Ever since Mercedes released its CLK back in 1996, Mercedes has offered one premium coupe slotted between its E and C-Class sedans. Sure, it offered the unloved C-Class Sportcoupe (aka CLC) for a few years in the US as an attempt at an entry-level Mercedes, but nobody really seemed to notice. Otherwise, between there and the none-too-cheap CL, Mercedes offered one coupe, known as the CLK (not counting the CLS “four door coupe”). Now, however, Mercedes has moved in a new direction, offering an “E-Class Coupe” and a “C-Class Coupe,” the latter of which will debut shortly at the Geneva Auto Show. The strange part: they’re both built on the C-Class platform. Mercedes, it seems, has learned an important lesson: when it comes to selling cars, it’s what’s on the outside that counts.
Mercedes Benz has become their own competition.
Not at all. They are priced differently.
Also Mercedes is competing with BMW in the near luxury category: 3 series coupe -> C-class coupe.
Perhaps their strategy is make there cars recognizable as part of a series: C-class variants, E-class variants, just as BMW does. All these letters are just confusing.
I agree; Mercedes-Benz has let its model nomenclature get out of hand, to the point where it’s almost as bad as Lincoln’s. Bring back the easily understood A/B/C/E/S-class designations!
The C-Class sedan platform, (204) and E-Class sedan platform (212) are very similar as it is. Many mechanical parts are the same, and the 212 is more of stretched 204 than a different platform. The E-Class coupe, (207) is a bit larger than the 204 based cars, and has a 212 interior. I’m sure the new coupe will be very 204 on the inside, and it won’t really cannibalize 207 sales.
On top of that the C Class coupe will come with the turbo 4 whereas the E Class coupe will not. The C Class coupe will also have pretty much the same interior as the 204 (outside of seat design).
Bottom line…..looking at these vehicles side-by-side in a MBZ showroom, most consumers won’t blink an eye nor care that the C/E Class coupes ride on the same platform. Especially if they are looking at window stickers.
Is the letter ‘D’ verboten to Mercedes-Benz marketers? Why put so much burden on the poor letter ‘C’?
Might be because “D” connotes Diesel for many European manufacturers and customers. Even though there, too, we’ve seen more than enough additional letter growth (CDI, TDI, etc.).
I really don’t see the point for two reasons:
1. A nicely configured E350 coupe is about $50K which won’t leave much of a gap between it and the C350 coupe.
2. The C coupe is a very conservative design and has more than a passing resemblance to the Accord Coupe. Next to the BMW 328 coupe and A5, is looks very homely. A problem the E coupe doesn’t have.
An E350 coupe starts at $48,850; add metallic paint and destination and you’re already over $50k. Considering the fact that most C-class coupes will probably be sold for under $40k, there’s a definite price gap, especially when it comes to lease payments, the bread and butter of entry-level luxury cars.
Whiie I will agree that the C could be a bit more exciting (they should steal some of the look of the upcoming SLK), the 3 series is not a terribly interesting looking car either.
Far for me to challenge people who actually know a thing or two about Mercs, but a friend of mine had a little Benz coupe some time in 2001 or so that was called “SLK”. It was like a Miata or S2000 basically. They later replaced it with a bloated version, kinda like BMW did with Z3 -> Z4.
That’s a roadster, the roof folds down.
Not as pug ugly as the IS350C, but the 3 series coupe and the A5 are the best looking cars BMW and Audi make. This is just bland, and I agree largely looks like an Accord. I always get the feeling that Mercedes only builds the C-class because they have to, not because they actually have any interest in small sport sedans.
This is definitely true. Mercedes is the only Luxury brand where the mid-size car out sells the compact by large numbers. This segment is everybody else’s bread and butter.
You’d think someone would really step up to knock the 3 off the pedestal. Audi takes good shots, the Acura TL SH AWD hits the numbers but not the “feel”, and the Infiniti/Lexus go luxury but pay lip service.
The C class…..not mentioned. Almost ever.
I really wanted Porsche to build a 3 beater, with practical four doors. They built a four door 6 series instead.
Imagine…a Porsche, 50k, beating the 3 series at its’ own game.
My question is whether or not AMG would consider it worth their while to delve into this one. A bit anxious to see a small MB coupe equivalent of an M3.