Jump to content
Create New...
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Mercedes Considers A Bentayga Competitor, and A Rumor On Hybrids Taking Over Diesels

      Mercedes Looks At A Competitor to the Bentley Bentayga, Ponders Moving Away from Diesels

    In light of the Bentley Bentayga coming out in the near future, Mercedes-Benz is contemplating whether or not to build a competitor, possibly under the Maybach name.

     

    Andreas Zygan, Mercedes director of development for SUVs tells Automotive News that the demands for ultra-luxury crossovers and SUVs are on the rise. Consider Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce are planning SUVs that will debut in the near future.

     

    "We are looking at everything that is going on with that segment," said Zygan.

     

    "There's an appetite, a market for that. When we get to that point that we expand the Maybach offering -- and we will expand the Maybach offering -- that would be a natural place to go," said Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Steve Cannon.

     

    Cannon points out that the German brand sells a large amount of GL-Class SUV filled with options, along with the G-Wagon.

     

    Zygan declined to comment as to when Mercedes-Benz could make a decision.

     

    Sticking with Mercedes-Benz for another moment, a product planner tells Autoblog the company believes that hybrids will be better than diesels in the long run. This is due to stricter standards in terms of emissions, which is driving up the costs producing a diesel powertrain.

     

    "Yes, diesel is technically complex, and very expensive. The additives to reduce particulate matter are very costly. You'll see more hybrids to meet the changing regulations," said a source.

     

    Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Autoblog

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Emissions regulations will push automakers to do more plug in hybrids.  Doesn't really mean it is better than diesel, or more fuel efficient.  Diesels still are great for highway driving and can rack up lots of miles.  But when cities have sections that are emission free and only electric power cars are allowed in those areas, the plug-in hybrid is going to win out.

     

    Hell yes to a Bentley Bentayga competitor.  Put a Mybach interior in the GL and add the V12, this stuff is already in house, put it to use!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Ugh can you imagine the overpriced G-Wagon crap they would build to compete? Guess lack of any sense or ability to build something that is actually sensible is missing from this company and the customers.

     

    More money than brains.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    They already make a  V12 G65 that is $230,000 I think.  But the G-wagen is like its own unique thing.  The Bentayga competitor would be based on the GL.  Which being a unibody SUV built on a modern chassis is the more logical move.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    G-wagon is embarrassingly old & outdated, plus no one buys them- no good as a basis.

     

    What makes no sense is if the GL can be tarted up to $230K (??), and the Bentley is rumored to start around $215; they already overlap (tho one at the base and the other at the top end). Assuming the Bentley can tack another 100K to it, how much can MB really add to a $63K SUV and still sell any?? How many are going to willingly spend -say- $180K over a base GL?? Bentley at least (as ugly as it may be) is unique, it's not something obviously based on something that starts 14 price tiers below.

     

    This is starting to sound like Maybach 1.0 all over again; thinly veiled bling packaging that won't move. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I think the Maybach GL could be in the $150k range.  When they redo it to GLS, they could push the base price up to $70k, which moves it away from the GLE also.   An AMG G63 is like $125k, better interior and a V12 is easily worth an extra $30k.  They won't get Bentley level prices though.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I think it is more that people are SUV crazy so they could do a higher end GL just like Cadillac is wanting a higher end Escalade . I don't think either have Bentley cache.

    Mercedes is working on a new V12 hybrid for a sports car, but if they put that onto a GL they could get Bentley money.

    Edited by smk4565
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    G-wagon is embarrassingly old & outdated, plus no one buys them- no good as a basis.

     

    What makes no sense is if the GL can be tarted up to $230K (??), and the Bentley is rumored to start around $215; they already overlap (tho one at the base and the other at the top end). Assuming the Bentley can tack another 100K to it, how much can MB really add to a $63K SUV and still sell any?? How many are going to willingly spend -say- $180K over a base GL?? Bentley at least (as ugly as it may be) is unique, it's not something obviously based on something that starts 14 price tiers below.

     

    This is starting to sound like Maybach 1.0 all over again; thinly veiled bling packaging that won't move. 

    Nobody buys them?

       

                                                                                                                                      2010      2011      2012      2013      2014

    January                72           100         95           176         122

    February              65           91           78           186         187

    March                  62           99           88           250         299

    April                      68           88           82           188         274

    May                     99           109         68           242         324

    June                      83           146         50           231         280

    July                       48           114         64           230         252

    August                 60           131         143         238         248

    September         52           119         83           137         202

    October               112         80           160         194         233

    November          114         59           251         223         294

    December           84           55           168         199         375

     

     

    For something that is still hand built they pump them out quite successfully.

     

    "54: The number of G-Wagens built each day. Magna Steyr runs 10 shifts to reach that number, which is composed of both consumer and military models."

    Edited by ccap41
    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    ^ are those numbers including military-contracted vehicles then? I'm not interested in fleet sales..

     

    To clarify : when I say "no one", it's a mockery of those who like to say "no one is buying the CTS" or "no one buys Cadillacs". I mean; if the term is what those commenters felt conveyed their thought, stands to reason when I use it above it means the same thing to them. ;)

    Edited by balthazar
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The above number's are retail sales.

     

    I knew what you meant but they sell them(whether it's miitary or not) as fast as they build them and at 60-70%(retail) of those tuned by AMG, which has a starting price of around 140k.. they're making a killing off of them. I mean the roots of it are nearly centuries old at this point so that's been paid for decades ago.

     

    "Americans are most familiar with G-Wagens as Mercedes-Benz products, but for some time, models sold in Austria – and to the Austrian army, especially – were badged as Puchs in deference to Steyr-Daimler-Puch’s heritage. Additionally, G-Wagens have been built under license in France and badged as both the Peugeot P4 and Panhard P4."

    http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/numerical-breakdown-the-2013-mercedes-benz-g-class-177361/

     

    It's a pretty interesting little article.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    G-Wagon, one of the oldest Pieces of Sh$t MB still makes and barely sells.

     

    Must be the military contracts and the idiots that pay crazy amounts for them as a few hundred a month does not justify the support.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Important to note that G-wagen sales have been on the rise, form under 100 a month 5 years ago to now over 300 some months.   Still small volume, but at $140,000, there has to be at least $10,000 of profit on each one, probably more.

    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.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    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

    • Those that cannot accept a multi-cultural world and immigration deserve to lose everything. I will stay professional, but believe that our North American Economy is about to get far worse over the long term than it is now. It is amazing how people do not seem to realize that the first two years of a new president is dealing with the ramifications of the last president. The high inflation was due to the failed policies of those before. We now have low unemployment and a strong economy. Will be interesting to see how it ends.
    • I say, let it get worse.  The people have spoken and this is what the MAJORITY voted for.  He even got the popular vote.  Therefore the people of America have spoken.   This is what they want.  This is what they feel comfortable with.   But I dont want to hear ANY whining from ANYBODY about what possibly may happen with him Him in power.  Fool me once,  shame on you!  Fool me twice, shame on me?   Technically this is how that saying goes.  But you never know. Maybe it really IS the lefty libtards that are the problem.   Hopefully it IS the lefty libtards that are the problem and the Messiah Trump will BE the solution to ALL of our problems.   I will be the first one to apologize if He actually does fix America's and Canada's problems.  And unite ALL of the world and the world gets to sing Kumbaya ALL in unison. Hopefully He is the next coming of Christ.   Keeping my fingers crossed but I aint holding my breath if you know what I mean.   
    • @oldshurst442 This pretty much sums up just how bad it is going to get. Trump's economic plans would worsen inflation, experts say | AP News
    • Not just iPhones... He tariffed Canadian wood the first time around as Pres and the prices of wood skyrocketed so American home builders bought American wood which was and is more expensive than Canadian wood.  I guess that is good for American wood producers. But for the fact that house prices also skyrocketed.  And considering that Canada and US have a more or less good trading thing going on...so not that good.  Not for the US and not good for Canada.  But Donald thinks otherwise. And all the folk that voted for him this time around think that the economy will get better?  I hope so for their sake. But Elon and Jeff B's billions rose quite a bit upon the announcement of his re-election.  I wonder if those  people that voted for him, I wonder if their wealth also rose instantly?    You poor bastards... You have no idea what is coming to you... (those that voted for him.  With the excemption of the rich of course)     Donnie Rides Again
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

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