Will Lower Priced Luxury Cars Be The Ticket To Woo A Generation Uninterested In Cars?

I am glad to see young people being Smart and not caring about Earth ruining cars. There is far more to life than carbon-producing cars.

Boo Global Warming.

Young people aren't being smart. They aren't buying cars because many of them cannot find jobs and are living off mom and dad. Put that money in their hands, they won't be much different than any other generation. Heck, they will probably be worse because they are used to instant gratification.

The price of cars have increased so much so fast that seems to be a bit off-putting for young professionals that were interested in the luxury brands just a few years ago. And in many cases, consumers can purchase a fully loaded flagship model of a mainstream brand and get about 3/4th of the luxury experience for a vehicle that may cost half as much as it's luxury counterpart.

Since luxury carmakers have once again embraced smaller cars in their lineup, it gives a little bit more to look forward too. And if that CLA looks 80% of what the concept pics look like, it will be an instant hit.

Good points dumpsty.
Combine what you and PLAY said below, it about covers it. Jobs, new car prices, used car prices, and throw in fuel and maintenance, it's tough for young people. Heck, I just renewed my registration and that is not cheap by any means either.

As for the looks, they would be making a huge mistake to not launch something that looks nearly identical this concept. Question is, what sort of options would be included at that price point? I'm guessing it's pretty bare as opposed to a moderately equipped accord.

Young people interested in cars will be interested in these. Young people not interested in cars will not be wooed by these. Personally I believe most of these will be bought by retirees downsizing and caught in the financial crunch. There are 10,000+ people a day in USA reaching age 65 and this number will grow substantially. Instead of buying an E class many will buy these.

Young people would be more interested in cars if they could afford one. Used car prices are especially damaging. With tens of thousands of dollars in student debt, wages remaining flat or declining in many cases, and prices increasing, it is no wonder young people don't buy more cars.

Mercedes is not going to woo a generation towards its new product, instead it is going to get people who are already in the market for a more luxurious car, but cannot afford (or don't want) something larger. Instead of loading out a Camry with all the bells and whistles, maybe a consumer will buy this instead.

Yes, with the right marketing and promotion, it will lure new, potentially younger buyers into showrooms. But it will also give an option for everyone for an affordable option for the brand. So, someone who CAN spend for a C or E Class can have the option of getting more car for less money. Of course the car would have to meet all the other needs of the buyers such as room, luxury equipment, and power. I do think the CLA is going to offer a more viable option in that manner than the A3 (wagon only) or 1 Series (much smaller).

Why buy this when you can get a 3-4 year old E Class for the same price? More car! and RWD!

Just put a generous mix of marijuana and cocaine in every glove box. They will buy.

I doesn't matter for what reason young people aren't buying cars. If its money (too expensive) that is OK also. The point is, they will never care about cars, so they will not make Earth-destroying choices when they do have money. Better to have basic or public transit. Have fun in the virtual world because it doesn't pollute.

Well, that money isn't going to appear like magic. You must be young if you think that is how it happens. You have to work. In most places, to get to work, you have to commute. To commute, you need a form of transportation. Forms of transportation require fuel. Not every city has trains and buses to get around on so.... here is the whammy... many will be forced to buy an AUTOMOBILE!!! Wow!! What a crazy concept?!?!? You said that it is okay if it's too expensive. Well guess what smartypants??? They will be forced into buying older, less efficient, used vehicles. So... price does matter you twit.

It is funny (or sad) that I have to give a capitalist a lesson in competiton! Now listen you, smart people will move to cities because they have good public transport. That is why more people live in London (Underground) than Bugtussle, Alabama (bed of F-150? lol!). If you want the good job and money, you should move to a city. If you want to marry your family and live like a backwards person, move far away from the city.

So the good cities have public transport (London, Paris, Berlin, New York) Bad cities (Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland, New Jersey) have poor public transport. Where do more smart people live? Who makes more money? They deserve there lives because they are too stupid to leave and move to a better city! That's called competiton!!!

You really are as stupid as your picture indicates. The fact that you think that an urban lifestyle is attractive to everyone shows that you have zero ability to thrive in any capacity outside of city life. You also miss the biggest factor in that the cost of living in cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, and New York is extremely high compared to that of smaller cities. That fact alone completely neutralizes the point that some people in those cities make more money. Most of those "more money" people are leveraged and mortgaged to the max just to sustain their lifestyle that they are only rich in appearance.

Not only that, you leave out the guy that sweeps the floors, washes dishes, and cleans the bathrooms of those supposedly "rich" big city people you refer to. I'm sure those people would disagree with your comments but they don't have time because they are working multiple jobs and cannot afford to change their situation.

Something else you need to recognize. The food you eat to survive is grown, raised, or processed at facilities and farms that are far from your perfect city life. Lose that segment of society and good luck finding affordable food.

You really should travel more. You might be shocked to find out that it doesn't take a fortune to scrape by in a big city to be happy. For many people, the fact that they don't have to live their lives according to a bus or train schedule and enjoy their freedom on a daily basis is far more valuable than money.

As for competition... you are obviously just driven by money. Your comments and constant degradation of people that aren't like you lead me to believe you are in search of an upscale city life but you've fallen short and are only left to hate on those that have it easier than you do. You probably live in a small re-purposed flat, we know you don't own a car, you bash everything American and ignore the fact that your own Eurotrash auto makers are guilty of the same environmental shortcomings. Congrats on being a socialist hypocrite. It suits you well.

If I am a stupid because of my picture, what do you call a person who cannot even upload a photo (you!).

Only a american would assume I am motivated by money. SUSTAINABILTY is what motivates me! Concern for children choking to death of asthsma, old people eating polluted fish, good people who are afraid to ride bikes because there is too many cars, poor people with no where to live in New Orleans beacuse of hurricanes and global warming!

This life of living on farms and pickups everywhere cannot continue.

urbanfarming.

urban farming supporting millions and millions of people? You really have no grasp of reality.

Also, you have no concern for children. You have already said you don't agree with people bringing new life to this world in other posts. Feel free to look up your own commentary regarding that subject. Not only that, you just said yesterday you have no concern for Americans and you cited 9/11. Now all of a sudden you are concerned about Katrina victims? You are delusional. Probably need to go to the countryside and get some fresh air because your polluted city living has killed too many brain cells for rational thought.

I've wasted enough time with your ignorant socialist views on how the world should live. Continue your hypocritical rants regarding American products while ignoring your own European pollution creators. Until you can understand what it takes to sustain millions of people, you will continue to live in the dark. You have absolutely no clue what it takes or how agriculture impacts the world. If you think urban farming will get it done, get ready to stand in line for your rations.

Also, I will upload a pic. I am still trying to decide between the smoking oil burning Range Rover or the one showing car lined traffic jammed london streets with the empty bus in the center.

AHA! You are in favor of pollutshun (I spell it that way on purpose becausee polluters like you should be shunned). Of course I am in favor of SmartEuro/SmartAsian cars! Look at your California in the 60s/70s! Dirty air, pollution everywhere, children getting sick, oldtimers dying. In those dark days the roads were filled with behemouth american cars fouling the Earth. We have the american TV show C.H.i.P.s in my country and you can see the cars on the roads. What a nightmare.

Fast forward to the 90s/2000s... California is beautiful and clean, and the roads are filled with SmartEuro/SmartAsian cars. (We also have modern shows like the Real Life from California) the air is clean, and children are breathing again.

Funny, the only place with american cars left is Detoilet Michigan, and that is a dangerous ruined city. The evidence shows that SmartEuros and SmartAsians don't pollute as much as Detroit junk.

Also, urban farming isn't as big now as it will be soon. Soon the farmers will have to come back to the city to grow their foods, because transportation will cost too much to transport from the natural areas. Good! Farmers should have to pay the true costs of "freedom", a ruined planet Earth.

There really is no helping you. You are too stupid to breath. You completely miss the point over and over and over again. You bash everything American and you do not comment on any of the European brands that are as bad if not worse than any of the big 3 in America. That picture is of a Range Rover leaking oil you dolt. It is directed at you and your hypocritical ramblings. Your urban farming commentary is so ridiculous that it isn't even worthy of commenting. You have no idea how much these farmers produce to keep you and the rest of your countrymen alive. They also provide to restaurants that just happen keep people employed. Go take some economics and logistics courses... wait... might want to start with basic math and social studies first because supporting millions in a rooftop and abandoned alley gardens isn't going to cut it. I can't believe I've wasted this much time replying to your stupidity. Darwin's theory will get you eventually or you will be living off the system. One of the two is inevitable.

What's even more stupid is that your idea of the U.S. and other places comes from television and not personal experience. You really are too stupid to be out in public. It's good thing you don't own an automobile. There are enough idiots on the road as it is.

1carsmart1 I am a native Californian. You mentioned that our roads are now filled with what you consider smart Asian cars and thats why our air is cleaner. Our Californa roads are filled with American Pick-up trucks, UPS Trucks, Utility trucks, Fire trucks, Emergengy Trucks and Vans, Travel trailers, Motorhomes, Work Vans, Big rigs, Corvettes, Vipers, Mustangs, Chargers, SUV's, Challengers, Street Rods, Caddys, Musclecars, Led Sleds, High Boy's, Rat rods, 4X4"s, Harleys and the like. Our air is cleaner due to smart American technology that allows said vehicles to run more efficently and cleaner. A vast majority of this technology came from the American racing industry. Also many safety items have been addressed from racing which is why Antron Brown survived a drag racing crash at over 300 mph. This technology ends up in passenger cars which saves lives. I read your so called forward thinking comments and truthfully you don't have a clue of what your talking about.

The americans just copy Euro/Asian anti-pollutshun techknowlogy and graft it onto their giant pickups and SUVs. That is the only reason California isn't polluted. I don't need to survive a 300 kilometer crash because I would never waste natural resources to go that fast.

Also when you speak of eating all this food, you know what the end result is? Larger people. Why do we need to make people larger? We no longer have to fight agaisnt wildlife creatures, we can use laser and ultrasonic weapons to defend ourselves. Imagine the average height weight of 170cm/80kg. What if we could reduce that to 85cm/40kg? Suddenly a BMW 1 series is as roomy as a 7 series! A small apartment is like a large home, and an 8 hectare farm feeds twice as many. There really should be a campaign to DECREASE the size of people. This could be accomplished within a few generations. Maybe then urban farming can be a major force in sustaining the population.

This is finding new solutions.

Have to agree. Just another troll

I down voted you both for saying that. I have won this debate.

1carsmart1 You have won Nothing. You have tunnel vision and a terrible agenda. You hate America and Americans. The vehicles you claim are earth friendly have a very high carbon footprint just in the manufacturing process. You have been challenged with Facts that dis-prove your agenda and still you choose not to understand. What you have proven is your lack of understanding and the ability to learn how to have an intelligent debate.

You've "won"? Okay... Guess you have that going for you? End of the day, you are either a troll or a very disturbed individual.. probably both. You haven't presented one single rational thought nor have you replied to anything regarding your hypocritical bashing of U.S. products while ignoring European automaker short comings when it comes to auto manufacturing. Claim whatever internet victory you want but at the end of the day, to win a "debate", you must address questions posed to you and defend your position with facts. You've done nothing of the sort other than throw out useless and pointless ideas that are about as realistic as unicorn tears.

Young people avoid debt and loans. Ergo, cheap cars are what they want and buy. They love the cheap Hyundai and Kia brands that come with long term warranties that shame American auto makers.