zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Culture
/
Mercedes Is Killing Its Status Symbols
Mercedes Is Killing Its Status Symbols-April 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:12:38

Image for article titled Mercedes Is Killing Its Status Symbols

used to be the German automaker known for a century of crafting luxurious coupes, convertibles and limousines, building some of the most collectible, prized and personalized cars in the world. Today it’s known for big, boxy crossovers, and it seems the old Mercedes is about to be killed off.

Mercedes has expanded its immense catalog of cars over the years to include crossovers and SUVs alongside its more private, luxurious options, like the E-Class and S-Class coupe. This was never a problem, as the shoppers of yesterday looking for a coupe would never be satisfied with a giant crossover. But tomorrow, those vanity cars will likely all be gone as seven current Mercedes-Benz models are now on the chopping block.

People are just more practical with their money these days, and tastes have changed. It’s making Mercedes question why, exactly, it makes so many different cars with similar characteristics, and the U.S. market is ripe for trimming, according to this report from :

The luxury automaker plans to jettison seven car models from the U.S. market, Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Nicholas Speeks told dealers during a webinar in late June. Speeks did not identify the models or offer a timeline, according to retailers who heard the presentation.

But according to a source familiar with the plans, there could be more than seven models. Those under consideration are the coupe and convertible versions of the S-, C- and E-Class nameplates, as well as the CLS coupe and one of the brand’s GT models, according to the source.

A Mercedes spokesman declined to comment on the brand’s U.S. product plans.

Accounting for engine and transmission options, Auto News reports Mercedes-Benz currently offers over 100 different vehicle variants in the U.S. market. That’s not just a production headache, either. That means the entire Mercedes dealership network has to be trained and educated on over 100 different cars and has to be able to navigate consumers through a very complicated and potentially confusing lineup of vehicles.

No matter what, simplifying the lineup, even by consolidating powertrains, could potentially save millions of dollars and even lead to more car sales if your product suddenly has a stronger identity in the lineup.

So Mercedes is reportedly looking to dramatically cut back on its coupe and convertible models. This makes the most sense because no other car company feels the need to offer a coupe and variant in compact, mid, and full-size, with further specialized convertibles and coupe sports cars stacked on top of those. It’s frankly been a mess for quite some time.

There’s a lot of exciting stuff happening in transportation in 2019, but let’s pause to appreciate…

I would genuinely fight to save the E-Class coupe—it seems like the best compromise among everything Mercedes is potentially looking to cut. Both accessible and aspirational. I’d also get rid of the CLA, mostly just because I like the A-Class better—but one definitely has to go.

It’s obvious that luxury coupe and convertible sales have been trending down over the last few years as the premium segment becomes more and more focused on crossovers, SUVs, and even pickup trucks. Mercedes is just following the money. It just really should have seen this coming before greenlighting more two-door models than Mazda has cars in its an entire lineup.

I can’t help but feel like this will kill the core identity of what Mercedes-Benz is, which are leather-padded tanks with paint jobs that look like they need a mortgage, with the luxury of only having two usable seats and screwed together to go 150 mph until the end of time.

There exists the implication that if you are driving a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, you are in something…

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Culture
It Takes 3,000 People To Make An Auto Show Happen
It Takes 3,000 People To Make An Auto Show Happen
It’s no secret what happens during an auto show, but have you ever seen what happens before one? That’s what this week’s episode of is all about. This story was originally published on December 27, 2015 I used to love auto shows. Seeing all of my favorite cars in the...
Apr 3, 2026
Meet The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance
Meet The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance
Lucid Motors is one of those automotive companies that really doesn’t seem to miss, and the Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance is yet another example of that exact principle. Who doesn’t want a high-performance electric vehicle? Most of Lucid’s lineup has been dedicated to breaking down preconceived notions about...
Apr 3, 2026
Selling My Car With An Instant Cash Offer Was Almost Too Easy
Selling My Car With An Instant Cash Offer Was Almost Too Easy
We all know the . Prices are absurdly high, which makes it difficult for buyers to get a reasonable deal. But if you’re looking to sell a car, times don’t get much better than this — the market is desperate for anything with four wheels and a motor to...
Apr 3, 2026
Will Chrysler Even Be Around Long Enough To Make The Airflow?
Will Chrysler Even Be Around Long Enough To Make The Airflow?
Chrysler has one of the saddest lineups of any automaker. No matter how hard it tries to spread it out to make it seem like there are three vehicles, Chrysler sells only two vehicles: the Pacifica, available in either gas or hybrid, and the 300. Much like the 300...
Apr 3, 2026
You Should Really Log Into Gran Turismo 7 This Week
You Should Really Log Into Gran Turismo 7 This Week
If you’d been avoiding over the past month because of the, shall we say, , you should give it another shot. Last week, developer Polyphony Digital updated the game with a rash of new race events and one-hour endurance missions that pay out upwards of half a million credits;...
Apr 3, 2026
2023 Kia Telluride Comes With A Fresh Face And New Gadgets
2023 Kia Telluride Comes With A Fresh Face And New Gadgets
The incredibly popular Kia Telluride has never had problems attracting buyers, and after showing off it’s refreshed looks and two new trim packages at the New York Auto Show, one of the most highly sought after mid-size SUVs will likely end up as even more Americans’ first Kia. The...
Apr 3, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved