The race is on for the best-selling luxury carmaker in the United States for 2014 and as early as January, Mercedes-Benz is already leading against archrival BMW. Mercedes, which was the best-selling premium carmaker in the US in 2013, sold 22,604 vehicles in January, compared to BMW’s 18,253. Lexus, meanwhile, logged a 9-percent hike to 17,637 in January, boosted by the entry-level IS and the RX SUV.
Mercedes and BMW are among the luxury carmakers aiming to expand sales by launching lower-cost models. Bloomberg Industries expects sales of entry-level cars and SUVs to represent 67 percent of the US luxury market. Mercedes is seen to benefit from a full year of its CLA that starts at $29,900, a refreshed C class and a new GLA small SUV. BMW, meanwhile, is launching a 2-series coupe that starts at $33,025.
"That's where the growth is going to come from," Kevin Tynan, a Bloomberg Industries analyst remarked that entry level cars and SUVs are where the growth at luxury carmakers will come from. He added that as luxury carmaker get more significant penetration to the entry car and SUV market, “volumes will go up."
Mercedes’ sales in January were also boosted by a 37-percent hike for its S class while BMW’s were helped by a combined 34-percent surge for its 3 series and 4 series and a 26-percent jump for the 5 series. The number, however, excludes sales of Daimler's cargo vans and Smart cars and BMW's Mini brand since they aren't luxury vehicles. In 2013, Mercedes outsold BMW by just 3,254 vehicles.
The fourth generation of BMW’s sporty premium mid-size coupe – the new BMW 4-Series Coupe -- was elegantly previewed by the BMW 4-Series Coupe Concept that was unveiled to the global public at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The concept provided a glimpse into the evolutionary development of BMW's design language, which has heavily influenced the overall looks of the series-production model.
As penned, the new BMW 4-Series Coupe is an embodiment of the fusion between sporty dynamics and visual appeal. The new BMW 4-Series Coupe was styled to boast of dynamic on-the-road presence, unparalleled driving pleasure and stunning performance. Considered as the final chapter in the development of BMW's design language, the new BMW 4-Series Coupe features balanced proportions.
By donning the number “4” in its moniker, the premium mid-sized coupe enters a new era with new stand-alone design and sharper sporting dynamics and higher levels of exclusivity.
Moreover, its new nomenclature was meant to highlight its technical variation from the BMW 3-Series range. Furthermore, the new moniker allows BMW to clasp into the tradition set by the BMW 6-Series and BMW 8-Series Coupes.
Clearly differentiating the new BMW 4-Series Coupe from the outgoing BMW 3-Series Coupe are its dynamic proportions. With a length of 4,638 mm, height of 1,362 mm and a wheelbase of 2,810, the new BMW 4-Series Coupe features dynamically stretched coupe outline, as further defined by its long bonnet, short overhangs, set-back passenger compartment and flowing roofline. Compared to its predecessor, the new BMW 4-Series Coupe is longer by 26 mm and lower by 16 mm, while its wheelbase is longer by 20 mm.
