“Vehicle dynamics were especially important to us. At the start of the development process, we opted for a fully variable all-wheel drive system which, when combined with the advanced performance of the 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine, reaffirms our brand’s “Driving Performance” claim.”
Mercedes-Benz recently dropped off this 2016 CLC300 4Matic test car clad in a groovy matte “Magno Dakota Brown” paint job for Business Insider to drive (matte-finish cars are something of a trend now). Though the 2016 GLC300 4Matic starts at $40,950, our options-laden test car left the showroom with an as-tested price of $64,530.
But only recently did the German brand go all in on SUVs. Mercedes-Benz now offers six SUVs/crossovers for sale in the US, with a seventh model arriving early next year. At the bottom of the range is the entry-level GLA crossover; the venerable G-Wagon is perched atop the lineup.
Mercedes-Benz changed the luxury-SUV market in 1998 with the M-Class. Never before had the automotive world seen a vehicle with such ruggedness, civility, and performance wrapped in Mercedes-Benz packaging.
The numbers are impressive: luxury SUVs will outsell luxury cars for the first time in 2016. And according to Edmunds, “
SUVs are bringing growth to brands that historically have been considered niche players.”
“Low gas prices, changing consumer tastes and attractive new vehicles are creating the perfect environment for luxury SUV sales to grow,” Jessica Caldwell, executive director of industry analysis for consumer auto site Edmunds.com said in a statement.
BMW never gave up on the idea, however, and in 2013 tested the waters again with the unveiling of the Gran Lusso Coupe concept
, also at Villa d’Este. It seemed the response was positive as now we’re just a year out from a new 8-Series.
Things have changed with the arrival of the GLC. In 2015, the Mercedes GLK and early-production GLC models accounted for 5.7% of the US market for compact luxury SUVs. So far this year, that number is way up, to 9.1%. Through April, the GLC has outsold both the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3 by a significant margin.
The vehicle leading Mercedes’ SUV revolution is its new compact GLC crossover. The GLC debuted late last year as the replacement for the boxy GLK crossover (and, yes, we know the whole “GL” ediabas konfigurator nomenclature is confusing — we actually have a chart stuck to the wall to make sense of it). Although the GLK was an appealing vehicle, it could never quite successfully go toe-to-toe with rivals Audi and free bmw fsc code.
For example, last week at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes revealed its first all-electric SUV concept called the Generation EQ
. The production version of the EQ will roll out in 2019 and will boast a range greater than 250 miles per charge, the company said.
BMW unveiled new cars for its Vision Next 100 concept car line this week. It includes a luxurious, driverless Rolls-Royce and an insane-looking mini BMW. But its Vision Next 100 concept car, first shown off at the Geneva Motor Show in March, might just top both.
All BMW is willing to say about the new 8-Series is that it will provide a blend of sporty dynamics and luxury. CEO Harald Krüger described it as a “true luxury sports coupe” and a “slice of pure automotive fascination.”
For example, Mercedes, BMW, and Audi all have at the core of their portfolios passengers cars. They also sell crossover SUVs, but they roadmap nbt next can’t conceivably bail out on cars — even if the market becomes increasingly unfriendly to them — because that type of vehicle in enmeshed with their brands.
The German automaker is planning to roll rheingold standalone out an electric version of the bmw navigation updates X3 SUV and a battery powered Mini Cooper, Bloomberg
first reported on Friday. The Mini is expected to become available in 2019 and the X3 is slated for 2020.
Tired of watching Mercedes-Benz launch hit after hit in the high-end segment for two-door cars, BMW is finally ready to join the fray with its own offering—something that’s long overdue. And no, the slow-selling i8 doesn’t count.
Volkswagen, which plans to launch 30 electrified vehicles by 2025, also showed off its battery powered concept car called the ID
at the show and announced that a production version will arrive in 2020.
Those automakers are “enjoying the most gains, thanks to the popularity of the F-Pace and XC90,” leading to a Jaguar sales increase of “more than 81% through the first three quarters of the year, while Volvo’s overall sales rose almost 26 percent.”
On Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz and its AMG performance division unveiled their latest offering — the E63. It is the latest entry in the German super-sedan arms race. When the E63 enters production, it will join a crowded field that includes such industry heavyweights as the BMW M5, Audi RS7, and Porsche Panamera Turbo.
The range for the Mini and the X3 have not yet been revealed, but considering its competition all comes in around 200 miles to 300 miles per charge, it’s likely we’ll see a similar range from BMW’s upcoming vehicles.