2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe a C-Class underneath?
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe is all-new for 2010, with sleeker, sportier proportions and improved efficiency and performance. The E-Class also weighs 400 pounds less than its sedan stable-mate, but not because of light weight materials. It's because the E-Class coupe is underpinned by the C-Class platform, produced in the same Bremen factory as the C-class, while the E-Class sedan is built in Sindelfingen.
So why not just make a two-door C-Class and base another coupe on the new E-Class architecture? Ernst Lieb, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, said the C-Class platform was used to give the E-Class Coupe improved performance characteristics. Changing the C to an E also enables Mercedes to charge over $48,050 to start; $50 less than the outgoing CLK350, but a whole lot more than a two-door C-Class. With its smaller proportions and lighter weight, using the C-Class platform also enables Mercedes to make the new E-Class Coupe far more efficient than its predecessor. The E250 diesel will deliver 36% better power while using 17% less fuel. Hat tip to Mike.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Darrell 10:40AM (5/19/2009)
figures, since I'd seen that it was closer in size to the C-Class and read that a lot of the interior parts are the same. I always thought that the CLS-Class was the E-Class "coupe" anyway
Reply
amade.ch 10:58AM (5/19/2009)
of course it is closer to the c-class, otherwise it would be more expensive than the e-class and not cheaper.
Reply
kzak 10:56AM (5/19/2009)
Seems like less value to me. That is like building a BMW 5 Series coupe on a 3 Series platform. I would expect a much lower price.
Reply
Tool 3:36PM (5/19/2009)
This is really a 3rd generation CLK with an E-class badge.
I like it, think Mercedes did a good job on it, but think it's a little deceptive to call it an E-class.
PJ 5:59PM (5/19/2009)
I'd forgive just about any move that nets a 400 lb weight savings. It's like adding 70 free hp!
Louis 11:22AM (5/19/2009)
Isn't this replacing the CLK. The CLK has always maintained the looks of the E-Class but on a C-Class platform.
Nothing new.
Reply
waiownsyou 2:09PM (5/19/2009)
Yeah but the CLK had a C in it, so technically, it's still a C-class. BMW wouldn't do that! Just ignore the 6 series on the 5 series platform, please.
MOD and ANGRY 2:18PM (5/19/2009)
Does anyone actually think MB Consumers will care? To a certain extent, you're just buying the hood ornament, as is with most german manufacturers. Don't get me wrong, god bless the old school 240D, but really? Do we really actually care? I think I'd be more pissed at the fact the Bluetec does have the nav screen pop up and say PEE IN ME when the urea cartridge is empty...
zamafir 2:17PM (5/19/2009)
Sure it's new, they've moved the car down to the price range of the A5 and 3 series. It's a lot cheaper than the CLK350 but slightly more expensive than the A5 while being damn near the same size in length, wheelbase, narrower in width, a little taller, and with less interior space than the A5. So the news is how this translates in sales now that it's firmly positioned against two better performing rivals with arguably more cohesive exteriors and interiors.
They’ve lowered their standards and positioned themselves against two exteremly well engineered competitors.
zamafir 2:19PM (5/19/2009)
" BMW wouldn't do that! Just ignore the 6 series on the 5 series platform, please."
waiownsyou you seem confused. the C class is a model BELOW the E class. Where BMW to pull this farce it would be the equivalent of basing the 6 series on the 3 series. No need to ignore the 6 series as it’s based on the 5 series and totally unrelated to a coupe based on a class below.
MJL 3:23PM (5/19/2009)
@waiownsyou Oh yeah, all Mercedes-Benzes with C's in them are SOOO totally C-class based, like the CL600
Paul Tan 8:10AM (5/21/2009)
@waiownsyou so does the CLS.
el_ 2:18PM (5/19/2009)
@ waiownsyou
CLK name has nothing to do with C-class. K stands for "kleine" in german, which means "small". The same goes with GLK - GL and SLK - SL :)
Reply
Ben 2:29PM (5/19/2009)
Holy crap, the naming system actually makes sense now.
The CLK is a small CL, the GLK is a small GL, and the SLK is a small SL. Only took me about a decade to make that connection. I'm a moron.
Axel 2:56PM (5/19/2009)
The "K" in CLK, GLK, SLK stands for "Kompakt" (compact) not "Klein"/"Kleine"/whatever.
benzaholic 3:03PM (5/19/2009)
I miss the days when K stood for Kompressor, which they conveniently included on the first SLKs, presumably just to confuse us all.
Also, as a fan of old school Benz nomenclature (not stone age, just 70s and 80s), can anyone enlighten us as to the current meaning of the C and L, or the G and L, or the S and L?
el_ 3:22PM (5/19/2009)
@ Axel
kk, u may be right :) but kompakt still means kinda small, so I wasn't that wrong :)
Javanese 6:39PM (5/19/2009)
@ benzaholic
I'm pretty sure the S stand for saloon and L stand for licht. As for the G I think it's a short for gelandenwagen which according to the translator means support dare. I guess it means if you "dare" to go off-road the car/4x4 will "support" you. GL probably means something smaller than G class.
I always thought C stands for compact...
namso 7:46PM (5/19/2009)
Actually, K stands for Kurz: short.
Think about it.
010111 2:40PM (5/19/2009)
"With its smaller proportions and lighter weight, using the C-Class platform also enables Mercedes to make the new E-Class Coupe far more efficient than its predecessor."
huh? the CLK always did use the C-class platform. so if the CLK was the E-Coupes predecessor... how does doing the same exact thing somehow lead to new results? might it be that it is more efficient due to new platform advances in general and really have nothing to do with using the C-class platform... as that was always done to begin with?
Reply