CAFE Claims Another Victim: The Mercedes S-Class
If Automotive News’ [sub] dealer sources have heard right, then Daimler might sacrifice their S-Class on the altar of the almighty EPA and its newly announced CAFE standards.
According to dealers who have been briefed on the plans, all future S-class models — including high-performance AMG models — will come only hybridized. The S-class propelled by ICU only will be history. According to the Geheimplan, the switch would be made globally with the next-generation S class, due in Europe in 2013 and in North America a year later. Mercedes dealers shudder at the thought.
Says AN: “The idea is drawing fire from some U.S. dealers, who worry that hybrids are not perceived as true performers in the market.” The average S-Class customer is not all too concerned about gas mileage. The concern is at Daimler.
Two company sources told AN that the Board of Directors at Daimler likes the idea because it could help Mercedes-Benz reach strict European CO2 emissions standards and meet tougher corporate average fuel economy standards in the United States by mid-decade.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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The 1965 — 1972 S class -- the W109/W109, was 197 in (5 m) long and weighed, depending on engine, between 3,650 lbs and 4000 lbs in the W109 SEL variant. The latest W221 is 200 in in the short wheelbase model and 205 in long, but the range of weights is telling from 4,310 lbs [S320 CDI] to 5,000 lbs [S65 AMG]. what I would like to see them do is produce a 197 in long, 3,400 lbs car with a 300 hp straight six. I think it would be a lot more fun to drive, and get decent mileage. A similar program down the line would produce better cars without gas guzzling.
In my opinion the customers will largely not be bothered - slightly better mileage and better torque low down will be easy to get used to. Dealers on the other hand will have the higher complexity of a hybrid to contend with and are probably a bit ill prepared for that at the moment. So they will need to shoulder quite some of the costs to get themselves up to speed on maintaining the hybridised S-class and that is what they dislike. Not surprising really - on the other hand it might force Mercedes to be a bitm ore thorough with ironing out all its electrical gremlins before the cars are sold than was the case with some of the last offerings.
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Regarding some of the earlier questions about the CNW "dust to dust" study, I found this story helpful. The source is obviously not unbiased, but the reporting fills in a lot of key details about what CNW was actually calculating and why the company's conclusions need to be taken with a huge block of salt. http://www.hybridcars.com/environment-stories/dust-to-dust-energy-costs.html As for the headline on this story--well who am I to tell TTAC how to run their site? This kind of hyperventilating just looks silly to me. Then again "Next-Gen S-class to Get Better Mileage" probably wouldn't have attracted quite as much response.