northbenz

Road and Track reports in its current edition that the new C Class coming out this spring will include a C Class convertible. Any spy photos or details one could link to? Is R and T being optimistic to imply the convertible will come out simultaneously or is it more likely that the convertible will lag the sedan by a year as th CLK convertible has traditionally lagged the CLK coupe each time a new model appeared?

Outland

The CLK is the only convertible C Class there's going to be. A planned C-Coupe convertible was canned because MB feared it would canabilize CLK sales.

northbenz

Well here's what November Road and Track reports at page 34:

"This coming spring will see Mercedes introduce an all-new C-Class family of cars, including a sedan, wagon, the return of tthe Sports Coupe and a convertible. Styling will adopt a scaled-down look from the latest S-Class flagship." Doesn't sound like anything was canned, at least by press time.

Rick

Maybe MB realizes they made a huge error in judgement by pricing the new CLK so up-market. In it's introductory version, it was a culmination of best features of the E-class and a coupe with a sport/touring design.

The new version is nothing more than a 2 door C-Class. Same underpinnings, same engine offerings, etc. MB continues to make the entry level C-Class coupe - they just don't import it state-side. That was solely MBUSA's decision....not MB world-wide.

The rumored W204 convertible and the highly anticipated coupe will still be more entry level than the current CLK. I just hope that MBUSA realizes the potential instead of steering buyers to other brands.

victorfjr

Hopefully we will still get the c-coupe here in Canada. We still have the 2006 coupe for sale here so hopefully they will continue it when the new model comes out.

ctC230K

so its going to be the same size of the sedan??? doesn't make much sense. is it gonna have HUGE doors, like 7 feet long?

Rick

uh...I was referring to the the new CLK version introduced last year

it's the same mechanicals, steering rack and suspension as the current C

The old CLK was a combination of E and C....

Please re-read and comprehend my original entry.

Buellwinkle

I think I like the 2002 C230 convertible much better -

ctC230K

did they really make that or is that a photoshop? that actually looks pretty good and i've never seen that before!

lars

The c-coupe has been dropped from MB's 2007 lineup in Canada. As Rick says, it continues to be sold in other markets, where hatchbacks carry less of a stigma.

Although the CLK is based on the C platform, there is a gap in MB's lineup at this level. A CLK costs about a third again the price of a 3-series convertible. There would be room for something less elaborate.

Rick

As I understand it from a reliable source, the W203 C SportCoupe will cease production for the model year 2007 some time in March. Product lines will evolve into the W204 which will first be introduced in Geneva as a sedan and sport sedan - with "other variations following at later release dates". This could most certainly include a coupe, a wagon and yes, even a convertible.

I just hope that MBUSA doesn't drop the ball on this. The potential market is proven by the fact that MBUSA returned 0 (zero) C230 or C320 SportCoupes to Sindelfingen. That is, every single car that crossed these shores was sold - and most were customer ordered with very few showing as dealer inventory purchases. Do they really want people moving to the B(cough)M(sneeze)W(choke) 325i (gag) and 330i(sigh)?
(sorry...my local Bavarian Motor Werks dealer sucks)

Recently, however, MBUSA was talking about importing the B-Class to the States as their entry level, but that's more of a Minivan design. Not really my style....

(in all hopes, MBUSA still monitors these boards for customer opinions and will base their decision on demand instead of snobbish greed)

dmg3

I've read the W204 is coming out next Fall,

now it's coming out next Spring?

kokketiel

The W208 was based on the W202 C-class in pretty much the same way that a W209 CLK is based on a W203. For the W208, only the body panels looked like a W210 E-class. They did not share any body panel components.

The "sport coupe" is a hatchback, whereas the CLK is a proper coupe, with a trunk.

Moviela

I doubt that any units are returned to Sindelfingen. (Many C class cars would return to Bremen, anyhow.) It is just not done that way in the auto business. Not one car is produced that has not been bought by somebody. It could be the user, a dealer, a bank, an importer, or an exporter. Not one chassis begins on the line with out ca'ching up front.

If there are too many cars in inventory on dealer lots, the factory authorizes the sales company to use incentives to move the units. It can be subsidized lease or financing deals, or "marketing incentives" of 5 to 15% of MSRP to the dealers to move product.

There are other ways to get dealers to move units, even at a paper loss. They tie availability of high profit models to dealer specific sales. That is why you cannot get a deal on most AMG units, unless it is end of run, or a dealer overestimated his own sales ability.