Mercedes V212 E-class LWB: the spy photos

By Tim Pollard

Spyshots

04 September 2008 07:00

These spy photos capture the new 2009 Mercedes E-class long-wheelbase version – it's the first time Merc has built a stretched E-class, and it's had a good few inches slotted between the axles, as our scoop pictures confirm.

Why is Mercedes building a long-wheelbase E-class? Simple. Because the Chinese market demands it. They like their saloons big and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d in China and who is Mercedes-Benz to disagree?

The Swabians know all about this; the company sells more S600 limos in China than any other territory around the world.

So when can I order my new stretched Merc E-class LWB?

You can't – unless you live in China. This is a Chinese market derivative only and Europe's marketing bosses are adamant we won't get it here, for fear of nibbling into sales of the S-class (which has been available in two wheelbases in Europe for several generations).

While we can see the logic of that argument, it seems a shame to do all this development work only to deny us the long-wheelbase E-class. We imagine it could be a hit with German taxi companies – and it'd give Merc an advantage over the forthcoming replacement BMW 5-series and Audi A6.

And what's this new V212 codename for the new Merc E-class?

Yes, yes. Most new Mercedes models carry W codenames (the 2009 E-class itself is W212, for instance). But the V designation means it's the long-wheelbase version. So V212 it is.

Click 'Next' to read about the rest of the Mercedes E-class range