Mercedes Poised to Ride Solo Once Again

In a large open hall near the entrance of DaimlerChrysler AG's Sindelfingen plant, rows of new Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars awaited their owners.

Some customers were touring the plant, which produced 40 percent of the 1.25 million Mercedes cars sold last year. Others had lunch and drinks at an airy restaurant on the second floor. Tired overseas travelers could retire to two private rooms furnished like hotel suites.

As Mercedes began deliveries on Monday of C-Class cars to owners and dealers, managers were hoping for a repeat of the success of the brand's S-Class flagship, which went on sale 18 months ago. S-Class sales were up 84 percent in 2006 to 91,800 cars -- far ahead of its chief German rivals, the BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8.

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david999 - 4/3/2007 12:23:21 PM

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"Mercedes still needs to show that it has solved its quality problems"

"Merecdes is adopting the thinking of Japan's leading automakers"

Finally!

Rupert - 4/3/2007 1:21:49 PM

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S class sales up 84%!
Wow.

MercBasher - 4/3/2007 1:38:22 PM

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Off an incredibly low base.

Sedulous - 4/3/2007 3:09:26 PM

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an incredibly low base b/c of a 6 year-old model that hadn't been updated for 3 years..

and a low base caused by a CEO who only thought of doing things cheaply, but not efficiently

S4cabriofoxone - 4/3/2007 5:45:54 PM

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MercBasher, respect the S-Class. It is one of the best sedans in the world, if not THE best. My experience of driving an S550 last week left all other cars feeling cheap, unsubstantial and bland.

EnnNorak - 4/3/2007 3:12:13 PM

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Mercedes needs to offer its RWD models with limited slip differentials.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/3/2007 5:46:16 PM

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Somehow, I don't believe that's the root of their problem.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/3/2007 5:47:26 PM

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I was blown away at the S's sales success. They sold almost as many W221s as the Audi brand sold in the US last year. The S550 is quite possibly the perfect car, and it's one of my favorites.

Autoegr525 - 4/3/2007 6:19:37 PM

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It's gorgeous, but could have been so much better if Mercedes hadn't taken the poorly designed BMW 7 series interior and copied it to a t for the S Class.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/3/2007 11:26:28 PM

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Saying that, I don't believe you've had the good fortune to drive (or be driven in) a W221 S-Class.

Yes, the interior is of similar concept to the 7, and I was appalled when I saw it in spy photos.

But then I drove it. I have driven it before, but only very briefly, and not paying close attention to detail. Last week, in Los Angeles, I was eyeing every inch of the thing. It blew me away.

Everything about it screams "rich," "expensive" or just plain "perfect." From the double-coated metal switchgear to the super-softness of the creamy leather headrests, the interior is truly perfect. There isn't a detail I'd change. Mercedes even put buttons on both side of the armrest, so passenger and driver don't have to reach around to the front of the armrest to open it. There are also the soft lighting under the wood trim, the best polish I've ever seen on any wood, and special touches in the COMAND system that set the S-Class apart.

If I lived in a warmer climate and I could buy any sedan on the road, it would undoubtedly be a Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/3/2007 11:28:33 PM

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A few typos, of course...

"...to the super-softness of the creamy leather *ON* the headrests..."

"Mercedes even put buttons on both sides of the *ARMRESTS*..."

"There *IS* also the soft lighting..."

theman - 4/3/2007 7:19:47 PM

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The S class was, is, and will be the best sedan on earth..This new one is such a beauty, with care and perfection given to every inch...The S class is once again the legendary benchmark of full size luxury sedans..