Tuesday 17th February 2009

E-Class Coupe

New Mercedes changes shape of line-up

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Mercedes has released details of a new coupe that changes the shape of the lin-up over at the three-pointed star.

The E-Class coupe in-effect replaces the CLK, but whereas the older car slotted into the range somewhere between the C and E-class, the different ranges are now more clearly defined.

The new model will sit above last year's C-Class Sport coupe, meaning both C and E-class will have a relevant coupe. The E-Class coupe emphasises its affiliation with the E-Class with a stronger emphasis on luxury, and flouts an impressive array of features, much of which are standard-fit rather than pricey optional extras.

The standard gadgets include an accident-prevention system called 'PRE-SAFE', a radar distance-sensing system called 'DISTRONIC', two automatic emergency braking systems called 'Brake Assist PLUS' and 'Pre-Safe Braking', as well as an 'Active Bonnet' that adjusts if it thinks it's about to hit a pedestrian.

Should all of this assistance make things too easy, the coupe also gets a sleep-detection system called 'ATTENTION ASSIST', which measures over 70 parameters to detect if the driver is dozing off. But rather than reducing power, vigorously shaking the driver or a serving him/her a convenient double-espresso, the system merely requests politely that you pull over. And if you dare defy it, it'll - erm - ask again. So there.

The four main engines for the car are all 4-cylinder lumps carrying the 'BlueEFFICIENCY' moniker, with impressive MPG figures helped by other clever bits, such as on-demand power steering and fuel-pump activation. There is also an alternator control system, low rolling-resistance tires and the car's excellent drag coefficient of 0.24 - apparently the lowest of any mass-production car on sale when it hits dealerships this June.

The range-topping E-500 Coupe sounds exciting, with 388bhp and 391 lb/ft of torque on offer, and an optional AMG bodykit for those so inclined. Prices are as-yet unconfirmed, but will probably be higher than the CLK in accordance with the E-Class affiliation of the new coupe.

 

[Bladedancer]

Looks like Mercedes wants to have every combination of class-bodystyle possible.
They seem to combine their favourite letters C, S and E with CL, SL in strange ways.
What's next? Off-road coupe named MLK? O maybe family MPV combined with performance coupe named RCL?
But seriously, don't you think that after that CLC Merc model range is a bit confusing? They have mode models than Toyota. What is the purpose of introducing another car into the range?
I know they used to have a W124 coupe but they've added so many cars since then it doesn't make much sense to me to just bloat the line-up.

Edited by Bladedancer on Tuesday 17th February 12:38

[_dobbo_]

Bladedancer - the letter C, S, E etc all have a specific meaning, as do L, LK, etc.

Edited by _dobbo_ on Tuesday 17th February 12:41

[scotty_917]

Don't like that rear quarter light, makes the design look awkward!

[SS HSV]

Understand what they are trying to achieve here but those rear arches are just wrong. They look out of place with the rest of the car.

Would still have one though

[RB Will]

It's like an ugly version of the CL

[vz-r_dave]

Girlfriend is currently marketing this

Wonder if I can get an early test drive.

[dpbird90]

I like it, just wait till the AMG V8 gets thrown in

[pSyCoSiS]

Not the prettiest looking of cars that Merc has produced, but, will prob catch on after a while.

Not too sure about rear lights - look a bit like those seen on Japanese cars?

As always, packs impressive technology.

[Fetchez la vache]

The side looks like it's been attacked by some Tesco shopping trolleys

[fluffyducky]

We do a little Bentley advertising... have I had a ride in a Conti GT Speed? Have I bojax.

[WILDROVER42]

Overall not a bad looking car if you like your big coupe's.
Headlights though are a bit nasty.

Also with all those gismo's on-board is there actually any requirement for a driver to be present?

[forzaminardi]

Ugly. Too big. Overweight. Too much useless technology.

[clk55pete]

I like it (but I would say that). It will be interesting to se what AMG do with this given that we have the CLK63AMG; the CLK Black and the CLK DTM!

[kambites]

I think the new front end styling makes a lot more sense on this than on the E-class saloon. Rear quarter-lights look odd though and the way the shoulder line sweeps up makes the rear wheels look too small.

Certainly a better looking car than the 6-series (which I suppose it's a competitor for?) but I'm still not convinced, overall.

[uremaw]

They pioneered making a saloon look like a coupe with the CLS - which is destined to be design classic imho - but why oh why would they then decide to make a coupe look like a saloon, simply so that rear seat passengers (and how many people have you ever seen travel in the back of a CLK?) can have opening windows?

How many people, when they're about to splash out £30-50k on a coupe, think "i'll go for the one that looks like a saloon"?

As for technology which, at a significant cost/weight penalty, monitors to see if the driver is awake - surely this says more about Merc's target market than anything else. I would suggest that if a driver is not competent or responsible enough to regulate his/her own conscious state, they shouldn't be behind the wheel in the first place.

[Mafioso]

How does a bonnet "adjust"?

[infradig]

_dobbo_ said:

Bladedancer - the letter C, S, E etc all have a specific meaning, as do L, LK, etc.

Edited by _dobbo_ on Tuesday 17th February 12:41

I think that may have been the case once,ie; E=Injection T=Estate(Touring) even K=Supercharged but now you can get non-supercharged SLK's and what exactly does the L in ML,GL.SL,CL,CLS etc etc stand for? Lght as in original SL or Long as in SEL?

[ceriw]

infradig said:

_dobbo_ said:

Bladedancer - the letter C, S, E etc all have a specific meaning, as do L, LK, etc.

Edited by _dobbo_ on Tuesday 17th February 12:41

I think that may have been the case once,ie; E=Injection T=Estate(Touring) even K=Supercharged but now you can get non-supercharged SLK's and what exactly does the L in ML,GL.SL,CL,CLS etc etc stand for? Lght as in original SL or Long as in SEL?

Limosine I think.

[Dagnut]

Adjusts the bonnet if it thinks its going to hit a pedestrian? how can it distinguish between an inanimate object and a human pedestrian?

[ceriw]

Dagnut said:

Adjusts the bonnet if it thinks its going to hit a pedestrian? how can it distinguish between an inanimate object and a human pedestrian?

Well, in Germ it's set to 'eweryzhink iz a pedestwian' and for the rest of der welt 'eweryzink iz an inanimate obzect'.