Mercedes renames utility vehicles, repositions Maybach as sub-brand
Tue, 11 Nov 2014Beginning in 2015, Mercedes-Benz is revising its nomenclature strategy for many of its models. This isn't shocking news, nor is it anything new in the industry – look at the recent Q-ification of Infiniti, or the forthcoming CT/XT strategy being deployed at Cadillac. But unlike those luxury brands, Mercedes isn't shaking up the whole system, and it's actually (kind of) making things a bit easier to understand. Here's how.
First, the German automaker's crossover and SUV lineup will go fully "G," and will correspond with the class lines on which the vehicles are based.
- GLA – Unchanged; Merc's new small crossover based on the A-Class
- GLC – Currently the GLK
- GLE – Currently the M-Class, also known as ML
- GLE Coupe – The swoopy new BMW X6-fighter that we've already seen testing
- GLS – Currently the GL-Class, now to be thought of as the S-Class of the SUV line
- G – The Geländewagen, and the pinnacle of the brand's SUVs
- c – Compressed natural gas, currently "Natural Gas Drive"
- d – Diesel, currently written as "BlueTEC" or "CDI"
- e – Electric, which wipes out "Plug-In Hybrid," "BlueTEC Plug-In Hybrid," and "Electric Drive"
- f – Fuel cell, or "F-Cell" currently
- h – Hybrids, including diesel-hybrids
As rumored, Mercedes will put its Maybach name to good use, this time as a sub-brand that will debut on a more luxurious version of the S-Class later this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show. That model will be officially be dubbed the Mercedes-Maybach S600. The automaker says this new vehicle "sets a new benchmark for exclusivity and meets even the most discerning of requirements in terms of its appointments." This means "extra spaciousness, special seats and lavishly designed, prestigious interiors," according to the company's press release. You can see two teasers of the ultra-lux car in the gallery, here.The Maybach sub-brand will debut on a more luxurious version of the S-Class at the LA Auto Show.
The name Mercedes-Maybach uses the same structure as Mercedes-AMG, which was recently given to both the new GT and C63, and will expand through the lineup as each new AMG product is introduced or refreshed. As for how the new Maybach and AMG names will be displayed on the vehicles, Mercedes-Benz spokesperson Christian Bokich says they will follow the same formula: "the placement will be 'AMG' on the driver's side, the Three-Pointed Star in the center, and the model designation on the passenger side."
"Now is the ideal time to do this, for in 2015 we will be updating virtually our whole SUV model range, providing us with the perfect starting point for renaming the whole family of vehicles," Dr. Jens Theimer, head of marketing communications for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, said in an official release. For more information on the name changes, scroll down for Benz's full press blast.
Mercedes-Maybach for the ultimate in exclusivity and individuality
The Mercedes-Benz brand continues its dynamic progress. Two new arrivals in the Mercedes-Benz brand world were introduced today in Sindelfingen by Ola Källenius, member of the Divisional Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Cars responsible for Marketing & Sales, and Dr Jens Thiemer, Head of Marketing Communications for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. With the name Mercedes-Maybach, the brand represented by the three-pointed star is now broadening its offering in the exclusive top segment of the market with a new sub-brand, whose individual and prestigious exclusivity will appeal to status-conscious customers. Before the end of this November, the new Mercedes-Maybach S 600 will be celebrating its world premiere in Guangzhou and Los Angeles. The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class melds the perfection of the best automobile in the world, the S-Class, with the exclusivity of Maybach. In a further move, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer of premium automobiles will start 2015 by launching a new nomenclature, the system used for the designation of its various model series and engine types, so providing its customers with a simple and transparent way to find their bearings around its ever-growing portfolio of models.
"The Mercedes-Benz brand stands for the aspiration to deliver 'The best' in terms of products, technology and services. For us, this means that we offer our customers vehicles that, by virtue of their different characteristics and specific flair, are able to fit in with all sorts of individual lifestyles.
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S-Class segment in particular, customers have very high expectations with regard to exclusivity and individuality. Mercedes-Maybach enables us to fulfil these desires in the exclusive top segment of the market".
Mercedes-Maybach embodies "the best" in its most exclusive form
In 2013 Mercedes-Benz launched its new S-Class, the best car in the world. No other vehicle embodies the values of Mercedes-Benz in quite the same way as the S-Class. The scope offered by the S-Class model range is already considerable, even though its expansion from three to six model variants is not yet complete. The spectrum ranges from the sportiest S-Class of all time, the Mercedes-AMG S 63, the most efficient, the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID (in future S 500 e) and the most intelligent, the S 500 Intelligent Drive, through to the most beautiful S-Class of all time, the S-Class Coupé. When it comes to safety, assistance systems and partially autonomous driving, the S-Class is way ahead of the competition.
The S-Class is not only the best vehicle, but also the most successful car in its class. With more than 100,000 units sold in its first full year of availability, it is even the best-selling S-Class ever. This success has been accompanied by a desire expressed by many customers for yet more individuality and exclusivity. They would like to drive the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in a highly exclusive and individual version that will allow them to stand out even further in this top segment. In the same way as it did with the sporty positioning of Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Benz has now therefore established a new offering in the exclusive top segment by introducing a sub-brand with the name Mercedes-Maybach.
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which will celebrate its world premiere before the end of November, marks the opening of a new chapter in the history of the brand known by its three-pointed star. The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class expands the current range of S-Class Saloons with the addition of a vehicle that sets a new benchmark for exclusivity and meets even the most discerning of requirements in terms of its appointments. Some of the features that distinguish it from the standard-production models include extra spaciousness, special seats and lavishly designed, prestigious interiors offering extensive scope for individualisation. As a result, Mercedes-Maybach vehicles meet the requirements of even the most discerning customers worldwide. Mercedes- Maybach is not an equipment line – it is a sub-brand that in future will deliver Mercedes-Benz vehicles in an even more exclusive form.
Simple and transparent nomenclature to provide customers with better orientation
The Mercedes-Benz model portfolio has expanded rapidly in recent years and continues to grow. The comprehensive model initiative that is currently successfully under way means that, by 2020, the Stuttgart-based premium brand will have brought more than 30 models on to the market worldwide, among them at least eleven that have no precursor in the current product portfolio. On top of this come the different body variants and drive systems. This results in an increasingly complex situation when it comes to naming the various models. "After more than 20 years of continuity involving some of the most recognised and successful product names in the world, we are now making our system of vehicle nomenclature even more understandable. Bearing in mind the international appeal of our brand, our plan has been to devise an even simpler, more transparent and more logical system for the designations of our model series, with the aim of providing clear orientation for our customers", said Dr Jens Thiemer during the launch of the new nomenclature. "Now is the ideal time to do this, for in 2015 we will be updating virtually our whole SUV model range, providing us with the perfect starting point for renaming the whole family of vehicles."
The system behind the new nomenclature is simple, clear and transparent. The model designation is always an acronym made up of between one and three upper-case letters. The different types of engine are indicated by a lower-case letter. The system centres around the five core model series, A, B, C, E and S, which will continue to be used to provide orientation for our customers. In the case of the model designations for the SUVs, in a tribute to the legendary G- Class, all SUV models will in the future have the first two letters "GL" in their name. The "G" here denotes the car's lineage. The "L" is a letter that appears time and time again over the history of Mercedes-Benz. It is a linking letter that makes the model designations easier to remember and easier to pronounce; one that is familiar from the legendary SL, for example, or from the more recent CLS and CLA. It is followed by the third letter, which indicates the relationship to the relevant core model series. In specific terms:
GLA = GL A-Class
GLC = GL C-Class; previously GLK
GLE = GL E-Class; previously M-Class or ML
GLE Coupé = GL E-Class Coupé
GLS = GL S-Class; previously GL
G = unchanged
The system for the 4-door Coupés is constructed along similar lines. The first two letters, "CL", denote the origin, the third letter the link to one of the core model series: in other words CLA and CLA Shooting Brake, or CLS and CLS Shooting Brake.
From 2016 on the Roadsters will all include "SL" in their names to denote their origin, with the third letter again the link to one of the core model series. The SLK therefore becomes the new SLC. As in the case of the G, the SL retains its designation as hitherto, in recognition of its iconic status.
In a development paralleling that of the model series designations, the different types of engines will also be given new designations. These provide clear orientation and are also shorter than the designations used until now. The boot lids will in future feature lower-case letters, whose meaning is as follows:
c for "compressed natural gas" (Natural Gas Drive until now)
d for "diesel" (BlueTEC and CDI until now)
e for "electric" (PLUG-IN HYBRID, BlueTEC PLUG-IN HYBRID and Electric Drive until now)
f for "fuel cell" (F-CELL until now)
h for "hybrid" (HYBRID and BlueTEC HYBRID until now)
As has been the case until now, there will be no suffix for the petrol models. The defining and established designation 4MATIC for our all-wheel-drive vehicles will remain unchanged and, indeed, will be celebrating its thirtieth anniversary next year. Given the way that Mercedes-Benz has evolved into the leading brand for all-wheel drive, 4MATIC will in future play an even more important role in our model portfolio. As a result of a steadily growing demand, we will in future be adding further models to the all-wheel drive segment.
"More clarity, more transparency, more consistency for Mercedes-Benz customers – we are convinced that our new nomenclature will support us in achieving this objective. The logic built up on the basis of the core model series will enable our customers to find their way round our growing product portfolio far better", was the way Dr Jens Thiemer summarised the new nomenclature.
Expanded brand world of Mercedes-Benz offers more
The expanded brand world of Mercedes-Benz now comprises two sub-brands alongside Mercedes-Benz as the core brand, whereby Mercedes-Benz stands for "The best", in a unique combination of emotional fascination and intelligent persuasiveness. Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach interpret "The best" from the perspective of performance and exclusivity-seeking customers respectively. In addition, since the spring of 2014 "Mercedes me" has been opening up a simplified and individualised way in to the overall world of Mercedes-Benz for all customers and prospects, under the central concept of "The best for me".
"By expanding our brand world we are able to offer our customers some new ideas about Mercedes-Benz", according to Ola Källenius. "Even more choice and individuality in terms of our products, and a transparent and logical structure around them in the form of our new nomenclature."
By Steven J. Ewing
See also: Mercedes S-Class Maybach spotted on the 'Ring?, Mercedes to follow Maybach S-Class with super-luxe GL?, Mercedes' $1M S-Class Pullman's could make it the most expensive sedan ever.