Known New Mercedes Problems

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yellowbentines said:

With no 4matic cars and no GLK in the UK, Merc risk losing out on a huge market share with no 4wd offerings for those that don't want an unwieldy ML or GL.

Mercedes have been saying they want to do AWD saloons for years but have never done the necessary re-engineering. It is due to the current design's forward drive shaft coming out of the right hand side of the box and fouling the steering in RHD.

They've recently been saying they really want to ramp up their worldwide volumes in the next few years and they want to fill the holes in the range. Not being able to sell the GLK in RHD is a big issue - it's not just the UK, there are other significant RHD markets, such as Australia and Japan.

The next GLK (2015) is supposedly definitely going to be offered in RHD so presumeably the re-engineering could be applied to the saloons.


I would guess the number of AWD Mercedes saloons sold in the UK would turn out to be very low though. As mentioned above, BMW have just introduced an X drive 3 Series in the UK but they've been talking about an X drive 5 Series for years but never done it (they had one many years ago).

[GTIR]

It's rubbish because I want one!

As has been said before Audi sell their Quattro in the UK and whether people buy it because it's 4x4 or not is a mute point.
They sell the 4matic saloon in the USA, I saw a programme on TV and there was one in Florida, so I defo think they're be a market here and don't forget Japan.

Even if you've winter tyres you still need to turn off traction control and select 3rd, otherwise you ain't going anywhere.
That's another thing. It's not that easy to de-select it.

Rubbish!