Quote:
Originally Posted by e1000
The only problem I have with this explanation is that this has been going on for many generations. Before the E-Coupe there was the CLK which really was marketed more as an E-coupe than a C-coupe. The body styling, interior and engine options of the CLK always followed the E-Class, not C. The C-class never really had a coupe until lately.
The real problem is this:
4-series = C-Coupe/E-Coupe
6-series = no MB equivalent
6-series GC = CLS
no BMW equivalent = CL
The 4-series will still run the spectrum between the E-Coupe. MB has never really competed with the lower end 3-series coupe variants until lately. BMW has never competed with the upper end CLK (and lately E-coupe). Remember, there was a CLK500, which never really had an answer from BMW.
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There is a small problem with this reasoning.
You're mixing in the same pot two concepts; technical-production and completely different marketing and target audience (last was in past much more different then today; between BMW and Mercedes).
Mercedes price list was always more than BMW (same car, engine). For fleet cars the final Mercedes price can be lower than BMW. However Mercedes had once many private customers.
Second; Mercedes cars customers are really old; it's a car for people in retirement. (average customer age in Germany; even in China Mercedes stands for old people).
CLK was the same marketing approach as the CLS based on E class; I'm not going to write on profit margin. Some people at BMW almost died from salivating at the thought.
BMW 3 Coupe was standing once for "young affluent people"; it was cheaper and very in demand. Since men don't want to age, lots of customers was middle aged.
