Mercedes set to introduce ten new models in 2016

By Gerry Murphy

As enquiries in garage showrooms look to be reaching levels not seen in Ireland for years, car makers are falling over themselves trying to win the hearts and the wallets of potential buyers. Talk in the corridors of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry is of further growth, added to the 30% rise already in 2015.

Premium brands are anticipating even stronger growth and 2016 promises to be another busy year is predicted by Mercedes-Benz with 10 new model introductions scheduled. They have a waft of new model on the way to back up quite a few new arrival this year.

As 2016 breaks, the first few months will see six new models arrive. Arguably, the most important of these will be a new E-Class saloon that, along with the C-Class range, accounts for the lion’s share of total Mercedes-Benz sales here.

Other early arrivals will be the stylish new C-Class Coupé; a GLS luxury SUV (replacing the GL); plus three models likely to appeal to those with a sporty eye – a new SL, SLC (which replaces the SLK) and S-Class Cabriolet.

Arriving towards mid-year will be an up-styled CLA, a new C-Class Cabriolet, and a new CLC Coupé, followed in the second six months by an all-new E-Class Estate.

Pointing to the fact that 2016 will see a continuation of what has been the most active period of new model development in Mercedes-Benz history, their sales manager in Ireland, Ciaran Allen predicts that, when the next 12 months have passed, the luxury car maker will have established what he terms “an unrivalled presence” in virtually every model segment with a particular emphasis on those that he says “ooze youth appeal, elegance and sportiness”.