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

[William Maley]

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

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[smk4565]

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!

[G. David Felt]

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.

[smk4565]

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.

[balthazar]

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. 

[smk4565]

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.

[balthazar]

Then these are not going to be competitors- miles apart in price range (and cache').
Unless MB is "considering" a wholly new vehicle.

[smk4565]

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 September 22, 2015 by smk4565

[ccap41]

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 September 22, 2015 by ccap41

[balthazar]

^ 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 September 22, 2015 by balthazar

[ccap41]

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.

[G. David Felt]

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.

[smk4565]

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.

[balthazar]

@ $140K, it had better be a LOT closer to $100K profit, or MB is doing it all wrong!