Benz plans X1 rival

Rumours of a sub-GLK SUV from the three pointed star have begun to crystalise.

Since the Carsales Network revealed the latest spy photos for the next-generation B-Class, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the platform for the new car will also underpin a number of other front-drive models and will be coded MFA.

Now there's further word on what one of those derivatives might be, courtesy of Horst von Sanden, MD for Mercedes passenger cars in Australia. According to von Sanden, Mercedes-Benz has a competitor in the works for BMW's X1 and the Audi Q3, but information on the new vehicle is scant.

"At this stage, we are just about to go to Stuttgart in April -- the worldwide sales organisation," von Sanden told the Carsales Network during the launch of the new G-Class this week.

"A lot of these things are kept secret for a long period of time, of course. So in April, when we have our end of product forum, we'll probably see more details about the future direction."

"We do know that on that MFA platform -- which is only an internal name -- there will be a whole number of variants and it is quite likely that one of them would be a kind of SUV-type compact [model]."

Unlike BMW's X1 then, the Benz compact SUV would presumably feature an engine turned transversely. Whether that means there'll be front-wheel drive models as well as all-wheel drive versions remains unknown, although the X1 is a precedent for offering the market that sort of choice.

The B-Class (pictured here as the BlueZero concept car) is due here next year, von Sanden explained, but currently there's little information available concerning future product to be built on the new front-drive platform.

One thing that is as sure as anything can be, the larger GLK in its next generation will definitely be sold in Australia and will be built on the MRA platform. The current model sold overseas is built on the W203 C-Class platform, so a rear-wheel drive default will likely continue for the new model.

"The GLK successor, we will definitely get that," said von Sanden. "That is basically the new version of the GLK -- and it is rear-wheel drive now."

GLK has been a sore point between the local arm and the parent company, with Australian management petitioning and lobbying Stuttgart for right-hand drive versions to sell here. It has even reached the stage of Mercedes-Benz Chairman, Dr Dieter Zetsche, personally explaining to Australian journalists in Frankfurt two years ago why the small SUV wouldn't make it to Australia in the current generation.

Which of the two SUVs will be more important to Benz in Australia? While von Sanden is non-committal, he's not concerned that C-Class Estate buyers might gravitate away from the wagon to one of the SUVs. As long as they stay within the brand, it doesn't matter...

"Ideally I would love to have everything here that is available worldwide. The customers become more and more sophisticated in their expectations and I think every kind of model that is available in the market -- every kind of concept -- we should be part of that as well.

"With every model we expand our range, there is a certain substitution, but at the end the biggest part of it is always incremental business. This is part of our business case calculations, when we look at a certain percentage of substitution. If you don't have a certain model, of course, then some customers might go for one up or whatever... sideways...

"We talk a little bit about customer first; for us it is important to offer everything we can..."

"For simplicity and less complexity it would be much easier. Our sales reps would be happy with a small range, but there's no option. We just need to stay attractive to our customers and find new ones as well."

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