18 Votes

Mercedes to build BMW X1 and 1-Series rival in Hungary

omarrana submitted on 6/18/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 12:57:38 PM

26 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.egmcartech.com

Tag Link: Mercedes

Daimler AG announced today that they have chosen Kecskemet, Hungary, for its new plant that will focus on building entry-level Mercedes-Benz cars.

Mercedes-Benz plans on increasing its entry-level option from two to four models with the next-generation A-Class and B-Class.

No engine details on the SUV are available as of yet, but according to previous reports the car will be built on the A-Class/B-Class platform and will be positioned under the upcoming GLK and with pricing to be around...

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Mercedes to build BMW X1 and 1-Series rival in Hungary

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— omarrana (View Profile)

User Comments

A mercedes baby coupe? I'm stoked.
— nsmatt (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 3:28:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

Should be interesting. Hopefully a Hatch....The 135 is a sweet little car. ESP when chipped.
— Vantage (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 3:51:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

It's on the market since 2004 and hasn't dominated anything yet.
— Heyhuub (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2008 11:04:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

NICE!
— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 4:38:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Those crazy Germans :->
— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 4:46:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Funny and very unusal seeing how MB, BMW and Audi are hard at work making small and more small cars where Big Jap 3 are making more powerful and expensive than ever cars. GT-R, NSX, LF-A...etc. Infiniti and Acura also needs and are making real bigger and powerful flagship models replacing Q45 and Acura RL.

10 or 20 years ago and before quite the opposite was happening.

Just shows how competitive brands have become. And nobody is less now.

JUGNU
— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 4:57:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

"Just shows how competitive brands have become. And nobody is less now".

Not quite. It is probably because Mercedes and BMW already have a reputation as top brands in the auto-world. The Japanese makers on the other hand are still struggling with their image: "makers of econocars" and they hope that a few "special" cars like GT-R or NSX will bring the recognition they struggle for so long(without success) to obtain.
— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 5:12:04 PM | | Votes: -1

Ye Jugnu, but the way fuel prices and the economy in general is going. The Germans are better focusing on smaller cars that use less fuel. People will want the prestigious name, such as BMW or MB. But something that is economical to run, but luxurious.
— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 5:05:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

"Frankly the Germans are desperate for sales so they try to make up for lost sales against Lexus, Acura and Infiniti on the global market by making small econoboxes and slapping their badge on them. Yes, some people would buy a Yugo if it had a BMW badge on it. Goes to show how flawed their business strategy is."

Idiot, they're not desperate for sales. People want smaller more economical cars. They are merely using their HIGH STATUS PRESTIGIOUS NAME, nothing the Japanese have, and what customers want to supply demand. After all, they are in business, which is supply and demand.

So, while the Japanese are TRYING to beat the Germans at something, which will never happen. The Germans diversify into something the market want. That's not a flawed business strategy mate. That's a good one.
— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 5:09:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Why the A and B don't come to the States? Anyone know when is the GLK due? and does it come with a hybride version?
— MZauto (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 6:53:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

The MB C230 Kompressor coupe was priced the same as the 128i. Both models are comparably stripped down of everything but seats, a steering wheel and shiney emblem.

Czelinski,
Wrong. Toyota has enough money could bleed Germany dry. Making less profitable cars that diminish their reputation in N.America will accomplish the exact opposite of what they want. There's nothing special about a BMW/MB or Audi that's less equipped and more common than a Toyota.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 7:02:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6

huu76,"There's nothing special about a BMW/MB or Audi that's less equipped and more common than a Toyota"

Wrong! There is nothing special about a well equipped Toyota(read Lexus)that sells for a premium because it has leather standard.
People don't buy Mercedes and BMW cars because they have leather seats. They buy them because they are engineered and built to a lot higher standards than the Japanese trash. Rebadged Toyotas(Lexus) and Nissans(Infiniti) are not premium cars, they are just better equipped economy cars.
BMW and Mercedes don't need to fool people by adding useless equipment standard in their cars(like Japanese do). Germans sell engineering masterpieces and people who buy cars to drive them(not eat in them)can see the difference.
— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 7:20:42 PM | | Votes: 5

You can equip a base 1.6 Audi A3 the same as the top of the range Audi S3. So this nullifies your statement.
— Heyhuub (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2008 11:08:57 AM | | Votes: 1

"They buy them because they are engineered and built to a lot higher standards than the Japanese trash". As far as I can remember, its Toyota and Lexus who always get the highest score in reliability ratings across the world. I don't think that Toyota is building the LF-A or has created the Lexus brand because it needs a better image. Its already the biggest selling band in the world. Its just trying to enter a new market, and with the LS600h and the IS-series, it has succeeded in doing so. And even if Lexus has not reached the reputation of MB or BMW yet (as some people seem to be insinuating), it will surely not take long for this to happen. And even if Toyota fails with the LF-A, it will simply go back to the drawing board and come out with something better cause it has the time and money to do so cause it's already No.1 globally.
— Krishnen (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2008 11:14:26 AM | | Votes: 1

Mercedes is gonna run out of badges soon.
A,B,C,CL,CLC, CLK,CLS,E,G,Gl,M,ML, R, S,SL,SLK, what else is necessary.
— EvoAudi (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 7:28:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

BTw does anyone know why mercedes calls the ML the M-class but only badges it as the ML? I had three ML's and they never knew the answer.
— EvoAudi (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 7:29:12 PM | | Votes: 1

They didn't copy Lexus, now go dig your head in the sand.
— EvoAudi (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2008 2:43:28 AM | | Votes: 6

Because it was to be called the M class, but BMW sued them for infringement of the M badge, so they used ML. Everyone calls it the M class though.
— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2008 7:28:59 AM | | Votes: 3

Thanks for the clarification, that was my theory in the beginning.
— EvoAudi (View Profile)

Posted on 6/20/2008 1:15:44 AM | | Votes: 1

I forgot SLR
— EvoAudi (View Profile)

Posted on 6/20/2008 1:16:33 AM | | Votes: 1

Keep dreaming MT you goof.
— xj13 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 8:43:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

Better not look like a minibus :)
— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2008 12:36:05 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Toyato certainly does have enough money to bleed Germany dry. But to argue that one company is better than the other is stupid. Both companies produce excellent, semi-unique cars. To say otherswise is obsurd. But it is fun to see how obsessive people are with certain brands
— Vantage (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2008 10:12:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Mercedes to build BMW X1 and 1-Series rival in Hungary

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