Could Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon Come to U.S.?
Wagons are generally considered not viable in the U.S. Just about every recent wagon model has failed, though there are exceptions, usually for crossovers that straddle the line between wagon and wagon-like (Subaru, looking in your direction).
Even the Jaguar XF Sportbrake, which this author found quite sexy, was sent packing.
All that said, Mercedes-Benz might be trying to bring a wagon back to our market
The company offers a C-Class wagon elsewhere, but Americans can’t get it. Now, however, spy shots show that the C-Class All-Terrain could be coming to America.
The All-Terrain straddles the line between crossover and wagon — it’s basically a raised version of the latter — and it would likely target Audi’s A4 AllRoad and the Volvo V60 Cross Country.
If it comes to America, that is. Autoblog makes clear there is no hard evidence that M-B has America as part of the sales plan, but it’s not unreasonable to think that Mercedes could bring the All-Terrain to our crossover-crazed shores to siphon some buyers from the aforementioned competition. The luxury wagon/crossover segment is niche, but the sales still count.
[Image: Mercedes-Benz]
Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.
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I just can't believe how many different models MB sells. It seems like they have a sedan, SUV, and wagon for every size possible and then a half dozen coupes and convertibles to round things out. I bet every MB dealer in the US spends half their time explaining why they can't get you the model you want.
Considering the US station wagon market is essentially a US Subaru Outback market with few E-Class wagons sprinkled in between, I'm not sure if this will really matter. I suppose Mercedes will have better chance than most considering it now sell more station wagons than Volvo.
No. CAFE counts a wagon as a car. If it has a flat floor, it's a truck. So, no wagon for us, but yes, a GLC truck-let. If you sell cars all over the world, this is just accomodation of local regulations. EPA makes a car maker certify every permutation of the vehicle, whereas some nations allow certification of the engine/trans....so, if you offered three body styles with one engine and two transmissions, instead of the two transaxles, you need to certify every possible combo, so six EPA certifications. This forces all car makers to drop the niche vehicles, and there go your wagons and manuals. Even BMW eventually gave up (Well, BMW gave up around the F30, but that's a different rant) I'd have bought the Estate version of the C class had it been available here. I've had the GLC as a loaner, and prefer the dynamics of the normal C, but I live in the US, you will truck, and you will enjoy it.
If only this is true. I will take mine in Silver or Grey with the six and a manual please! Where do I sign?