Wraps come off new E-Class
The new model, which goes on sale next year, features a much sharper design along with a new, more efficient engines and a whole range of active and passive safety systems, taken from the forthcoming S-Class and intended by the carmaker to reinforce its position as a ‘safety pioneer’.
Styling changes major on the revised front end with the sports car radiator and new headlights with partial LED lights as standard while the side profile has been revised. There’s also revised tail-lights too.
The engine line-up has also been overhauled and sees the inclusion of the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID, which combines the four-cylinder diesel with an electric motor, giving a combined output of 228bhp and 553lb.fit of torque with 69.0mpg and CO2 emissions of 107g/km.
Diesel engine line-up includes the 134bhp E 200 CDI, with 57.6mpg for the Saloon and 127g/km, the 168bhp E 220 CDI (Saloon: 60.1mpg / 125g/km), 201bhp E 250 CDI (Saloon: 58.5mpg/128g/km) and the 249bhp E 350 BlueTEC (Saloon: 51.3mpg / 144g/km).
Meanwhile the BlueDIRECT petrol engine family gains an EU6-compliant four-cylinder petrol with 135g/km and fuel consumption of 48.7mpg.
All engines are fitted with ECO start/stop.
The new E-Class sees the launch of 11 new/optimised assistance features, such as the Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera – located behind the windscreen near the rear-view mirror, which provides a 3D view of the area up to around 50 metres in front of the vehicle.
Featured as standard is the Collision Prevention Assist radar-based collision warning system with adaptive brake assist systems, which is intended to help significantly reduce the risk of a rear-end collision. There’s also the Attention Assist system, which has been redeveloped to warn of driver drowsiness and inattention across a wider speed range. A range of optional assistance systems will also be offered, including Distronic Plus with active steering assist, Active lane keeping, active parking assist, and the Pre-Safe technology, intended to detect pedestrians at speeds of up to 30mph and apply the brakes to avoid a collision.
The new E-Class goes on sale in the UK from March, with prices announced closer to the time.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
