Skip to main content

アウトランダーPHEV「プレミアムデザイン・走り」篇 30秒

Mercedes plans to launch compact coupe and SUV in U.S.


STUTTGART -- Mercedes-Benz will launch coupe and SUV versions of its new compact car family in the United States in the next three years and is considering a third variant - a convertible or a shooting brake - to help win younger customers to the brand.

Joachim Schmidt, Mercedes' global sales and marketing boss, said in an interview with Automotive News Europe that the automaker is developing at least four models based on its new MFA, or Mercedes Front-wheel-drive Architecture.

“We will introduce the next generation of our MFA family to the U.S.,” Schmidt said. Two variants, maybe even a third, are planned for the U.S., he said.


The coupe will be launched in the U.S. in summer 2013, according to a company source.

Mercedes insiders call it a "baby CLS" because it will have similar styling to the brand's larger CLS coupe-styled four-door model. An SUV aimed as a rival to the BMW X1 will follow in summer 2014. Both variants will go on sale in Europe three to five months ahead of their U.S. launch.

Mercedes will introduce compact cars in the U.S. because consumer preferences are changing toward smaller vehicles. The automaker also wants to stay apace with rivals BMW and Audi. The new compact car family will replace Mercedes' current A- and B-class models, which are not sold in the U.S. In Europe, Mercedes will launch the next-generation B class hatchback at the end of this year, followed by the A class hatchback in late summer 2012.

Mercedes has no plans to sell first those two MFA variants in the U.S. but could do so if it sees a demand. The source said: "The U.S. is not the typical compact hatchback market but if the demand arises, we could react very quickly and introduce these two variants in the U.S. far quicker than in the past."

Entry-level Infiniti possible

According to Schmidt, Mercedes' new alliance partner, Renault-Nissan, is interested in using the MFA architecture for a new entry-level model for Nissan's Infiniti brand that would also be sold in the U.S., Infiniti's biggest market. Schmidt said Daimler is in talks with Nissan but there are “no decisions so far” on the architecture's application or where the car would be built.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Cute girl drifting in rally car unfastened

【中継】日産モータースポーツファンイベント

World’s Best EV Crossover? Volvo EX30 Vs EVERY Rival

The All-New 2019 BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle.

Here we go again.This time official Today, BMW launches the all-new 4th generation 2019 BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle with two variants, the X5 xDrive 40i and the X5 xDrive 50i. Since its introduction almost 20 years ago, the BMW X5 has been built exclusively in Spartanburg, SC. To date, more than 2.2 million X5’s have been sold worldwide, one third of those sales being in the U.S. The all-new 2019 BMW X5 will again be built at BMW Plant Spartanburg, SC. This center of competence for BMW X models also handles production of the BMW X3, BMW X4, BMW X6 and will soon add the BMW X7. New design language exudes confidence and authority. A wheelbase that is 1.6 inches longer than its predecessor’s, a 1.1 inches increase in vehicle length, an extra 2.6 inches of width and a 1.0 inches increase in height give the all-new 2019 BMW X5 both a muscular appearance and a more generous level of space for passengers and their luggage. The latest X5 retains the hallma

All NEW 2025 Chevrolet Corvette Zora Revealed! First Look Will Shock YOU!

Lee Greenwood - God Bless The U.S.A.

GM's Missed Opportunity: Buick Conceives a Gorgeous Two-Seater, Mid-Engi...

Teaser: Opulent Velocity | Cadillac Concept

Artura Spider: All the Exhilarating Details

Labels

Show more