Karmann C-Class Convertible?

Gavin · 09-24-2009, 01:53 PM

I remember reading about this when it was first displayed in 2001 by Karmann, the company who builds the convertible mechanisms for the CLK and the Audi A4/S4 convertible. Supposedly it was based on the C 320 model with a V6, though it's nearly impossible to find any information about the car now that 8 years have passed since the reveal. Anyway, later in 2001, Mercedes decided not to produce the car because they feared it would cannibalize too many sales from the SLK and CLK. I've attached all four of the official pictures and Karmann's original press release. Opinions?

Gavin · 09-24-2009, 02:04 PM

Wilhelm Karmann GmbH Press Information
27th February 2001 71st International Motor Show, Palexpo Geneva

Karmann presents:
The convertible concept car of the Mercedes-Benz C Class Sportscoupé
Wilhelm Karmann GmbH is starting the 100th year of the company with a concept car

Geneva/Osnabrück - 27th February 2001
Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, which is headquartered in Osnabrück, Germany, is starting the 100th anniversary of its founding with an eye-catching interpretation of the topic "convertible": the supplier that is famous worldwide is introducing an open version of the sports coupe of the Mercedes-Benz C Class as a concept car on the occasion of the 71st International Motor Show in Geneva. For Rainer Thieme, chairman of the executive board at Karmann, it is "convincing proof of the capabilities of our company, our technical competence and another example of the lasting successful relationship between the two companies". This concept car is the first of two individual studies that Wilhelm Karmann GmbH is to introduce to the public in the course of the centenary year of 2001.

The new Mercedes-Benz Sportcoupé of the C Class that was introduced to the public for the first time in autumn 2000 in Paris by DaimlerChrysler is the basis of the concept car that Wilhelm Karmann GmbH developed.

The concept car that is being introduced in Geneva was produced by staff from Karmann's design Studio and specialists of the "Technical Development" division, being changed into an open four-passenger while carefully preserving the powerful and distinctive lines of the bodywork of the C Class Sportscoupé. Among others, this included reinforcement of the A-pillar, the sills and the floor section specifically for a convertible.

The Karmann concept car has a soft top that can be closed with a one-handed interlock and can be stowed away electro-hydraulically behind the rear seat. Of course, the wedge-shaped body design that gives the Mercedes-Benz Sportscoupé of the C Class its unmistakably sporty appearance is also retained when the soft top is closed.

Four passengers have room inside the Karmann concept car - in the same way as in the original from DaimlerChrysler, while the seat coverings in the front and rear were chosen to match the soft top and to emphasise the typical Mercedes overall impression.
Rainer Thieme, chairman of the executive board: "We wanted to demonstrate in a special way evidence of the high level of capability of the Technical development and Design divisions on the occasion of the 100th year of the founding of our company". Thieme continued, "We have developed and built this convertible precisely in order to set a trend at Geneva".

The fact that the Karmann concept car can nonetheless still bear the Mercedes star is due to the many years of successful cooperation be-tween the two companies based on complete trust.

The Mercedes-Benz CLK has been rolling off the assembly lines in Osnabrück since 1997; more than 66,000 units have been produced so far to order. Since 2000 the Mercedes-Benz CLK Coupé has also come from Karmann, who have built more than 10,000 vehicles of this type so far. There are also close connections between DaimlerChrysler and Wilhelm Karmann GmbH as partners in the develop-ment and production of components; a current example is the Mercedes-Benz SLK, for which Wilhelm Karmann GmbH was involved to a large extent in the production and delivery of components.

The convertible study by Karmann on the basis of the Mercedes-Benz C class Sportscoupé
Dimensions
Vehicle height: 1427 mm
Vehicle width: 1728 mm
Vehicle width incl. external mirror: 2000 mm
Track width front: 1494 mm
Track width rear: 1467 mm
Vehicle length: 4343 mm
Wheelbase: 2715 mm
Overhang front: 788 mm
Overhang rear: 775 mm

Trunk volume
Top closed: 280 volume liters
Top open: 190 volume liters

Height inside
Front seats 997 mm
Rear bench seat 947 mm
Shoulder room front 1341 mm
Shoulder room rear 1166 mm
Elbow room front 1400 mm
Elbow room rear 1166 mm

Technical product description

Body
- A-pillars, sills and floor assembly reinforced specifically for a convertible
- trunk lid with blackened tonneau cover
- no lid for the soft top stowage
- wedge-shaped bodywork similar to the CL 203

Soft top
- traditional folding soft top
- semi-automatic (hydraulic) soft top folding mechanism
- soft top material / new design
- wedge-shaped look through sporty soft top design
- soft top cover integrated into the overall shape

Trunk
- variable soft top stowage

Interior
- 4 seats
- rear bench seat all the way across, with no armrests
- seat coverings front / back match the material of the soft top
- 4 step window winders

bzerp03 · 09-29-2009, 11:07 PM

You know I never really liked the C coupe, but this thing actually looks great! its too bad they never put it into production, especially now that BMW is doing something similar with the 1-series coupe.

TomsMerc · 10-04-2009, 01:07 AM

It's funny this came out so long ago... Now BMW is doing the same thing with the 1-series (while still producing the 3-series cabrio) and now Audi is doing it too with that new A3 cabriolet that came out last year.

Fourtitude.com Audi A3 Cabriolet Gallery

StillTheBestCar · 10-05-2009, 05:15 PM

The design for this Karmann C-Class is quite a beauty to look at, and I can't help but feel a little sad that Mercedes elected not to go ahead with production on this one, and I really don't think it would have cannibalized sales as much as Mercedes apparently feared that it would. There was enough different with the Karmann to have a place on the market I think, but apparently Mercedes disagreed with me.

TomsMerc · 10-06-2009, 12:25 AM

Considering all the model overlap at BMW (the X6/X5/5 Series GT, the X3/X1, the 3 cabrio/1 cabrio/Z4) and the nearly identical A and B Class Mercedes, its funny this never made it. Besides, they even made that horrendous R class and the dreadful 1st generation ML (ok, ok, only the first couple years were actually terrible); its sad this never got a chance, because I'm certain it would have been a success and could have given the CL203 a much better chance in America. It would have been a great competitor to the Mini too.

StillTheBestCar · 10-06-2009, 10:17 PM

Mercedes has usually made a lot of sound business decisions, but every once in a while...you can't help but feel that they maybe missed an opportunity on something. Such was the case with the Karmann C-Class Convertible in my opinion, although it's hard to say for sure when the car was never released. Maybe Mercedes knew something that I didn't or noticed some potential conflicts or issues, that people outside the company wouldn't have picked up on?

mamah · 10-22-2009, 11:25 AM

That is a beautiful car. And I agree it`s a shame they never put it on the market. They might be regretting it now. Do you think they may reconsider some day and decide to market it?

TomsMerc · 10-23-2009, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamah

That is a beautiful car. And I agree it`s a shame they never put it on the market. They might be regretting it now. Do you think they may reconsider some day and decide to market it?

There's probably a 100% chance that no version of this will ever make it to production. First off, the C Class sportcoupe has been redesigned and renamed the CLC Class. Second, considering that the Audi A3 convertible has been rather unsuccessful, I doubt Mercedes would even bother with it.

mamah · 10-23-2009, 10:31 AM

Oh well. It so nice though. You know I used to think of a Mercedes-Benz as an old persons car. Big, ugly lol. I never knew they made awesome looking cars. Shows ya how much I know lol.

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09-24-2009, 02:04 PM	#2
Gavin Administrator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 90	Wilhelm Karmann GmbH Press Information 27th February 2001 71st International Motor Show, Palexpo Geneva Karmann presents: The convertible concept car of the Mercedes-Benz C Class Sportscoupé Wilhelm Karmann GmbH is starting the 100th year of the company with a concept car Geneva/Osnabrück - 27th February 2001 Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, which is headquartered in Osnabrück, Germany, is starting the 100th anniversary of its founding with an eye-catching interpretation of the topic "convertible": the supplier that is famous worldwide is introducing an open version of the sports coupe of the Mercedes-Benz C Class as a concept car on the occasion of the 71st International Motor Show in Geneva. For Rainer Thieme, chairman of the executive board at Karmann, it is "convincing proof of the capabilities of our company, our technical competence and another example of the lasting successful relationship between the two companies". This concept car is the first of two individual studies that Wilhelm Karmann GmbH is to introduce to the public in the course of the centenary year of 2001. The new Mercedes-Benz Sportcoupé of the C Class that was introduced to the public for the first time in autumn 2000 in Paris by DaimlerChrysler is the basis of the concept car that Wilhelm Karmann GmbH developed. The concept car that is being introduced in Geneva was produced by staff from Karmann's design Studio and specialists of the "Technical Development" division, being changed into an open four-passenger while carefully preserving the powerful and distinctive lines of the bodywork of the C Class Sportscoupé. Among others, this included reinforcement of the A-pillar, the sills and the floor section specifically for a convertible. The Karmann concept car has a soft top that can be closed with a one-handed interlock and can be stowed away electro-hydraulically behind the rear seat. Of course, the wedge-shaped body design that gives the Mercedes-Benz Sportscoupé of the C Class its unmistakably sporty appearance is also retained when the soft top is closed. Four passengers have room inside the Karmann concept car - in the same way as in the original from DaimlerChrysler, while the seat coverings in the front and rear were chosen to match the soft top and to emphasise the typical Mercedes overall impression. Rainer Thieme, chairman of the executive board: "We wanted to demonstrate in a special way evidence of the high level of capability of the Technical development and Design divisions on the occasion of the 100th year of the founding of our company". Thieme continued, "We have developed and built this convertible precisely in order to set a trend at Geneva". The fact that the Karmann concept car can nonetheless still bear the Mercedes star is due to the many years of successful cooperation be-tween the two companies based on complete trust. The Mercedes-Benz CLK has been rolling off the assembly lines in Osnabrück since 1997; more than 66,000 units have been produced so far to order. Since 2000 the Mercedes-Benz CLK Coupé has also come from Karmann, who have built more than 10,000 vehicles of this type so far. There are also close connections between DaimlerChrysler and Wilhelm Karmann GmbH as partners in the develop-ment and production of components; a current example is the Mercedes-Benz SLK, for which Wilhelm Karmann GmbH was involved to a large extent in the production and delivery of components. The convertible study by Karmann on the basis of the Mercedes-Benz C class Sportscoupé Dimensions Vehicle height: 1427 mm Vehicle width: 1728 mm Vehicle width incl. external mirror: 2000 mm Track width front: 1494 mm Track width rear: 1467 mm Vehicle length: 4343 mm Wheelbase: 2715 mm Overhang front: 788 mm Overhang rear: 775 mm Trunk volume Top closed: 280 volume liters Top open: 190 volume liters Height inside Front seats 997 mm Rear bench seat 947 mm Shoulder room front 1341 mm Shoulder room rear 1166 mm Elbow room front 1400 mm Elbow room rear 1166 mm Technical product description Body - A-pillars, sills and floor assembly reinforced specifically for a convertible - trunk lid with blackened tonneau cover - no lid for the soft top stowage - wedge-shaped bodywork similar to the CL 203 Soft top - traditional folding soft top - semi-automatic (hydraulic) soft top folding mechanism - soft top material / new design - wedge-shaped look through sporty soft top design - soft top cover integrated into the overall shape Trunk - variable soft top stowage Interior - 4 seats - rear bench seat all the way across, with no armrests - seat coverings front / back match the material of the soft top - 4 step window winders

09-29-2009, 11:07 PM	#3
bzerp03 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 81	You know I never really liked the C coupe, but this thing actually looks great! its too bad they never put it into production, especially now that BMW is doing something similar with the 1-series coupe.

10-04-2009, 01:07 AM	#4
TomsMerc Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: McKeesport, PA Posts: 77	It's funny this came out so long ago... Now BMW is doing the same thing with the 1-series (while still producing the 3-series cabrio) and now Audi is doing it too with that new A3 cabriolet that came out last year. Fourtitude.com Audi A3 Cabriolet Gallery

10-05-2009, 05:15 PM	#5
StillTheBestCar Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 22	The design for this Karmann C-Class is quite a beauty to look at, and I can't help but feel a little sad that Mercedes elected not to go ahead with production on this one, and I really don't think it would have cannibalized sales as much as Mercedes apparently feared that it would. There was enough different with the Karmann to have a place on the market I think, but apparently Mercedes disagreed with me.

10-06-2009, 12:25 AM	#6
TomsMerc Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: McKeesport, PA Posts: 77	Considering all the model overlap at BMW (the X6/X5/5 Series GT, the X3/X1, the 3 cabrio/1 cabrio/Z4) and the nearly identical A and B Class Mercedes, its funny this never made it. Besides, they even made that horrendous R class and the dreadful 1st generation ML (ok, ok, only the first couple years were actually terrible); its sad this never got a chance, because I'm certain it would have been a success and could have given the CL203 a much better chance in America. It would have been a great competitor to the Mini too.

10-06-2009, 10:17 PM	#7
StillTheBestCar Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 22	Mercedes has usually made a lot of sound business decisions, but every once in a while...you can't help but feel that they maybe missed an opportunity on something. Such was the case with the Karmann C-Class Convertible in my opinion, although it's hard to say for sure when the car was never released. Maybe Mercedes knew something that I didn't or noticed some potential conflicts or issues, that people outside the company wouldn't have picked up on?

10-22-2009, 11:25 AM	#8
mamah Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 25	That is a beautiful car. And I agree it`s a shame they never put it on the market. They might be regretting it now. Do you think they may reconsider some day and decide to market it?

10-23-2009, 10:31 AM	#10
mamah Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 25	Oh well. It so nice though. You know I used to think of a Mercedes-Benz as an old persons car. Big, ugly lol. I never knew they made awesome looking cars. Shows ya how much I know lol.