer here has every version of the AMG S, CL and SL cars you could want. CL65, SL65 and a particularly sinister looking S65. There seemed to be a lot of CLK55s both coupes and cabrios. There are also a lot of regular SL, 2006 S-Classes and 2005 CLKs in stock too. Not an SLK in sight and just two CLSs. I did this same walk around about 3 weeks ago and nearly all the Es and 2005 S-Classes are gone they're all 2006 models now. I noticed the sport package wheel has changed on the S. Looks good. A proper sendoff for the S-Class imo.
When does the S350 arrive?
Is your dealership stocking up for an anticipated spring rush on coupes and especially convertibles like the local dealer here seems to have done?
How many MLs have left your store so far?
M
At this point we've sold 2 of our first 4 m-class. The 400 lb. gorillas in our AOI have sold out, and are now calling us to trade! Did you drive one yet? For an SUV, I like it alot. This is convertible season, so we keep as many as the factory will let us have, but we're peanuts compared to the other dealers in our area. We have 2 SLK's, 1 SL500, 2 CLS500's, no CLK cab's, 2 coupes.
-The S350 should get to us, barring any hold-ups, around the middle of may. I think the dealers up northeast way are going to get them sooner, but not sure if they just had them allocated sooner, not delivered for launch sooner. Our 1st will be black/black, xenons and some other bits. About a $68k car. Should be a pretty cool rig.
There is another dealer here (Motor Werks in Barrington IL) that has so many SLs and other rare Mercedes models its unbelievable. They also sell Porsche, Infiniti, BMW and others and they're in one of the richest areas outside of Chicago. Looking at their lot is like being in a dream.
M
Stroudman, any idea when the 06' CLK arrives?
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