Benz studying Allroad rival

An Audi Allroad-rivalling soft-roader is under consideration at Mercedes-Benz as the luxury brand continues its SUV expansion.

But a seven seat version of the new GLC medium wagon has been ruled out, with the company instead considering adding third row seating to the ML-replacing GLE when it goes through generational change within a few years.

A super-luxury Maybach based on the GL (soon to be renamed GLS) also seems distinctly possible as Benz plans the next step from the current expansion.

So far in 2015, Benz has effectively built a backbone for its SUV range, launching the GLE replacement for the ML and its new GLE Coupe spin-off, and showing the production version of the compact GLC and the concept version of its Coupe spin-off. It will unveil the GLS late this year.

That lot joins the small GLA and the hard-core G-wagen in the Benz SUV line up.

Now, comes diversification into more niche areas, potentially including Allroad rivals based on the C-class and/or the E-class estate.

"We are looking at every single niche, so we are studying this [Allroad] at the moment, but it is not confirmed," said Matthias Luhrs, vice president sales functions Mercedes-Benz cars and product management Mercedes-Benz.

"We are looking obviously at C-class and E-class, but no confirmation at the moment."

Luhrs explained that the Allroad concept faced some challenges because of the varying popularity of wagons around the world, especially in the USA, the second biggest global vehicle market behind China.

"You go to say the southern hemisphere there is more acceptance of Allroad-style vehicles because you are a little bit higher, they are a little bit more robust, there is more of a country feeling.

"Even in Italy and southern Europe the Allroad concept is developing quite successfully.

"But Germany and northern Europe; no. In the US, no matter how long, short, high or thing they don't like station wagons."

Luhrs said a sedan cross-over, like the Volvo S60 Cross Country introduced in the USA earlier this year, was not of interest: "We are not studying that."

While a rear-wheel drive version of the GLC seems on the cards and a fire-breathing GLC 63 has been confirmed, Luhrs knocked any prospect of a seven-seater on the head, despite the recent introduction of the Land Rover Discovery Sport with that option.

"There will be no seven seat," he confirmed. "It is not planned because we have the GLE in the future and we have the GL or the GLS today.

"Obviously that is today's plan but you never know what might happen in five years ... but if we do it [GLE seven seats] it would be a global car."

Separately, Wolf-Dieter Kurz, Mercedes-Benz vice president product group SUVs and sports cars, echoed Luhrs' sentiments about SUV expansion, although he spoke more generally.

"Of course we are thinking [of] many opportunities and many variants and I feel that the SUV segment due to its growth and the worldwide interest will be the one that will have the most derivatives in – let's say – the outskirts of the portfolio.

"There are lots of discussions, because we are dealing with how can the SUV portfolio look like in the future? What are regional customer needs? China plays a huge role. USA plays a huge role. Europe still has a huge influence."

He played down the prospects of a Mercedes-Benz SUV convertible – a failed experiment for Nissan with the Murano and one that Range Rover is soon to try with the Evoque – but was more upbeat on the prospect of bringing some form of people-mover back to the market, citing the failed R-class as an inspiration.

"Maybe we were too soon with that. But we are still selling that in China and it's doing good with 12,000-14,000 units per year. So these more on-road based but still – let's say – very roomy station wagon is a very interesting segment also in the future."

Kurz said SUVs accounted for around 25 per cent of Mercedes-Benz sales and would continue to hold that share of overall brand sales as they rose.