[ad_1]
Utility vehicles continue to be in demand in the United States – not only in the mainstream segment but in the premium league as well. Mercedes-Benz is one of the automakers that relies the most on its SUV lineup and has decided to trim its sedan and coupe lineup to simplify its product portfolio. The C-Class and E-Class in coupe and convertible form live on loan time and will reportedly be replaced by a new model – called the CLE-Class.
The German luxury carmaker has notified its US dealers that the CLE will soon debut replacing the two-door C and E. With no new S-Class Coupe on the horizon, Mercedes will have a streamlined range. of coupe and convertible models and there’s a very easy explanation for that – demand for two-door vehicles is currently very low.
12 Photo
“There is not enough demand for the three coupe models,” a dealer told Automotive News after a nationwide dealer meeting last month. “So it doesn’t make sense to reinvest the billions of dollars it takes to do the latest version of it all.”
The CLE is expected to officially debut later this year and go on sale in the first half of 2023 initially with a single 2.0-liter four-cylinder electric engine. A full-fledged AMG version is planned for late next year, although – just like the new C63 – it will return to a 2.0-liter engine with electric support. Mercedes dealers don’t see a huge potential for market success, as the coupe crossover has already eaten most of the cake.
“Utility vehicles are appealing to a wider market because younger buyers value the ability to toss their gear in the back, and older buyers like the ease of getting in and out of the vehicle,” one dealer told Automotive News.
Based on the MRA-2 platform, the first CLE will have similar proportions to the C-Class and will be sold with a fabric roof. There have been rumors of a potential coupe version, although there is no official word from Mercedes yet. Production will begin before the end of this year at the company’s factory in Bremen, Germany.
[ad_2]
Source link
