coolraoul

I don't quite understand all this stuff about the CLS
Calling it a "four-door coupe" was a marketing trick, a brilliant one.
It does not want to create a revolution, or to bring a new concept that the world did not knew before...all this is only marketing.

The CLS is a sedans that has a sporty look, or a coupe that has sedan' practicability. Nothing more, nothing less.

The E-Class faces the 5er and the A6, both on the sporty side. The E-Class is perceived as not sporty enough, taxi-looking... So Merc decided to make also a sedan, but on the sporty-side, to give an answer to the A6 (more and more sporty) and 5er. This answer is the CLS.

It is a stylish sedan. Coupe-look, sedans's doors. It looks sporty, and is perfect along the E-Class. Sure it is cramped in ht inside, but it looks wonderful, that was the aim.

So it created a new niche, thanks to brilliant marketing and clients huge interest.

The point in the CLS is not its marketing name, it is its brilliant look. It does not sell because it is a four-door coupe, it sells because it looks wonderful.

What it brings it not really the "four-door coupe" concept. It is the fact that a sedan can also sell on its look, instead of on the big place for the rear passengers. And that a stylish car has not necessarily only two doors.

klier

^^^ Exactly.

It's just that. But the X5 is not. It started something.



So X5 is now an overhyped concept while all major car makers have an X5 like car now?

X5 set all kinds of new standards for these kind of cars, that is a fact. CLS on the other hand did absolutely nothing because it is nothing. It is a sedan with sleek lines. Just like the BMW concept CS. That's nothing new too. A big sleek sedan.

coolraoul

The X5 is no new niche for me. It is a SUV, but with BMW characteristics. It uses the ML's experiment.
Merc was not so sure about the ML, so it was partly-road partly-all terrain, luxurious but not too much anmd not so expensive...It was the first try.
BMW used it, saw the price was no problem, the all-terrain was useless and made the X5. It was more adapted than the first ML, so considered better. Because more focused on what the m,arket wanted.

It was no niche, it was the adaptation of the concept to the market, that Merc only partly did because they had no precedent to use. The first ML was the first SUV attempt, so not completely road-oriented, not luxurious enough...

Merc1

Apparently my post about the CLS and X5 isn't the only one you haven't payed any attention to because anyone else here can tell you I don't hate BMW. Far from it. I only take exception to the BMW-laced nonsense when spotted.

Why is a hard riding first generation X5 that only brought better handling to the table supposed to be hailed as a new segment when there were already other on-road biased SUV out there supposed to take some type of gold star over the CLS which has everyone from VW to Aston-Martin attempting to do the same thing? I think not. If the CLS didn't do anything then the X5 didn't do squat either.

M

RikfromBelgium

ok, did you just say nobody else is hurrying to bring a sporty SUV? are you sure you belong here?

Merc1

Ok did anyone here just say that the CLS did nothing and hasn't inspired a bunch of competitors? Are you sure you belong here?

M

RikfromBelgium

I was first, no answer?

Merc1

If you BMW fanatics are that far gone as to say that CLS has done nothing, hasn't opened up and entire new niche then why in the world would anyone (let alone me) consider the X5 as being such an innovator? There were at least 2 on road biased SUVs out before the X5. Period. The X5 was sportier, period.

M

RikfromBelgium

who says I agree with Klier? Where did I say that? Don't avoid the question.

Merc1

Sorry, but your reputation precedes you. Read my post again. I said no one is trying to build an X5 and no one is. Others are indeed trying to build a 4-door coupe (marketing term) in the exact same mold as the CLS.

M