Jump to content
Create New...
  • 💬 Join the Conversation

    CnG Logo SQ 2023 RedBlue FavIcon300w.png
    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has been the go-to hub for automotive enthusiasts. Join today to access our vibrant forums, upload your vehicle to the Garage, and connect with fellow gearheads around the world.

     

  • William Maley
    William Maley

    BMW To Challenge Mercedes-Maybach S600

      BMW Wants To Fight Mercedes In the Ultra-Luxury Class

    BMW is losing a lot of ground in the flagship arena to Mercedes-Benz. To combat this, the Munich-based automaker is considering an ultra-luxury sedan that will sit between the 7-Series and the Rolls-Royce Ghost.

     

    "Just like certain competitors, we will see that we occupy with credible offers the price bracket of 150,000 euros ($170,000) and beyond," BMW development chief Klaus Froehlich to Automotive News.

     

    Froehlich also took a jab at Mercedes-Benz by saying BMW wouldn't offer several wheelbases or "varyingly thick chrome packages."

     

    Why is BMW wanting to take on Mercedes-Benz in terms of flagships? In a word, China. Automotive news says about one of every two S-Class sedans built goes to China. The sedans are mostly bought wealthy people who have a chauffeur.

     

    Mercedes also took a big gamble. Back in 2012, the brand shuttered Maybach and left Bentley and Rolls-Royce to fight over buyers who want ultra-luxury models. During this time, a massive crackdown on corruption took place and many wealthy people decided it wasn't a good idea to show off their wealth in ostentatious fashion. This caused sales of Bentley and Rolls-Royce vehicles to drop. When Mercedes brought back the Maybach in the form of a high-lux S-Class in 2015, buyers flocked to it as it was seen as an understated way to show off their wealth. Since then, Mercedes has introduced a Pullman version.

     

    What does BMW have planned? There have been rumors of a 9-Series though details are thin.

     

    Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Let them have this segment, I see MB eventually imploding under their own weight of becoming the Chevy of everything with a rebadge on both their FWD appliances and the boring RWD appliances. This even goes for the over whoring AMG badge now. Let BMW follow the same model and blow up. It did not work for others and in the long run it will not work for them either. 

     

    After all in 10 years people will look at what used to be a luxury badge and say that is no different than a Ford or Chevy. I can get all that and save a butt load of money with an American name plate.

     

    Badge snobs are the only ones that will continue to over pay for just average auto's.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Interesting that the S-class left the 7-series in the dust, so now they need to bring out a 9-series.  Bring it on, the S-class will beat it too.  Mercedes knows luxury, they know ride quality, interior space, and over the top horsepower.  BMW was the sport sedan brand, yet in the past 10 years they are are trying to be more like Mercedes, making heavier, more solid feeling cars, making bigger, roomier cars, now making a chauffeur driven car.   Well I am sure BMW will enjoy 2nd place with their 7-8-9 series combined effort losing to the S-class.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Why did BMW buy Rolls Royce for?

     

    BMW already owns this segment through Rolls Royce...

     

    If you ask me...any German attempt in this segment is a pure fail...

    Unless it has English heritage...aka...Rolls Royce and Bentley...

     

    SMK...the Maybach has come and gone...twice...this third attempt wont fair any better...

     

    Mercedes has a good thing going on with the S Class...

    BMW has a good thing going on with Rolls Royce...

     

    Id leave well enough alone...

     

    Visions of grandeur is what this is....and usually, visions of grandeur dont end up too good...

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    BMW in order to chase volume has lost its identity. Or more rather they've become dual holders of identities that are not complementary.

     

    Do we make ridiculous sleds or do we make agile fighters?

     

    They make neither. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Support Real Automotive Journalism

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has delivered real content and honest opinions — not emotionless AI output or manufacturer-filtered fluff.

    If you value independent voices and authentic reviews, consider subscribing. Plans start at just $2.25/month, and paid members enjoy an ad-light experience.*

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Yeah, I don't love the idea of axing the full BEV Lightning. I thoroughly believe it will only be temporarily anyway but still feels wrong to get rid of it now.  I understand the whole "extended range" thing is a steppingstone into a full BEV... but it feels unnecessary. Just make an EV with the proper technology to get 300 miles for the small battery and 400-450 miles with a larger battery. Be it battery chemistry (or all of the technology that goes into various things such as the elements and solid-state technology), battery size and/or aerodynamics, but that's what needs to take a leap forward. Maybe more importantly, price. They need to keep prices in check. Only so many people can afford near-100k vehicles regardless of how good the vehicle is. 
    • Funny about that 'test'.  They misspelled 'fazed'. 
    • So the Lightning was too expensive and the solution is to add an ICE motor and more complexity on top of that.  Can't wait to see the $99,995  F-150 XLT EREV.
    • I did that quiz that told me what state was most suited to my personality.  I did it 2 times a few weeks apart and I kept saying Texas.  How does relaxing, drinking hot tea, not liking crowds, and liking the mountains line up with Texas? So I just did another one that would be able to see what region I'm from.  This one is a hoot.  I am from diagonally across the country from the region indicated and I spent 21 of my first 25 years there.  Now, every place I've been for work or school, or even if just a party, the Northeast is inevitably where the people that I reel in come from ... like a freaking magnet.  It never fails. Happy Christmas Eve.
    • Yeah...it is a beautiful road for what I could tell from the videos I see.  Like you @Robert Hall from seeing all kinds of video media of it.  I do admire the fact that you actually drove on it.  Plus all of your travels of your country that you did and continue to do.   @A Horse With No Name and @trinacriabob also have that respect from me for the same reasons. Matt Farah does plenty of car reviews on this road. At least I think its part of this road. Or when Jay Leno references to get out of Los Angeles and head to the mountains where there are no people he says.  In a different time, I would have loved to visit California.  I was California dreamin' during my teen years and always loved the sights and dreams of California.  Then in my 30s or 40s, I wasnt into California as much.  Then JUST before trump became president for the 2nd time, I was falling in love with California again (minus that hollywood creepiness) only to be happy to shyte on ALL of the usa including california. I know I have become a douchebag these past few months regarding your country, but the political climate of your country has made me bitter and hateful.  I know I shouldnt be lumping ALL of the crap that is maga and trumpism into one huge bowl of hate for all things american, but it is what it is... There are many parts of the usa that I NEED to see before I die.  California is one of these parts that I NEED to experience.  And for all the maga deplorable bullshyte that is florida, the Keys are another part I NEED to see.  Video gaming talent being lost due to excessive speeds (on roads that seem to be heavenly to auto enthusiasts) is sad indeed.   For the human element of someone dying...  There will be others to take his place.  What is sadder is that he could actually afford "track days" on SEVERAL California race tracks.  He could have asked Ferrari (paid an additional  small fee) to have Ferrari, the OEM, to tune his Ferrari with THEIR engineers and race crew to the optimal race track settings of ANY race track IN THE WORLD and he could have raced his SF 90 to the car's fullest capabilities without the risks of killing innocent peoples on public streets. And if he chose an additional option on his Ferrari purchase, Ferrari race crews could have also taught him to reach his  fullest capacity of his talents. And he could have afforded all those things too.   What I find extremely frustrating is that he has money to feel like a superstar with his $800 000 Ferrari racing his car in all kinds of exotic locations having a personal Ferrari pit crew cheering him on, and if he chose, to have high priced escorts in scantily clad clothing as cheerleaders but no...he chose to have street take-over/cars and coffee hoodlums cheer on his and hid friend's demise. While a couple of them stood their in disbelief and yelled "oh shyte" and "oh phoque"  and dragged his friend's body like it was diseased away from the burning wreck, most of them fled the scene like cockroaches they were.  I guess this was the way he valued his life.  Driving fast in the lowest common denominator kind of way and dying in that same low common denominator way. THIS is what is frustrating to me, he had the money that he worked hard for to enjoy the prestige of owning and racing a Ferrari...  Instead, he put innocent people at risk for cheap thrills.   I understand why poorer people drive fast, especially on intoxicating roads like Angeles Crest, because I understand the adrenaline rushes that come from that environment.  I do not condone it, I understand it. But he, he had the money to die a more dignified death with the same adrenaline rush. But THAT also wouldnt involve in risking any innocent peoples lives either.  At least with me, if I ever remember his death in the future sometime, I will remember him as the clown who drove too fast and killed his friend.
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search