Mercedes-Benz representatives stated that the company could have launched a coupe-styled SUV prior to the BMW X6.
A Mercedes-Benz representative has declared the company could have introduced a coupe-styled SUV before the BMW X6.
In 2008, the first generation BMW X6 was released. However, Mercedes-Benz launched a rival to the Bavarian SAV last year. Wolf-Dieter Kurz (Vice President Product Group SUVs and Sports Cars Mercedes-Benz) stated that they could have beat BMW to the market by producing a “SUV Coupe”, but instead, they focused on the Modular Front-wheel Drive Architecture (MFA).
Kurz believes that the company made the right decision, as the MFA-based Mercedes-Benz cars are selling very well. This is despite the fact that these models account for 28% of Mercedes-Benz total sales. Kurz stated that they had considered a coupe-ish SUV design in the early 2000s, which would have been produced before the X6.
Mercedes-Benz has a solution to the X6: The GLE Coupe, which will be joined by a GLC Coupe that rivals the X4. This is expected to arrive next year.