After Mercedes sold only 18,168 examples of its R-Class in 2007, even after dropping the base price by $5,000, Mercedes will take the R-Class down-market for 2008. The entry level model for next year, the R350, will be powered by a V6 and will not come with all-wheel drive to keep the base price under $43,000. Other R-Class models will retain standard AWD.
Mercedes has also decided to drop the $80,000 AMG R63 from the R-Class line. However, all 2008 R-Class models will wear the same body cladding and 18 inch wheels of the 2007 AMG model, just without the performance modifications. The most expensive R-Class offered for 2008 will be the R320 CDI at just over $46,000.
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08/13, 9:58 AM
posted by:
obhatti
Maybe they didn’t sell very many because they’re ugly as hell!!!!!!!!! This stupid R-class, along with its ugly siblings the A- and B- classes are SOOOO ugly it’s not even funny! Who designed these?? For me, they ruin the glory of the awesome Benz’s….. the CL, the S-class, the SL and the mightly SLR McLaren….. they should drop all these ugly things and stick to their better-looking cars.
08/13, 10:04 AM
posted by:
sunshine1810
This move by Mercedes will not improve the sales of the R class if anything it will reduce sales. What Mercedes needs to do is either eliminate this model from their line-up or redesign it.
08/13, 10:20 AM
posted by:
55amg
i like the r-class…and i also like the idea of an mpv that can outrun sports cars, the r63. too bad its now gone
08/13, 10:21 AM
posted by:
Fromes
43,000 dollars still seems like a ton of money for a mini van that doesn’t even have awd. I don’t really see the point of such a car in the line up
08/13, 10:30 AM
posted by:
CarLord
The R class is a ride that needs to be tweaked to look good. Put some nice wheels, mated to a nice color and tint and you have a sweet ride. Leave it stock and it is a bit homely. I saw a Black R500 with tasteful 20’s, and it was pretty mean looking.
08/13, 10:41 AM
posted by:
Bimmer
Minivan market is slowly dying.
08/13, 10:59 AM
posted by:
Blakkarr
Agreed, Bimmer.
08/13, 11:01 AM
posted by:
snork
I actually think it’s nice looking, just too much money for what is essentially a minivan…even calling it a crossover is a stretch. IMHO, dropping AWD off the base model is ok, but @ $43K that’s still too much. I think that if the R350 stickered for under $40k base, they’d pull in a lot more shoppers for the 3-pointed star prestige factor considering fully loaded Oddysies/Town & Countries/Siennas get into the mid 30s.
08/13, 11:24 AM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Too ugly
08/13, 11:38 AM
posted by:
Deanster
80k is outrageous and unjustifiable for a minivan.
Even stupider is AMGing it out so it can go 0-60 in 4 seconds. Just xxxxing stupid as hell.
08/13, 11:49 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
Can’t wait for BLISS to chime in on this with his brilliance. Wait .. lemme give it a shot …
.
… “MOVING FORWARD! GOOD THINGS TO COME!”
08/13, 11:53 AM
posted by:
EVOQ
A price drop isn’t going to help sells that much. A TOTALLY makeover is what is needed. It is ugly as sin, and by far the ugliest MB I’ve seen in years.
08/13, 11:53 AM
posted by:
EVOQ
I meant TOTAL makeover, but you get my drift.
08/13, 12:22 PM
posted by:
1487_GM_SALES
What they need to do is just go out of business. An overpriced, ugly minivan wannabe with horrid reliability and quality stands no chance against the Lambda SUV’s from GM. Why haven;t they learned not to tread on the turf of the mighty General?
08/13, 12:46 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
GM Sales: I love the lambdas!
Outlook, baby!
Or Arcadia
Or enclave.
damn, I just can’t figure it out!
08/13, 12:59 PM
posted by:
Scarface03
For the body style, the R-class is not bad looking, and keeping the AMG cladding helps. The big problem will always be, no one wants to buy a luxo minivan, let alone a minivan that’s ashamed of its own minivanness. A minivan means practicality, so where are the sliding side doors? Every other minivan has a 4WD option. Don’t hide from its minivanness, drop the price, and watch the snooty people too tired of driving their SUV and too good for a Pacifica snatch them up.
08/13, 1:36 PM
posted by:
maximus
Keeping it under 43K might actually increase the sales. We shall see…
08/13, 1:38 PM
posted by:
TomF
It’s not a minivan, it’s not a station wagon, it’s not anything really — it’s a weird hybrid people-mover mutant. Minivans are sold to people whose kids spill Juicy Juice everywhere and cover the window glass with peel-and-stick stickers; that is roughly zero percent of the Mercedes-Benz base. So even without the styling issue, the R is a strategic abortion. As for the styling: it looks like it was carved out of butter with jai-alai sticks, then left out in the sun too long. It’s by far the ugliest Mercedes-Benz in the lineup, and the price point is totally unjustifiable.
08/13, 1:59 PM
posted by:
obhatti
TomF I couldn’t have said it better myself! I agree with you totally!! That thing is horrible!
08/13, 2:02 PM
posted by:
sik59rt
GM sales……didnt Chrysler “invent” the Minivan?? they also had the first “ponycar” with the ‘Cuda…sorry Ford.
08/13, 3:42 PM
posted by:
Captain Spadaro
Shame about the R63 being dropped.
08/13, 3:50 PM
posted by:
jamaicandude
The idea of a luxury minivan was always a stretch.
08/13, 4:10 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
R-head: Bliss seems to prefer to be positive or silent. Our mothers would be proud if we all did.
I know, “go to Oprah, go to Oprah, go to Oprah, go to Oprah …
jamaicandude: I drive the cadillac of minivans, but I’m not returning to it. I’m going crossover (four kids)
08/15, 10:55 AM
posted by:
Jazz
lol
The R-class is dying long live the GLK