German Car Zone

There's a financial swine flu making its way through the car industry. Chrysler caught it and it proved terminal. Porsche was on intensive care for a moment but should recover. And now Mercedes, it turns out, has a runny nose and a little cough. The home of the three-pointed-star is delaying the introduction of the E-Class convertible and wagon in order to save money on development and marketing.

The E-Class convertible was due to be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year, but a report states we won't see the car unveiled until the Geneva Motor Show in 2010. In addition to the cash savings, it will also let Mercedes reveal the car much closer to convertible buying season. The E-Class wagon, described as a shooting brake and more design-driven wagon, won't bow until 2012.

The moves will allow Mercedes to stash money from E-Class sedan and coupe sales. It also lets Mercedes focus 2010 on the new CLS, its plans for the V6 Bluetec hybrid and, according to Auto Motor und Sport, a four-cylinder diesel replacement for the S-Class. - http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/26/r...ertible-wagon/

Really... the E-class wagon is almost ready, and from the spy shots it is a proper wagon, and not a shooting brake. And can someone explain to me how can money be saved on the development and marketing by delaying cars which had most of the development work completed and ready to be launch?

Then again once it arrives they are going to have to spend money on marketing it. So I can understand that. Maybe they just plan on testing it, but not putting it out tell later.

I really wanted to see the convertible though.

I doubt that they will delay the wagon, it's one of Mercedes' most important cars. Taxis, undertakers and ambulances are all patiently waiting for the new estate. It's will certainly be ready for frankfurt.

i smell bs when it comes to the wagon

I don't just smell it. I see it.

Or is it the two door wagen shown a few months ago?

And that is way more important then a Wagon E.

This all seems extremely lofty. The cabrio and the estate will both debut @ Frankfurt, otherwise mercedes will only have one major debut (SLS). The E cabrio will probabbly debut @ Frankfurt but not go on sale until march 2010. This "insider" saying that the estate will debut in 2012 is pure bs. A Frankfurt debut is likely.

Well it is on several websites so will see in September what really happens, but I highly doubt that they all have it wong.