Mercedes-Benz Set to Kill Most Coupes and Wagons in Its Lineup

• Within the coming years, Mercedes-Benz will drastically reshape its portfolio.
• Numerous two-door coupes, wagons, and SUV coupes are destined for discontinuation.
• Going ahead, count on a higher concentrate on top-end variants from AMG and Maybach, in addition to super-exclusive Mythos fashions.

In Could 2022, Mercedes-Benz outlined its newest long-term strategic plan, which includes drastically resizing and reshaping its huge product portfolio to maneuver even additional upmarket and change into much more worthwhile. On the time, the automaker didn’t give a full rationalization of the way it plans to take action, however now we’ve got a a lot clearer concept of what is destined for the guillotine and what new fashions we will count on.

Solely 14 of 33 Physique Kinds Will Survive

We talked to a number of high managers in Untertürkheim and Sindelfingen to search out out precisely why they consider that wagons, coupes, and convertibles have an unsure future—or no future in any respect. Apparently, it has to do with the model’s new understanding of luxurious. Mercedes intends to tailor its future merchandise to organize them for prolonged customized mobility companies, ease the stress on the motive force, and redefine creature consolation as a key model worth. The brand new mannequin combine could enhance income, but it surely comprises fewer emotional merchandise. Based mostly on what we have seen, of the 33 physique kinds Mercedes at present affords between Europe and the U.S., solely 14 will survive.

“On the finish of the day, we merely do not want property automobiles [wagons] or underperforming two-door choices to spice up volumes,” a senior member of Mercedes-Benz’s technique crew advised Automobile and Driver. “Essentially the most important components of sustainable up to date luxurious automobiles are area and time . . . That is our primary precedence—not one other fancy physique type, a mannequin that solely works in Europe, or one final stab at a dying section.”

The C-class and E-class coupes and convertibles will stop to exist someday between 2023 and 2024, to get replaced by a pair of two-door CLE-class fashions. Present coupe-like SUVs and sedans aren’t lengthy for this world, both. The CLS-class will depart in 2024, and the sharper AMG GT 4 Door will observe alongside in 2024 or 2025. New generations of GLE and GLC Coupes will debut within the coming years, however after that, their lineages will even finish.

Goodbye to the Taking pictures Brake

Issues are extra dire for followers of wagons and capturing brakes in Europe. The Europe-market C-class wagon shall be gone after 2028. Later this yr, we’ll see the next-generation E-class, which is able to spawn the automaker’s final wagon, bidding farewell on the finish of its manufacturing run in 2030. The following-gen CLA-class, which is able to experience on the MMA electrical platform and is because of debut in 2025, would be the model’s final capturing brake (in Europe).

There are nonetheless some fascinating automobiles on the horizon, although. Later this yr, Mercedes-AMG will launch the brand new GT coupe; it is going to be primarily based on the present SL roadster, which will even increase its lineup with a brand new Maybach providing. In 2026, we’ll see a brand new four-door coupe, in addition to a next-generation SL with extra cargo and rear-seat area, and a brand new AMG GT coupe, all of which shall be electrical. And talking of EVs, the MMA platform will even function the spine for a chunky GLG-class SUV in 2026.

As this new group steps into the highlight, we will count on to see extra capacious batteries (as much as 150.0 kWh), energy outputs approaching quadruple digits, and most ranges pushing towards the 500-mile mark on the European WLTP cycle. Most charging speeds ought to increase to 270 kilowatts, too, because of a higher reliance on 800-volt electrical techniques.

AMG Getting Extra Consideration

Since Mercedes-Benz’s extra unique corners shall be prioritized going ahead, we will count on to see a higher concentrate on AMG fashions, in addition to Maybach—in actual fact, there’s even speak of an ultra-ritzy V-class van. The wildest creations, although, will come from the OEM’s new Mythos collection of hyper-expensive collectibles. There are some very intriguing propositions right here, together with a Gullwing reincarnation, a four-door G-class pickup truck, and a racy speedster primarily based on the SL.