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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    222 inches long to make production is unlikely, but maybe at 210, and it would have to be an 3 inches taller, to get a bit more side glass and green house, this concept is only 52 inches tall. Those are 24 inch wheels, obviously they would go to 20s, real mirrors, and they aren't that far off. They already know how to do gullwing doors, they could build this, and charge $300,000+ for it. The question is will they build it? I think they should, it would set a styling tone, and kick off their electric brand in grand fashion.
  2. smk4565
    MB is just going to copy Tesla's naming scheme?? ?Why? BMW is still using 'i' for 'injected' 45 years later! lolLol I hadn't really realized that's almost exactly what Tesla does.. But they kind of mimicked what MB has been doing just with battery size instead of engine size. I mean they could always add an extra zero like they already have. I mean they were 3.5L but still added a "0" for 350. They could do the same with batteries.. But then it's basically the same they have now again.. They can't sell an E60e, E70e, etc because they already have a C300e, GLE550e, S550 and next year have GLS550e, E300e or E550e, maybe both, a GLC300e, etc. They are going to have 10 plug in hybrids already using "e" after the name.
  3. smk4565
    It wont handle better than the Tesla Model S. It probably wouldnt out accelerate it either. Therefore inferior product as compared to Tesla Model S in that high performance regard so bragging rights could be waved off... Tesla flaunts and does not hide the fact that the Model S is a high performance machine. Mercedes-Maybach has to find a way to market this vehicle where the heavy batteries are under the hood in a way to lure Tesla consumers without the high performance image....and by the looks of that concept, it has high performance shoes to fill in. Good luck wit dat! Being the Maybach, they aren't going for all out performance. A Tesla is faster than a Rolls-Royce Phantom, heck and Audi A8 is faster than Rolls-Royce Phantom, but is it better? The Maybach coupe is about over the top luxury and style, and it would still be pretty fast. They could do an AMG electric, (like a better battery version of the SLS electric car) or an AMG hybrid that has Telsa Ludicrous mode performance.
  4. smk4565
    So the official specs are in, 4 electric motors with 738 hp and an 80 kW battery. 222 inches long, so it is more like 5.7 meters rather than 6. If this is a sign of what is to come from Mercedes electric cars, look out Tesla and wimpy BMW with their carbon fiber box.
  5. smk4565
    I meant Tesla would't make a large coupe or a really dramatic looking car. They make a sleek looking car, but 4-door sedan and crossover is all you get at Tesla, no other body styles. What if the Mercedes-Maybach has batteries under that hood?
  6. smk4565
    I would imagine the Vision 6 has a V12 engine. They could get a version of this to production, something that Tesla or most other luxury automakers would never take the chance on. Keep in mind this coupe is 236 inches long. Mercedes did build the McLaren SLR, the gullwing SLS, the G63 6x6 G550 4x4squared, S-class convertible, and the Maybach S600 Laundelet is returning next year. They do build some dream cars, I think they will act on this one because they need a Maybach halo and they see Rolls and Bentley increasing sales and want a piece.
  7. smk4565
    Tesla does not have one of these: Full reveal and details Thursday. They have to find a way to get this to production.
  8. smk4565
    It seems there is a new CLS coming in 2018, but I think this is a good time to drop the CLS and put the electric car in that $70,000-100,000 price range and make it look like a 4 door coupe, much like the IAA concept car. The E-class has a full range of body styles and engines, CLS buyers can go to the E-class or the electric car.
  9. smk4565
    We don't know what the electric Mercedes will cost. It might be cheaper than the S-class and not really compete with it. I think they should do an S450 with the 360 hp bi-turbo V6, they use that engine in the SL and GLS, it would give them a S-class starting around $88,000 which would help compete with the 6 cylinder A8 and 7-series, that is a way to boost S-class sales while hurting the 7-series. On to Tesla, the Model S can be leased for $667 a month with $6,362 the S550 base model lease is $1,149 a month for 36 months with $6,943 due at signing. Both are 10,000 miles a year. Since the S-class is $500 a month more, I wonder why the Tesla outsells it. If you want to buy a Tesla, base price is $66,000 - $7,500 tax credit, - $2,000 Pennsylvania incentive for me + $1,200 destination = $58,700. That is starting $40,000 below the S-class. A better comparison would be E-class to Model S, the E-class is closer in size and price. And for the record, if I couldn't have a Mercedes, Tesla would be my 2nd choice for an auto brand. I am not anti Tesla, I like Tesla, I like the EV driving idea a lot. Most people here bash EV's because they say the range is too low or no one will buy a 200 mile range car, but I like electric cars, I am excited for the EV take over.
  10. smk4565
    S-class is old school, Tesla is new school. S-class even though it is loaded with technology has classic styling in and out and is a big rear drive sedan with a long hood and V8 and V12 power. It is kind of a throwback vehicle while most cars got smaller bodies and smaller engines, the S-class has hung around as the classic big sedan. Tesla Model S is the size of a CTS with a 20 inch touch screen and a minimalist interior, it has a different appeal. My guess is the Mercedes electric cars have a more futuristic and techy interior, to make it more appealing to the type of people that want electric cars. Little is know about these cars, but Mercedes wants up to 310 mile range, and they do favor a 2 motor set up and they are working on electric motors that make up to 540 hp. They are also pretty big on active aero to extend range and think they can get a .19 cD. I don't think these cars will disappoint on speed or range. I am sure they'll have a 200 mile, 300 hp sort of level for the small crossover, obviously they aren't putting 540 hp in all of these, not everyone needs or is willing to pay for that kind of power.
  11. smk4565
    And Mercedes is about to take a big bite out of the Model S and Model X sales. I happen to like Tesla, but they don't make any money. At some point they have to turn a profit.
  12. smk4565
    If names don't matter, they would change Escalade to XT7 or XT8 to fit with their other offerings. The name must matter.
  13. smk4565
    You keep telling yourself that. Doesn't make it true but by all means, keep telling yourself that Mercedes isn't worried about Tesla. Either way, late to the game. Where is Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, Lexus, JLR, and the rest of them? They don't even have electric cars in development yet. As far as you know they do not have anything in development, but they very well could. Remember this is a company that caught the whole world with their pants down when they showed off the BOLT and announced it going into production. The BOLT forced Tesla's hand in regards to the T3 and it also is forcing all auto companies to move forward with an EV. Cadillac very well could have a whole group of EV's on the drawing board that you and the rest of us know nothing about. MB is reacting to the fact that Tesla S is making inroads into their top end line of auto's. More and more people buy a Tesla over an S model from MB. Tesla Model S sold 50,300 units worldwide in 2015. The S-class was close to 100,000 the past 2 years. Tesla also has the only electric performance car on the market, what happens when there are 5 cars in that segment? I also read the average transaction price of a Model S is $79,000 vs $106,000 for an S-class, so we have a bit of a gap there.
  14. smk4565
    You keep telling yourself that. Doesn't make it true but by all means, keep telling yourself that Mercedes isn't worried about Tesla. Either way, late to the game.Daimler used to own 8% of Tesla but sold it. They know what Tesla is but they aren't going to abandon 2 million sales a year to chase 50-100k electric sales. Mercedes will have 10 plug in hybrids by next year, they have 3 for sale right now, so they offer electric driving already, just not pure EV besides the b-class that no one wants. The 4 EV's are coming and at a good time when the market will want them.Where is Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, Lexus, JLR, and the rest of them? They don't even have electric cars in deleopment yet. Again, you keep telling yourself that. The fact that they are creating this sub brand says otherwise though. And what is Cadillac's response to Tesla? Tesla sales will surpass Cadillac by 2020 at the current rate.
  15. smk4565
    You keep telling yourself that. Doesn't make it true but by all means, keep telling yourself that Mercedes isn't worried about Tesla. Either way, late to the game. Daimler used to own 8% of Tesla but sold it. They know what Tesla is but they aren't going to abandon 2 million sales a year to chase 50-100k electric sales. Mercedes will have 10 plug in hybrids by next year, they have 3 for sale right now, so they offer electric driving already, just not pure EV besides the b-class that no one wants. The 4 EV's are coming and at a good time when the market will want them.Where is Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, Lexus, JLR, and the rest of them? They don't even have electric cars in deleopment yet.
  16. smk4565
    Mercedes sold about 2,000 B-class electric cars between Europe and USA last year. They aren't at zero, but they bascillay just have a compliance car. That is why they are making more, but it isn't like Mercedes can spend all their time and resources worrying about a company that sells 50,000 cars a year when BMW and Audi are selling 2 million, they still have to build what the market is buying and the market isn't buying electric cars in big quantities yet.
  17. smk4565
    Either way. Daimler is a bigger company than BMW, they do nearly double the revenue. Some things like autonomous drive technology they develop for the S-class is ending up on Freightliner trucks. So they get to spread their cost around more. In 2015, Mercedes-Benz Cars did 83.8 billion euros in revenue last year, at 9.5% margin. BMW Autos group (Mini, BMW, Rolls) did 85.5 billion euros in revenue at a 9.2% margin. Shockingly close actually. Mercedes did beat BMW on cars sold 2 million to 1.9 million.
  18. smk4565
    It almost has a crossover look to it. The shape is similar to the Accord Crosstour, reminds me a bit of the Subaru Impreza Crosstek, just not quite as tall. When I think Civic hatchback I think 3 door not 5, so this was a bit bigger than I was expecting. But I think the popularity of crossovers inspired this look and the 5 door.
  19. smk4565
    We'll see who wins between BMW and Benz.
  20. smk4565
    BMW wants one platform for all. This is what gets you Rolls-Royces built on a 7-series platform (although they are supposed to get their own aluminum chassis), and how you get 4,400 lb 5-series because they built it on a 7-series platform with 6 inches of wheelbase cut out. If they put a 70 kWh battery in a 3-series chassis, where does it go? They'll do it, but they will have to pack batteries under the hood, the floor plan, the trunk, etc. Even if they still get the 50/50 weight balance, will they have low center of gravity and will they have trunk space? Oddly enough in a comparison of the Mercedes B-class and the BMW i3, Car and Driver said the i3 was better because the B-class electric drive was just a B-class loaded up with batteries and an electric motor to power the front wheels, while the i3 was lighter, better weight balance, rear drive, and handled better since it was made to be an electric car while the B-class was not.
  21. smk4565
    They are starting now, thus the 4 EVs that will be on sale in the next couple years. I don't see Cadillac or Lincoln with any electric cars. Is Cadillac going to build 4 electric cars? Tesla is a good car because it has zero pollution and is wicked fast. These are traits of electric cars, that Mercedes can easily copy. What Tesla can't copy is the Mercedes interiors, build quality, etc. Even though Tesla uses Mercedes switchgear in all their cars. Tesla might be selling because it is the only came in town, then buyers have to pick between Tesla, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, maybe that isn't such an easy win for Tesla.
  22. smk4565
    Mercedes is on pace to sell 2 million cars this year, Tesla like 50,000. And Tesla has lost money 13 quarters in a row. Mercedes doesn't fear Tesla now they fear what Tesla could be in 2025. And Europe is more green concious than we are here, and they are more likely to buy German. They can keep Tesla as a small player in Europe even if Tesla grows big here.
  23. smk4565
    Nissan made the Leaf, BMW made the i3, in a different way Toyota made the Prius rather than a Corolla hybrid. Many car makers have introduced an all new model as their "green" vehicle. This is a new product for a new segment, it gets a new name. The Tesla Model S is the size of a CTS though, the S-class is way bigger than a Model S and the S-class burns gas. Maybe they lose some sales, but how many have they lost to Tesla, or could they lose to an Audi A8 E-tron or something? They can steal sales back from Tesla now, prevent them from stealing future sales. We also don't know anything about how they will price these electric Mercedes or how fast they might be. But Mercedes doesn't want to get caught with their pants down with no EVs when the market takes off. Sort of like how Cadillac is starving for crossovers right now, Mercedes was ready for the crossover craze, perhaps they invented the luxury crossover craze with the ML in 1997. But when crossovers got hot, they had 4 of them to sell, when EVs get hot, they'll have 4 to sell while the other guys are playing catch up. Always one step ahead.
  24. smk4565
    Not mass market, but both brands can introduce an EV and give it a new name. Why didn't Chevy just call the Bolt the Spark EV and charge $39,000 for a Spark? Clearly that would not be the right way to go, that is why Mercedes isn't going to make an E500-E and charge $125,000 for it. Mercedes is supposed to have 2 crossovers and 2 sedans that are electric. Tesla is making a Model Y small SUV to complete the S3XY line up as Elon says, I'd imagine the 4 Mercedes products will be very similar in size to those 4. This is all part of the grand plan to dominate the luxury segment. The C-E-S classes fight BMW and Audi, they made the AMG GT to take on the Porsche 911, the EV line will take on Tesla, the Maybach to go against Bentley. They want to take them all on.
  25. smk4565
    There is a Malibu and a Bolt. There will be an E-class and an EQ-whatever. Same difference. MB isn't going to kill the E-class, they'll add more hybrids over time, and the day the gas engine dies, the E-class will soldier on with electric only. No one is saying that Bolt means death to the Malibu or Cruze or Equinox. They can co-exist. We just need Mercedes to build this and it's go time! Maybe they can do it in gas and electric.
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