Just bough the "Car" magazine from newsagents & the gossip column advised the following ;
Newish Mercedes Boss Eckhard Corrdes appears to bereining in Benz's niche addicts.While he has approved an SLK shooting brake [see car August] two other C-class variants have been axed.The justly overlooked sports coupe won't be replaced,nor will it be joined by a cabrio.And the four door CLE coupe is heading for the scrapheap,because the rear suicide doors and absentB-posts pose serious problems !! Damn shame this looked like astunning car due 2006-2007 Anybody know if it will be put into full production ??

Krgds
Eck

CLS,[05] Iridium Silver,Auto Dual Control,Amg bodystyling with twin Amg Exhaust,Amg 19" Alloys,Nappa Club Design,High Gloss Laurel Wood,Driver& passenger full electric pack + mirrors + sterring column, Heatedfront seats,Heated rear seats,Keyless Go,Luxury Climate Control,Parktronic,Remote boot closing,Steering Wheel Shift Button's, Bi-Xenon Lamps with Active Light System + cornering + headlamp wash,6 Disc Cd Changer,****pit Command APS with Cd/Dvd + Sat Nav system,Harmon/Kardon Logic 7 surround sound,Telephone prewire, Type of phone TBA, Rear Amg Lip Spoiler ,Updated Management system ECU + 45Bhp + 95NM Torque.

 

This article from Autocar 9th August may have some bearing on what’s going on, apologies if it’s old news.

Autocar Quote

Daimler Chrysler Problems Intensify

The unexpected resignation of DC boss J Schrempp could herald serious problems at the company according to recent industry reports.

Schrempp steps down at the end of this year and unusually will receive no money and no seat on the supervisory board.

Worse still, Mercedes boss Eckhard Cordes may also walk out because he felt that he was heir apparent to Schrempp, rather than Chrysler boss Dieter Zetsche, the man appointed as Schrempp’s replacement. Indeed Cordes recent disposal of £344,000 worth of DC shares, hinting that he is prepared to walk away from the company.

Reports from Germany also suggest that DC’s woes are more serious than they may first appear. One analyst’s report claims the car division will lose $2.4bn (£1.35bn) this year, the first full year dip into the red since 1993

Smart is losing money, and Maybach is under pressure after reportedly falling short of its 1000 cars a year target. Sales of E-class- Mercedes long-time major profit driver- have slumped on the back of significant quality problems, and in Germany it is being outsold by BMW 5 series and Audi A6, a previously unheard of situation.


End Quote.


Liftman

 

i don't believe whatever publications say until i see the sources - that applies to every industry, and any news. hey, no offence, but they're reporters, not financial or management experts. why would one guy leaving be a bad thing? a breathe of fresh air might be good for DC. as for the "one analyst" claim (from Autocar), well, i'll believe it when they say which analyst it is. even then, "one analyst" hardly means anything - we all know how wrong they can be.

as for Car magazine's gossip column, i do wonder about their accuracy. for example, "four door CLE coupe" wasn't that what eventually became the CLS? i'm sure i read, some years ago, about the "CLE, to be based on the E-class platform" (something like that).