Mercedes to follow VW lead

Comments4u · 2003-12-07T10:46:58+00:00

Mercedes to follow VW leadMercedes, in a surprise move, has decided to follow VW'slead in an area where European auto makers have a decideddisadvantage. The issue is model designations.For years, European companies except VW have designatedmodels with meaningless combinations of letters and numbers.Meanwhile, Asian companies followed the American lead ofdesignating models with descriptive and inspiring names.VW fell into the practice quite by accident, when the publicdubbed its Type 1 "The Beetle". Putting aside false pride,VW followed up with descriptive and inspiring names for itsproducts such as "Squareback Sedan", "Vanagan", and "The Thing".However, Mercedes and other European companies failed toact. When the Asians followed US practice of naming models,they quickly reserved the remaining good names. Names likeLegend, Legacy, Maxima, and Altima would be perfect forMercedes models, but Mercedes realized the importance toolate.But since names are registered with the Motor VehicleManufacturers Association, Mercedes now has an ample supplyof good names. With the acquisition of Chrysler, it nowhas rights to all names previously used by Chrysler, Dodge,and even AMC and Hudson.The E Class could easily become Satelite or Diplomat. TheC Class might be named Valiant or Metropolitan. Gremlin isa natural for the SLK.Descriptive and inspiring names are the key to Mercedesprevailing over other European auto makers. Mercedes Windsoris regally inspiring. In contrast, 9-3 and 323i sound likemanufacturing date codes on packages of condoms.

Dec 07, 2003 20 Replies

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Michael Trei 22 years ago

The "L" did not designate a separate series, just a variation of the S class series, just as the "C" in 280CE did not denote a separate series, just a coupe version of a mid sized body series car.

Michael Trei

1985 280TE 1969 300SEL 6.3

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Mercedes to follow VW lead

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