Mercedes Car Group has totally
revamped its E-Class range for 2007, with new powerplants, new styling, a striong emphasis on safety, and even more
luxury.
The next-generation E-Class hits European showrooms in early June, followed a few weeks later by its
U.S. launch. With a mind-boggling 29 model variants – 16 sedans and 13 estates – Mercedes-Benz aims to blanket the
E-Class’s market segment with greater variety and more features than any of its competitors.
Touting the new
E-Class as the safest vehicle in its class, Mercedes-Benz has incorporated a host of safety features, including its
PRE-SAFE system which activates safety systems when it anticipates an accident, and electronically-controlled NECK-PRO
headrests, both included as standard. The new E-Class also marks the world premiere of Mercedes’ new adaptive headlight
system.
In the performance department, Mercedes has added a little spice to the E-Class’s luxury with the
5.5-liter V8 from the S-Class, providing 388 hp. Luxury car buyers in an even greater hurry will be pleased to know
that a 514 hp E 63 AMG will be offered – the most powerful E-Class ever built. Official press release and more pictures
after the jump.
[Source: DaimlerChrysler]
Official Press
Release:
The
new generation E-Class: more dynamic, safer, more powerful and even better value-for-money
Stuttgart, Apr 11, 2006
After four years in production and around a million vehicles sold, Mercedes-Benz is
presenting the new generation of its world-beating E-Class. Some 2000 parts in the E-Class are new or further
developments. The Saloon and Estate boast new bodystyling, which is even more dynamic, poised and assured than before.
The E-Class is once again setting the benchmark as the technology trendsetter. No other car in this market segment can
match the range of safety innovations including PRE-SAFE®, Intelligent Light System, NECK-PRO head restraints and
adaptive brake lights. These extensive safety features make the E-Class the safest car in its class. The DIRECT CONTROL
package, with more direct steering and a retuned suspension, and six new or enhanced engines take agility and driving
pleasure to new heights. Maintaining the same level of fuel economy, these engines develop up to 26 percent more output
and 18 percent more torque. The prices for the four and six-cylinder models remain unchanged despite the more extensive
standard specification.
The E-Class was the No. 1 archetypal executive saloon in Western Europe in 2005,
accounting for 30 percent of the market. In Germany 38 percent of all buyers of premium models chose the E-Class
Saloon, helping maintain the Saloon’s position as German market leader for four years running. Worldwide
Mercedes-Benz has sold around a million vehicles from the current E-Class line-up since spring 2002 – 860,000 Saloons
and 140,000 Estates.
For over 60 years the E-Class and its predecessors have been the “heart”
of Mercedes-Benz, representing basic brand values like safety, comfort, innovation, economy and quality. Since 1946
Mercedes-Benz has delivered some ten million luxury sedans to customers all over the world.
In June 2006
the E-Class will be unveiled with an even more dynamic concept, additional pioneering innovations and an upgraded
standard specification.
29 model variants will be available – 16 Saloons and 13 Estates. As such,
Mercedes-Benz will be offering the largest, most varied model range in this market segment. With outputs ranging from
100 kW/136 hp to 378 kW/ 514 hp, the new generation E-Class outpaces the previous model range (90 kW/122 hp to 350
kW/476 hp) and its competitors.
A revamped front-end design reflects the dynamism, power, poise and
assurance of the new generation E-Class. The bumper and radiator grille feature a pronounced V-shape, which epitomises
power and forward motion. Mercedes Benz has enhanced the familiar twin-headlamp face of the E-Class by adding
transparent louvres to the top section of the headlamps, producing a striking light effect when switched on. And for
the first time white LEDs have been used as parking lights. Mercedes-Benz has further accentuated the dynamic
appearance of the E Class on all model variants with side skirts and rear bumper in the AVANTGARDE design.
Inside, the new generation model differs from the outgoing model with new eye-catching colours, a new four-spoke
steering wheel featuring elliptical thumb-operated buttons and a new control unit for the standard-fit THERMATIC
automatic climate control. The Mercedes designers have also redefined the coordinated colour schemes, upholstery and
materials; for the AVANTGARDE line in particular there are two new colours (cognac brown and sahara beige), which add
an extra touch of refinement in conjunction with the black roof lining.
Safety: setting the standards in
the premium segment with PRE-SAFE® and other innovations
Pioneering innovations help the E-Class
continue to set the pace of passenger car safety in its market segment: Saloon and Estate are equipped as standard with
the anticipatory PRE-SAFE® system whose “reflexes” respond before an impending collision by activating
protection measures for the driver and front passenger. As a result, the seatbelt and airbag provide maximum protection
in the event of a collision. PRE-SAFE®, a world first which went into series production in the S-Class in 2002 and
since then has received numerous international awards, heralds the start of a new era in vehicle safety. No other
premium-class model can offer this kind of anticipatory protection system.
The standard-fit NECK-PRO head
restraints on the E-Class are equally unique. During a rear impact the sensor-controlled head restraints are moved
forward to provide protection for the driver’s and front passenger’s heads within milliseconds. The
crash-responsive head restraints prevent the upper spinal column from bending as a result of the accident, reducing the
risk of whiplash injuries, one of the most common accident injuries costing around eight billion euros annually in the
European Union.
Mercedes-Benz is fitting the new generation E-Class with flashing brake lights to prevent
rear-end collisions. They warn the drivers behind more effectively than conventional brake lights when there is a risk
of an accident. Tests conducted by Mercedes engineers show that the drivers’ braking reaction time can be
shortened on average by up to 0.2 seconds if a flashing warning light is used during emergency braking. As a result,
the braking distance can be reduced by 5.50 metres at 100 km/h.
Mercedes-Benz has also consistently
fine-tuned the occupant safety features on the E-Class. The Saloon and Estate meet the most stringent international
crash standards such as the U.S. 80 km/h rear impact test or the new U.S. side crash test, which simulates a collision
with a heavy off-road vehicle. To date, the E-Class has completed some 330 crash tests as part of ongoing improvements
to vehicle safety.
Intelligent Light System: world premiere of new headlamp technology
The
new generation E-Class is the first vehicle to feature adaptive headlamps, which respond to the prevailing driving and
weather conditions providing a significant improvement in driving safety. The Intelligent Light System, available as an
option for the Saloon and Estate, is based on the powerful bi-xenon headlamps and includes five different lighting
functions: the new country mode provides brighter, further illumination of the offside verge than the previous low-beam
headlamps. Here the driver’s range of vision is increased by around ten metres, which allows him to recognise
other road users or obstacles earlier in the dark. The motorway mode, activated automatically at speeds above 90 km/h,
produces an even light cone that extends to a range of up to 120 metres, illuminating the entire road width. In the
centre of this light cone the driver can see around 50 metres further. Thanks to the enhanced fog lamps, also part of
the new Intelligent Light System, Mercedes-Benz has also improved orientation in fog whilst reducing backglare.
The engineers in Sindelfingen have further developed and improved the Active Light System, which Mercedes-Benz
unveiled in the E-Class in spring 2003. Another component of the Intelligent Light System is the cornering light
function, which provides enhanced safety when turning at intersections or taking bends slowly.
Diesel
engines: noticeably more output from the four-cylinder engines
Six of the 10 engines in the new generation
E-Class are new or further developments. They provide up to 60 kW/82 hp more output and up to 70 Nm more torque.
Nonetheless the fuel consumption figures remain on a par with the exemplary level of the outgoing models: one in three
Mercedes models sporting an “E” on the model badge uses less than eight litres of fuel per 100 kilometres;
the average fuel consumption of all body and drive variants in the line-up from the E 200 CDI to the E 500 is just nine
litres per 100 kilometres. As such, the E Class will continue to build on one of its outstanding features: economy.
The Mercedes engineers have optimised the four-cylinder diesel engines in the E 200 CDI and E 220 CDI right
down to the last detail. Over 90 components in the CDI engines are new or further developments. All these measures add
up to a substantial advance in terms of output, torque and smoother running. While fuel consumption remains
consistently low at just 6.3 litres per 100 kilometres, the output of the E 200 CDI has been increased by 10 kW/14 hp
to 100 kW/136 hp. Maximum torque has been increased from 270 to 340 Nm.
Balancer shafts in the crankcase,
standard specification also on the E 200 CDI, provide the sort of smooth-running characteristics more readily
associated with a six-cylinder engine.
The new E 220 CDI develops a maximum output of 125 kW/170 hp and
maximum torque of 400 Nm, around 14 and 18 percent respectively more than the outgoing model. Fuel consumption remains
at the same low level of 6.3 litres per 100 kilometres (Estate: 7.1 l/100 km). Meanwhile the new six-cylinder diesel
engine in the E 320 CDI (165 kW/ 224 hp) now provides even more torque: peak torque has been increased from 510 to 540
Nm.
In the USA the E-Class in the guise of the E 320 CDI since 2004 is the first diesel model in the
premium-class segment in the USA. From model year 2007 Mercedes-Benz intends to launch the first diesel production
vehicle in the USA with the trailblazing BLUETEC technology, which will provide further remarkable reductions in
nitrogen oxide emissions. The future E 320 BLUETEC will be the world’s cleanest diesel, using 20 to 40 percent
less fuel than comparable petrol-engined vehicles. In Europe Mercedes-Benz plans to launch BLUETEC in a passenger car
model by 2008.
Petrol engines: more powerful supercharged engine and new eight-cylinder engine
When it came to the petrol engines, the Mercedes engines paid particular attention to the four and eight-cylinder
variants. The four-cylinder engine in the E 200 KOMPRESSOR delivers 12.5 percent more output than before: 135 kW/184
hp. At the same time, maximum torque has been increased to 250 Nm.
From mid-2006, the E-Class engine range
will be headed by the newly developed 5.5-litre eight-cylinder engine from the S-Class with an output of 285 kW/388 hp.
Compared with the previous V8, the new engine delivers 26 percent more output. At 530 Nm the torque also comfortably
exceeds the maximum for the preceding engine by around 15 percent. The new E 500 delivers the performance profile of a
sports car: the Saloon accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds, 0.7 seconds faster than the previous E
500.
The new E 63 AMG from the Mercedes-AMG stable is fitted with a naturally aspirated V8 engine
delivering 378 kW/514 hp and maximum torque of 630 Nm. The E 63 AMG is the most powerful E-Class of all times.
DIRECT CONTROL: package for even more dynamic driving pleasure
The new generation of the successful
Mercedes model series looks more dynamic, delivers more power and also offers even more agile handling. DIRECT CONTROL
makes this possible: with this standard-fit package the Mercedes engineers have made remarkable progress in terms of
handling dynamics, without compromising the combination of safety and long-distance comfort, the consistent hallmark of
the E-Class Saloon and Estate.
Increasing the direct steering by around 10 percent makes the E Class more
responsive to steering movements. Nonetheless the E-Class continues to reassure drivers with its superb handling safety
and stability. Newly developed spring link bearings also support lateral forces more effectively when cornering and
enhance the neutral cornering characteristics of the Saloon and Estate still more. The ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE models
also come with rebound buffer springs, which effectively limit body roll when cornering. The DIRECT CONTROL package
also includes a new gearshift linkage system for the six-speed manual transmission for high gearshifting comfort and
precision.
The ADAPTIVE BRAKE system is taken from the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and provides new safety
and comfort features thanks to the electronic control of the hydraulic dual-circuit brakes. An automatic tyre pressure
loss warning system also forms part of the extended standard equipment on the E-Class.