Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Mercedes FWD platform to last until 2018, convertible and two-seater future uncertain

Mercedes-Benz seems to be expecting a lot of success from its front-wheel-drive CLA-Class. Automotive News is reporting that the sub-C-Class sedan could grow when its second generation arrives in 2018.

The current FWD platform for MB underpins the CLA, the B-Class, the GLA-Class, and the A-Class. The B-Class will arrive in North America as an EV for spring of 2014, while the production GLA crossover will arrive three to four months after that. The five-door A-Class won't be crossing The Pond. Sad faces all around.

According to AN, another model will be based on the front-drive architecture, but it won't be coming to the US market. Set to arrive next year, rumors are that it'll be a wagon version of the CLA, sort of like the ill-named five-door CLS Shooting Brake that is also a Europe-only item.

As for the rumored CLA convertible and two-seat roadster, if those two arrive, it's not going to be until the second-generation of the current architecture hits the market. Even then, their future is in uncertain, as Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG told Automotive News, "We are considering the final portfolio of the next generation of our compact cars. We have to define it and we may expand the portfolio."

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/22/m...le-and-two-se/

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

The smaller and downmarket MBZ goes, the more I think it hurts the brand. They should just consider making a cheaper sub-brand IMO. Granted the tri-star on the hood has lots of power but cheap plastics don't resinate "luxury" when at the opposite end of the spectrum you have the S-Class

TangoRed

Why should they have to do that if Audi and BMW are doing the same thing?

Having said that, I years ago I imagined this is the area Mini and Smart would handle.

spwolf

they are making money on it so they dont care... and doesnt seem that people care either, they are buying them like crazy... in MB Showrooms, average price of CLA is higher than C class right now :-)

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

mb may have sold 'luxury' cars in the u.s., but it's a much broader brand than that globally. also, the interior of original ml suv or glk weren't exactly luxurious.

mercedes as a brand wants to be known for many things including innovation, safety, performance, utility, and luxury, with different models having different allotments of each. bmw is similar.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Audi already has those vehicles - VW's

And that's the problem, The Consumer. They just lay down and settle hence MBZ and the rest of them (ahem Lexus er ES..) get away with poor quality materials in anything under $50K

that's not really an excuse though, that was just the times. Even Lexus, BMW, Audi all had that kind of quality materials

Och

iTrader: (3)

Not Lexus, Lexus always had good quality interiors, and by late 90ies their interiors were nothing short of excellent.

The original ML interior was just total junk. That car was a rush job that started out as a Mitsubishi, and was built to Chrysler standards, not MB.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

True I used it as a generality. 2006 ES330 was the epitome of excellent cabin materials at a competitive price. Has since gone