Mercedes-Benz: The star shines - and how! 🎥
DONE Marc Langenbrinck, CEO Mercedes-Benz Switzerland, has every reason to be satisfied. With around 22 800 newly registered vehicles, Mercedes-Benz was the most popular premium brand in Switzerland last year for the fourth time in a row. The most successful models were the compact A-Class and the SUV GLC, both of which also made it into the top ten most [...]
The most successful models were the compact A-Class and the SUV GLC, both of which also made it into the top ten best-selling models in Switzerland.
Market share of 9.6 percent in Switzerland
Marc Langenbrinck: "Our sales figures were significantly better than the average for the Swiss market. We now have a market share of 9.6 percent in Switzerland and are proud to be the second best-selling brand here. On average, customers spent more money on their new Mercedes."
EQC was the second most popular electric SUV
The Schweizer family's heart beat audibly faster, especially at the sight of and after initial taster tests for the A, GLC and GLE classes. Whether this order will change in the course of the year with the new C-Class, which we present below, remains to be seen.
The edge list of models by class: A (3635), GLC (3480), GLE (2272), C (2193), GLA (2053), CLA (1611), E (1326), GLB (1185), B (1149) and V (919). The Mercedes-Benz EQC was the second most popular electric SUV. Seen in this light, the past year remains in reasonably good memory.
Launch of all-electric models and hybrids
The specifications of the makers from Stern include other future-oriented areas that need to be addressed. The main focus is on electromobility, which can be recognized by the abbreviation EQ plus the model designation on models from Stuttgart.
Marc Langenbrinck: "The coming months will be dominated by the EQ offensive, i.e. the launch of various all-electric models and plug-in hybrids. We kicked off the all-electric vehicles with the EQA, and the all-electric S-Class, the EQS, is coming soon. In the course of the second half of the year, we will present the EQB family SUV and the EQE luxury sedan. However, we are not only purely electric, but now have 27 plug-in hybrids in our range. By 2025, we will be able to offer a fully electric model in all vehicle categories."
Before getting any closer to this goal, the new C-Class is rolling out to the dealers and the eighth generation of the SL, which was first unveiled on March 12, 1952, is completing its final test kilometers on the German A81 autobahn and in snowy Sweden in these weeks.
From the outset, there is also the Estate with up to 1510 liters of trunk space.
The C-Class stands in the summer at the representative
Five performance levels will be available at the market launch of the next C-Class. The C 180 and C 200 come with 170 hp or 204 hp 1.5-liter gasoline engines, with the 258 hp C 300 with two liters of displacement ranking above.
The two diesel models, the 200-hp C 220 d and the 65-hp C 300 d, also draw their power from two liters. All models are electrified, with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. Some of them are also available with all-wheel drive.
Models from AMG with significantly more power
It is certain that the Stuttgart-based company will add several more variants, including an entry-level diesel, plug-in hybrids with diesel and gasoline engines, and AMG variants with significantly more power. They all have four cylinders, and they all come with a nine-speed automatic: The manual transmission is being dropped for good.
On request also with rear axle steering
The C-Class is slightly flatter, but wider and longer than before, and the wheelbase has also grown. The chassis has a balanced, sporty set-up, and for the first time there is rear-axle steering, which ensures greater driving stability and an even smaller turning circle.
Right from the start, the T-model, which is particularly important for Switzerland, is available with up to 1510 liters of trunk space.
The C-Class is slightly flatter, but wider and longer than before, and the wheelbase has also grown somewhat.
Assistance systems and autonomous driving functions
The cockpit, which is based on the S-Class, already indicates that the C-Class also has numerous assistance systems and autonomous driving functions that go beyond what is usual for the class.
However, there is no longer a genuine luxury-class feature: the classic hood star has disappeared and can now only be ordered in the long-wheelbase version reserved for China. Despite its upward orientation, the C-Class is a sporty car - just like the A-Class.
The C-Class sedan and station wagon will reach Swiss dealers in summer 2021. Then the star will shine even brighter.
