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Mercedes has decided not to replace its BMW M3 chasing CLK63 AMG.

In a move that hints at a consolidation of its broad model line-up, the German car maker says it does not plan producing an AMG version of the soon-to-be-launched E-class Coupe owing to problems with the new car’s positioning.

“We had a good look where it would fit into the line-up and eventually came to the conclusion it would be too close to the CLS63 AMG, both in positioning and price,” a Mercedes insider told Aut...Read the full article

Seems silly as the CLK63 is a 2 door coupe and the CLS63 is a 4 door saloon. Mercedes are still going to produce a E-Class 63. Surely this is much closer in "marketing and postioning'" to the other 4 door saloon that is the CLS63?

Anyway, since when has in-house competition bothered the Germans brands?

Audi has 3 convertibles available for £25-30k for example... A3,A5 & TT.

I suppose there is some logic in this move. There is way too many Mercedes AMG cars with exactly the same engines, that look so similar and are priced so similarly. I think what they have tried to do is to bring the AMG line-up in line with the competition from BMW. So, the C63 AMG is the M3 beater, the E63 AMG is chasing the M5 and the CLS63 AMG is a super-powerful GT car like the M6, only more practical and prettier. An E63 AMG coupe would lose the extra practicality of the CLS, be priced like the CLS and not have much of an advantage over either the CLS or the M6. Totally understandable. I just hope the new CLS will be as good, or even better looking than the current model

The AMG is just an offshoot of the bigger problem, the CLS and E-Class coupe are both very close on price and target audience anyway, regardless of which engine is stuffed inside.

So you can get a barking mad 4 door saloon but not a similarly quick 2 door coupe version of the same car? They are mentally challenged!

I agree with TheStig, I think it makes sense, you still have the SL and SLK AMG etc they know where they are positioning the cars etc; I think it makes sense, to be honest I would buy the E Class AMG over the CLK AMG.

As for the CLS and E Class being very close on price, I just had a look (the old E class) and they are not that close on price (£10K diff) and what's more as someone who will be buying one (not an AMG version) they are different cars and different audiences.

I like them both a lot, CLS I really love from the first moment I set eyes on it! Merc will keep it looking as good!! Merc are really on form......well done Merc!!

 

Not quite convinced with Merc's reason. Basically, Merc has abandoned the mid-size coupe market by not replacing the CLK (well, until the C-Class based CLC replacement arrives in 2012!) and has re-entered the executive coupe class with the new E-Class Coupe, a market it hasn't been in since the W124 Coupe.

Either way, if Merc can do an AMG version of the saloon, as well as the CLS (which is an another exec class coupe, albeit with 4drs), then why not a coupe E63 AMG??!!

North:

I like them both a lot, CLS I really love from the first moment I set eyes on it! Merc will keep it looking as good!! Merc are really on form......well done Merc!!

 

 

 

Get a room! 

AMG have always made much of their "one man - one engine" policy, where each engine is hand-assembled by a single technician, who then signs it. They are now making over 20,000 vehicles per annum, which must be stretching that policy to breaking point.  I think this must have a lot to do with with this decision to rationalise the number of AMG variants out there.

I don't understand the rationale - it means MB would lack a fast proper coupe - at least below the CL63. The oddly, I read this elsewhere :

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Your-spyshots/Mercedes-E63-Coupe-reader-spy-photos/

No quad exhaust on this one, but the argument about the brake discs and the cladding at this stage makes sense.

Frankly, I'd like to see this made, the CLS does look good, but with those rear doors it just seems too practical to be a coupe. That said, the E500 coupe should be quite brisk with its 388 bhp - moreso than the previous CLK55. It might seem like these machines represent a tiny sliver of the market, but how many M-Sport 3-series or Sport CLK's have been sold as junior versions of the "halo" models?

But don't you think coupes belong in the sub £50K ,really fast comfortable cars have four doors a large boot,they may not look as good as a coupe but they are just as fast, they will cover more distance(larger tank) and some of the saloons handle and dare i say it better than some coupes. Mercedes have always made fast saloons,but they sell more four door than two door high performance cars plus they're in house tuner AMG are now talking up performance diesel as the way forward, and if you look in AUTOCAR'S news page you will see that Jaguar might make an XJ "hybrid"

Peter, absolutely I do understand where you are coming from. I am 27 years old however, and do generally not want rear doors, but at the same time be able to ferry 4 adults to the south of france in comfort and at great speed. I suppose an AMG diesel with say 350 bhp and a whallop of torque could be the thing ?
In the meantime I have been looking at CL55's with the V8 Kompressor engine, anyone have any experience with these ? I am always amused by the idea of picking up what was once, and in some cases quite recently, a 100 grand, 500 bhp monster coupe for less than a new GTI. Seems like it's the car that can do everything, perhaps a bit short on involvement, but I want a motorway bruiser more than a backroad menace, and I even think it's a pretty shape, especially that rear window.