If we focus solely on sales volumes, it is this car, rather than the more prestigious S-Class, that could rightfully bear the title of the brand's flagship. The scale of the commercial triumph is truly impressive: the previous generation of the "E-class," produced since 2002, sold one and a half million units worldwide. And if we look back at the entire long history of the model, which started in 1947 with the index 170 V, the total number of buyers of cars with the letter "E" has reached approximately 12 million people.

The nickname "bug-eyed" is a thing of the past. The rounded twin headlights, which gave the car the features of a good-natured simpleton, have been replaced by two teardrop-shaped trapezoids that look much stricter and more aggressive. The hood with a pronounced stamping adds additional solidity and pressure to the new model. At the same time, the updated design has almost no effect on the body dimensions — the increase is literally a couple of centimeters in one direction or another.

The exterior changes have had a beneficial effect on aerodynamics: the drag coefficient has decreased to 0.25, which, in turn, helped reduce fuel appetite. Improving efficiency has become a real obsession for engineers from Stuttgart. The desire to reduce CO₂ emissions led to the appearance in the engine range of gasoline and diesel units with direct injection.

LUXURY ATMOSPHERE

Inside, there is a spacious and cozy cabin with new trim, as well as fresh front seats.

POTENTIAL IN NUMBERS

Under the hood of the new bestseller, there can be four, six, or eight cylinders. The output of the power units ranges from a modest 136 to an impressive 525 hp.

The key chapter in the development of the E-Class is the updated diesel line. It is here that the idea of "downsizing" is fully embodied: smaller displacement with higher performance. Three four-cylinder engines with direct injection, which have undergone serious modernization, are declared as the base. The starting position is occupied by a two-liter turbodiesel with 136 hp, followed by the 220 CDI (170 hp) and 250 CDI (204 hp) versions. The latter is especially notable: fuel consumption has decreased by a quarter compared to the old V6 and is only 5.3 liters per hundred. Instead of the 320 CDI modification, the 350 CDI with a three-liter engine producing 241 hp will appear.

Although Mercedes-Benz is now more willing to supply diesel cars to Russia, local buyers still prefer gasoline. The most affordable option is a four-cylinder 1.8-liter engine with turbocharging and direct injection. It will be offered in several power levels (from 184 to 204 hp). Paired with a six-speed manual transmission, such an engine consumes the stated 6.8 l/100 km, and in the top version with a five-speed automatic — 7.4 l/100 km. Higher in the hierarchy is a 3.5-liter V-shaped "six" (292 hp), and the gasoline range is topped by a 5.5-liter V8 producing 388 hp. They also did not forget about the charged E63 version from AMG with truly hurricane-like 525 hp!

Mercedes-Benz E-Class has always been a leader: it accounts for about 40% of sales in this segment

DEBUT OFFERS

Among other things, the E-Class will offer a number of innovative safety options. For an additional fee, the owner of the "E-class" will be able to install an automatic system that regulates the intensity of the headlights in real time depending on the road situation. A special camera located on the windshield controls the brightness of the beam.

A system that prevents the driver from falling asleep will be available as standard. It assesses the degree of concentration of a person behind the wheel and, if necessary, wakes him up with vibrations and sound signals that can hardly be called pleasant. Another already popular new feature is a hood with a deformable structure: in a collision with a pedestrian, it rises by 50 mm, reducing the severity of possible injuries. With a set of comfort options, everything is at the expected level: the base includes dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth interface, and an audio system with eight speakers.

THE FAMILY GROWS

Few people knew that the CLK coupe was based on the E-Class platform. Therefore, in Stuttgart, they decided to emphasize the significance of the sedan by uniting all models into a single family under the index "E." The name CLK will no longer be used. The coupe and convertible, the premiere of which will take place in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, will receive special stylistic adjustments both outside and inside. They will certainly borrow some elements from the Concept Fascination, shown last fall. The expansion of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class range will be completed by a station wagon, the debut of which is also scheduled for this fall.

Manufacturer's data

ENGINES

  • four-, six-, and eight-cylinder
  • power from 136 to 525 hp

TRANSMISSION

  • manual, 6 speeds or automatic, 5 ranges

DIMENSIONS (mm)

  • length — 4870
  • width — 1850
  • height — 1470