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Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, Mercedes-Benz R-Class
#263 of 441 Mercedes News
by merc1
Jan 05, 2006 (2:44 am)
Sales are in for the U.S. for 2005 - 224,421 units, up 1.3% vs 2004.
2005 MBUSA Sales
All the work was done by the ML, CLS and SLK. C-Class did post the highest sales month on record for Dec 2005. The new R-Class did contribute also, finally posting a decent number for Dec 2005 - 2,430 units. Maybach is floundering to put it lightly. Mercedes actually sold more SLRs and the SLR costs more, a good deal more actually.
Predictions for 2006 - long and tough year for the C-Class in the face of a new 3-Series and Lexus IS. E-Class will get some spice this summer with a facelift/new engines. New S will be a hit. New CL when it arrives this fall, couldn't possibly do any worse than the current one did in 2005! Until that new CL arrives however, expect the current model to become one of the "rarest" Mercedes on the road. New GL will do ok, won't be as big a hit as Mercedes would like, for various reasons. SLK and CLK sales will spike come spring/summer 2006. SL will reach previous heights once the face-lifted model arrives, still though 10K sold at 90K a piece is far from being "bad" in 2005. Lastly I think the Maybach 57S will add a few sales in 2006. It surely is the first Maybach model I truly like.
Prediction for 2006 volume - 250K units. Hope this thread is still here a year from now to see if I'm right!
M
#264 of 441 Re: Mercedes News [merc1]
by albell
Jan 05, 2006 (4:06 am)
Hey Merc1: I read the news, too (0h, boy.) Is it just me, or are the sales figures really, truly troubling for MB, despite the happy talk in their press release? All of their sedan sales are down significantly, and as you point out, only their newest vehicles bailed them out here. I am a big MB fan, but wonder if they have a handle on what's wrong. I think that they bungled the R class intro and marketing (I own one and its a truly outstanding and unique vehicle) and the E class is the finest mid-size sedan in the world period, but the market is not selling well, even with a new engine and major incentives.
Dieter better hurry....
#265 of 441 Re: Mercedes News [albell]
by merc1
Jan 05, 2006 (4:48 am)
Well the way I see it all of their core models are either old (C,S) or middle aged (E), and that is where the volume will come from once these models are updated. The new S should turn things around, as should the facelifted E-Class. I see what you're saying, but I don't think it is anything to worry about, yet. Now if this new S does a R-Class type launch then we've got a problem because MB sedans are where the big volume always comes from. The E had a better year than I thought it would considering all the newer competition. The C, well it has a long road ahead of it, that 2008 model can't come soon enough. Still though with all the bad press in 2005 they still managed to wind up selling over 31K cars in one month! That is an astounding number for Mercedes in this country.
It seems that others like BMW and Lexus all now have newer core models (sedans) while Mercedes has been updating their SUVs/Coupes/Roadsters. Now as Mercedes' sedans get some attention the sales will come, if not a problem indeed. This new S will be the first indicator. Still though the R-Class was a big chance missed. I have several theories as to why it has gotten off to such a slow start, with the price/options ratio being the main one.
M
#266 of 441 Re: S65 AMG to be presented at Detroit! [merc1]
by streetster
Jan 05, 2006 (5:01 am)
Thankyou soooooooooooooooo much. I wanted to see some high-res pics of the S65 AMG. And here they are. Thankyou once again.
#267 of 441 Re: S65 AMG to be presented at Detroit! [streetster]
by merc1
Jan 05, 2006 (5:02 am)
Your welcome!
M
#268 of 441 Re: Mercedes News [merc1]
by albell
Jan 05, 2006 (7:09 am)
I think the S will be a huge hit. As to the R, I agree about the price/options issue. If I hadn't been able to secure such a great deal, I would not have bought it...or would have delayed purchase.
I do, however, think that MB marketing has gone awry...
#269 of 441 S-Class Makes Official U.S. Debut.....
by merc1
Jan 05, 2006 (11:58 pm)
2007 S-Class
S550 is priced at $86,175.
M
#270 of 441 Mercedes News from Detroit
by merc1
Jan 09, 2006 (1:46 am)
It appears that we're going to get a ML320 CDI, R320 CDI and GL320 CDI in addition to the E320 CDI, all with the new V6 engines using "Bluetec" technology. The article HERE
M
#271 of 441 S65 at Detroit....
by merc1
Jan 09, 2006 (11:32 pm)
M
#272 of 441 SL Facelift - First Info
by merc1
Jan 17, 2006 (11:30 pm)
The SL has gone under the knife. The first pictures of the facelifted SL are out:
Short Article
In short the SL500 (SL550 in the U.S.) gets the new 5.5L V8 from the S550, the SL350 (non-U.S.) get the new 3.5L V6 from every other V6 Benz and happily the SL55 AMG keeps the 5.5L Supercharged V8 with an extra 17 hp, which will put the U.S. SL55 at 510hp. There are now shift paddles on the AMG models instead of buttons on the back side of the steering wheel. Other small lights/bumpers changes and a new 3-slat grille like the CLK top off the exterior changes. Interior changes also, but at this point not sure what else has been changed besides the addition of new shift paddles on the AMG models.
M