Click Thumbnails to Enlarge
Mercedes E-class (2009)
By
Ben Whitworth
Spy shots
16 March 2007 02:41
Mercedes E-class: the lowdown
Sleek, safe and sophisticated – those are the three key themes that underpin the new Mercedes E-class, which will make its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Known internally by its W212 chassis monicker, the new mid-sized executive (estate to follow in mid-2010) will wrap cutting-edge safety technology, direct-injection petrol and Bluetec diesel power in svelte new sheetmetal. And with particular attention paid to build quality and reliability, Mercedes is hoping the next E will put a much-needed shine on the E-class’s somewhat tarnished image. Prices should start around the £33,000 mark for the entry-level E250, rising to an anticipated £75,000 for the hotshoe E63 AMG.
New E-class: a technological powerhouse
The new E will be stuffed to the gills with driver assistance technology. Rather than have a raft of individual systems, the E’s technology will be fully integrated, acting as a holistic safety and assistance net for the driver and other road users. As well as the usual follow-to-stop radar-based Distronic, the E-class driver will benefit from a more intelligent PreSafe system, which tightens belts and staggers the airbag timing in sync with the calculated severity of the impact. Other features include lane departure warning, eye movement monitor, traffic sign identification, road condition sensors and a third-generation ESP stability, which incorporates semi-active steering to compensate for crosswinds, camber changes and, believe it or not, uneven tyre wear. Automatic speed limit observation, linked to the car’s hard drive-based sat-nav system, will also be an option.
