Mercedes-Benz USA's CEO Says Maybe On E-Class All-Terrain

The only way it seems that most automakers can make a case for selling a wagon is to make it into a pseudo off-roader with an increased ride height, body cladding, and all-wheel drive.

Mercedes-Benz isn't one of those manufacturers. Earlier in the year, Mercedes announced the new E-Class wagon for the U.S. It is your basic wagon design and will come with a 3.0L BiTurbo V6 and all-wheel drive.

But that doesn't mean Mercedes' U.S. office isn't considering bringing over the recently announced E-Class All-Terrain for Europe.

"We're still debating that and thinking about it. It's a very, very exciting vehicle, and we're taking a look at overall production, volumes that we have to have and business case and so on. So we'll see. Decision not finally made," Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Dietmar Exler said to Automotive News (Subscription Required).

If Mercedes' U.S. office can make a business case for the All-Terrain, Exler said it could be launched sometime next year.

The E-Class All-Terrain takes a standard E-Class wagon and increases the ride height by 1.14 inches. An adjustable air suspension system and revamped 4Matic all-wheel drive system help it tackle various off-road conditions. For the time being, the All-Terrain will come with a four-cylinder turbodiesel. A six-cylinder turbodiesel will come out later.

Pic Credit: Mercedes-Benz