Mercedes-Benz roadmap previews upcoming model plans

No less than 20 new models will be added across the brand’s line-up, including the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet siblings, facelifts for the GLA and S-Class, along with the highly-anticipated ute which will share numerous components with the current Nissan Navara.

Also planned for the next year are fully-electric (EV) versions of the Smart Fortwo, Cabrio and Forfour light cars - though we won’t see these in Australia anytime soon - along with more GT-badged sports cars, including GT C Roadster and Coupe variants, and what appears to be another GT R Coupe - even though Mercedes-AMG just revealed the GT R.

David McCarthy, Mercedes-Benz Australia’s senior PR manager, recently confirmed the local release of the ‘standard’ GT, slotting below the current GT S sole offering.

“But there is the forthcoming roadster version of the GT”, McCarthy added, which points to the GT C roadster, however the inclusion of the GT C Coupe in the timeline could also hint at a new model altogether.

The inclusion of an additional GT R coupe in the 2017 roadmap could also point to a ‘Black Series’ version of the GT supercar, after Tobias Moers, Mercedes-AMG chairman, said at the Goodwood Festival of Speed: “We are not done with Black Edition (branding) yet”, contradicting the speculation that ‘R’ would replace the Black Series nomenclature.

Interestingly, the most recent release of the roadmap document shows ‘GLA facelift’, however the image reported by website Carscoops includes a ‘GLA Coupe’ instead, which begs the question: was 'Coupe' an error, or is Mercedes now trying to keep a lid on its plans for a fastbacked GLA?

A GLA facelift would likely be a minor one, bringing the brand’s smallest SUV in line with the recent refreshes given to its A-Class and CLA siblings. Meanwhile, a GLA Coupe would further bolster Mercedes-Benz’s SUV line-up, which already features the GLC and GLE coupes.

The E-Class All Terrain confirms the company’s plans to add a jacked-up version of the E-Class wagon to take on the Audi A6 Allroad, pegged along the lines of a ‘semi-SUV’. Expect the tougher E-Class variant to feature Allroad-like raised suspension, rugged body panels, underbody protection and and increased ride-height.

Finally, a facelifted version of the S-Class limousine looks to be scheduled for a 2017 launch, following spy images of pre-production prototypes snapped earlier this year during cold-weather testing.

While these new models are scheduled for launch in 2017, it’s more than likely this timeline is for European releases, with Australian versions to follow afterwards. Expect most of the new Mercedes-Benz line-up to debut locally either late next year or early in 2018.

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