Mercedes outlines product onslaught

MERCEDES-BENZ has revealed its product plans over the next four years in a bid to arrest its sharply declining share price.

Speaking at DaimlerChrysler's recent half-year financial press conference, company chairman Mr Jurgen Schrempp said cars in the pipeline included a hatchback variant of the C-class, a new SL roadster and a coupe based on the Smart roadster.

The plans were made public against the will of Mercedes-Benz/Smart boss Jurgen Hubbert, who was not in favour of "telling the competitors what we will do in the future".

It is believed a 37.4 per cent plunge in D/C's total shareholder value in the last financial year prompted the company to announce its plans to restore confidence in the brand.

The product plans are:
2001 - New SL roadster, C-class hatchback, C-class station wagon and Vaneo (light commercial based on the A-class)
2002 - New E-class, new CLK, Maybach super-luxury car and SLR super sportscar
2003 - Smart roadster and coupe
2004 - Smart sedan co-developed with Mitsubishi and Hyundai
Meanwhile, British publication Autocar suggests the next generation E-class -due in mid-2002 - will be sportier than the current model.

It is likely to feature more rounded styling and the wheelbase and track are expected to grow to offer greater interior space.

Autocar also suggests the next generation CLK will be offered with the option of four-wheel drive, in a move to be reflected across the entire Mercedes range.

It is believed the new CLK will be lower and wider than the current model and draw several styling cues from the larger CL coupe.

Although using the same underpinnings as the new C-class, the CLK will have a longer wheelbase and wider track.