Tuesday 22nd April 2014

Mercedes Concept SUV - more details

Queasy after the Easter chocolate overload? More on Merc's X6 rival won't help you feel any better

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Well at least the AMG should be pretty good, right? That's about the only solace that can be gleaned from a PH perspective on the new Mercedes Concept SUV. And you thought the X6 tarnished BMW's line-up; now it's contaminating the Mercedes range with its popularity!

At 2m wide you won't be doing this often

"Sensual as a coupe - visionary as an SUV" is how the Concept Coupe (CC?) is described by Mercedes' Head of Design Gordon Wagener. Well we certainly haven't seen much else like it as an SUV before; 4,935mm long, 2,044mm wide but a relatively low 1,739mm high, Wagener describes it as "having extreme proportions". Indeed, though extreme can be good as well as bad... And how can 22-inch wheels on 305-section tyres be made to look so tiny?

On those extreme proportions sit some fairly familiar Mercedes styling cues. The rear is redolent of the new S-Class coupe in an attempt to quite forcefully ram the coupe aspect of the CC home. But because it must be an SUV too, there is a 'simulated underguard' in polished aluminium. Mmm.

The LED headlights at the front with a single-louvre create a familiar Mercedes face, albeit bigger. A relatively short front overhang could actually be a boon for off-roading. Imagine green-laning in it.

It's the S-Class coupe's ugly sister!

Under the bonnet of the Concept Coupe is Mercedes' 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, allied to its latest 9G-Tronic auto 'box. When it makes production (if is probably a little hopeful), expect the range to include the Bluetec diesels and a hybrid or two. Plus the AMG, of course.

We may scoff at the prospect of another crossover SUV, but Mercedes is confident of the Concept Coupe's future. It talks of how the CLS created a new class of vehicle and found numerous imitators (Audi A7, BMW 6 Series GC) and likes to think this SUV coupe will do the same. Let's see.

Anyway, at least the PH contingent can be relied on for the enthusiasts perspective. "Words fail me. Truly repulsive"was a good response to the first picture, and "I gave it 1/10 because it's not quite as hideous as the Bentley(which made my eyes bleed)" elicited a chuckle. Best comment though? "Yet another butt-ugly and no doubt grossly overpriced piece of automotive tat from M-B" posted by Nick Wilcock. Guess he's not coming to Mercedes-Benz World this weekend for Sunday Service then.

[MrGeoff]

Wow an X6 with a Mercedes badge. Original.

[LuS1fer]

I saw one of these, locally, quite recently.
Then I realised that what I had seen was Caerphilly Mountain with a set of wheels dumped on it.

[anonymous-user]

Sad thing is, people will buy it, or they wouldn't make it. That makes me really unhappy...

[myhandle]

For this segment, it looks like they have done a good job with the styling. It looks a lot better relative to its competition than the current ML, SL and SLK.

[kbf1981]

I like it. Would buy the AMG version.

[justboxsters]

OK. I'm going to say it.

Just stop buying st like this!

Then they'll stop making these pointless posing monstrosities.

[sorrel]

I think SsangYong got there first...

[xRIEx]

For some reason, that picture with the doors open makes me think of a pig with wings.

[Froomee]

Will be useful to see loads of these driving around London trying to navigate through 6'6 width restrictions...

[tram50]

I can never see the day I'd want to buy anything as hideous and pretentious as this ugly barge. It only looks one step away from being chrome wrapped.

[Kolbenkopp]

Waste of time to comment on that "car".

One thing I don't get thogh: most new cars tend to get pretty ugly smoothed out front ends. One can see this nicely when face lifts occur, e.g. Suzuki Swift, Mini etc. Usually the EU pedestrian safety law stuff is cited as reason.

Now how can they get away with that kind of front end on this thing? And on new SUVs in general?

[pSyCoSiS]

Weird how similar that looks to the X6.

I do kind of like it though...

[Dave G fsi]

inducing....

[kambites]

I think it's perhaps marginally less vomit-worthy that the X6; but only marginally. Of course the production version will probably be worse.

[edinph]

Just proves that a degree in marketing is worth its weight in gold! If they can persuade the public that these things are needed, they could sell snow to Inuit!

[tobyboy]

I don't understand why the type of people that want these things don't stop being such wimps and simply scurry off to the nearest Mercedes Benz TRUCK dealership. I believe that the options list on an Actros is quite extensive and no doubt there is a choice of tuning firms out there who will be able to do tasteless things if the factory offering is not good enough.

I still think all these top end manufacturers are missing a trick by not sticking a third axle under their latest uber creation. I real pose outside the school when the rearmost axle has to be lowered when little Gazebo climbs aboard.

[ultrastapler]

It's not as ugly as an X6, but still as offensive

[SprintSpeciale]

"We may scoff at the prospect of another crossover SUV, but Mercedes is confident of the Concept Coupe's future. It talks of how the CLS created a new class of vehicle and found numerous imitators (Audi A7, BMW 6 Series GC) and likes to think this SUV coupe will do the same"

What is the new class of vehicle that they have created? The "vehicle that looks almost exactly like, but somehow even worse than, the BMW X6" class of vehicle?

[Ozzie Osmond]

LuS1fer said:

Then I realised that what I had seen was Caerphilly Mountain with a set of wheels dumped on it.

I guess that would look pretty cheesy....

[r11co]

Looks like an Alfa GT on steroids from the rear 3/4's