Mercedes is poised to kill a selection of models including the CLS, GLC coupe, GLE coupe and AMG GT 4-door
from Michael Gauthier
11 hours ago
from Michael Gauthier
Last year, Mercedes announced one new strategy geared to drive down costs and focus on profitable top-end luxury and core luxury vehicles. Entry Luxury vehicles would continue to exist, but the company promised to almost halve the supply.
While the automaker didn’t go into specifics, motorist now fill in the parts. The publication spoke to several “top managers” and reports “of the 33 body styles that Mercedes currently offers between Europe and the USA, only 14 will survive.”
That sounds like a bloodbath, and it looks like coupes and station wagons will be hit the hardest. This isn’t too surprising as Mercedes has already been moving in this direction, with the S-Class coupe and cabrio going the way of the dodo. Besides the CLE is intended to replace both the C and E class coupes and convertibles.
Likewise: Mercedes introduces exclusive Mythos brand as it pares down entry-level to focus on high-end luxury
However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as the publication says cls will be dropped in 2024. The AMG GT 4-door is to follow shortly thereafter, which would mean that the model would have lasted only one generation.
Even crossover coupés are not spared from the culling. While the next-gen GLC and GLE are rumored to offer crossover coupe variants, they’re set to disappear in the future. The exact timing remains unclear, but it sounds like they will be phased out when the next-gen models reach the end of the road.
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Wagons and Shooting Brakes are also set for a bleak future as the C-Class Estate will reportedly be “gone after 2028”. Spy photographers have already photographed the upcoming E-Class station wagon, but it will reportedly be phased out for good in 2030. While the next generation CLA Set to debut in 2025 and offering a Shooting Brake variant, it will reportedly be the company’s last swoopy car.
That’s quite a death toll, but a senior official told the publication: “At the end of the day, we just don’t need station wagons or underperforming two-door offerings to drive unit numbers.” They went on to say that “space and time” are the most important elements of contemporary luxury, so “fancy” body styles and models that only work in Europe make no sense.
The news will certainly disappoint fans, but the publication says there are a handful of interesting models on the horizon, including a new four-door coupe that will arrive in 2026. Maybach also teased one Ultra luxury version of the latest SL.
The publication also says there will be a rugged GLG SUV and possibly even a Maybach V-Class in 2026. More interestingly, the recently announced Mythos brand could offer a pickup based on the G-Class and a modern gullwing.
Many future models will be electric and Car & Driver say they will make a big leap forward thanks to more powerful batteries with capacities of up to 150kWh. They could deliver up to 500 miles (805 km) of range on the WLTP cycle, as well as faster charge times thanks to a 270 kW DC fast charge capability.
