Today Mercedes completes its sedan refresh that started with the S-Class, focused on the smaller C-Class last year and finally makes its way the middle child E-Class at this year’s North American International Auto Show. The family resemblance is crystal clear outside and in with the same quality materials and artful design embellishments that debuted on the S 550 finding a home in the E-Class cabin. That means there is a giant 12.3″ high-resolution screen in the center of the dash and potentially two of them side by side on certain trim levels. Mercedes is particularly proud with the seat design and the news touch pad controls on the steering wheel that let you swipe up and down, left and right to control certain infotainment functions. A 9-speed automatic handles shifting duties in the E300 that hits dealers first in the US market. These cars are powered by a 241 hp 2.0-liter turbo, although the lineup will rapidly expand all the way up to a new hooligan-approved E63 AMG model.
We’ve rarely seen an entire model range replaced in a single auto show, especially one as broad as the E-Class, but that’s exactly what Mercedes did at the North American International Auto Show. We saw the new E-Class sedan, wagon, coupe, cabriolet and AMG-tuned E63 bow in a matter of minutes and we unanimously liked what we saw. The powertrain offerings widen with the addition of a new four cylinder diesel and the E63 now offers up to 585 hp. After that mighty beast the diesel is what we’re most excited about. It’ll arrive in the Fall and offer 369 lb-ft of torque sent through the same updated 7-speed automatic as the rest of the lineup. No fuel efficiency estimates were released but they should be pretty impressive when considering what the outgoing V6 diesel offered. All wheel drive remains an option under most circumstances and is the new default for the E63, which would have struggled to make use of all that power with rear wheel drive only. Unfortunately, it appears COMAND carries over relatively intact, which means we’re in for another few years of dreading changing the radio station. Read more…
We Americans like our stereotypes. For instance, everyone knows the English have bad teeth, the Chinese are short and the French are cheese-eating cowards (OK, that one may be true). Likewise, nobody argues with the American perception that diesel cars clatter like a junior high band, are slower than a chess tournament and smoke like the Marlboro Man. Except Mercedes-Benz, who has been changing consumers’ opinions one test drive at a time since the E320 CDI debuted as a 2005 model. Read more…
