Mercedes-Benz is taking a big step into the future with the new E-Class. The tenth-generation of the E-Class sedan delivers stylish highlights with its distinct, emotional design and high-grade interior. The new E-Class also marks the world premiere of numerous technical innovations, enabling enhanced comfort, a new level of safe driving, a new dimension in driver assistance and a new infotainment and control system. A new, optionally available AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension ensures outstanding ride comfort and driving dynamics. The sum total of these innovations makes the E-Class the most intelligent sedan.

“The E-Class is the core of the Mercedes-Benz brand and in the past has repeatedly redefined the standards in the business-class segment. Now it carries this tradition into the future with a wealth of top-class innovations. The new E-Class takes another major step towards fully autonomous driving. In addition, it enhances efficiency, safety and comfort, reduces the stress level when driving and intensifies driving pleasure,” says Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

The New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Powerful, coupe-esque design

The new E-Class is sophisticated, confidently stylish and sporty. Compared with its predecessor, its wheelbase has grown by 2.6 inches (115.7 inches vs. 113.1 inches) and its overall length by 1.7 inches (193.8 inches vs. 192.1 inches). Its design features hallmark Mercedes-Benz sedan proportions. The elongated hood coupled with a coupe-esque roof flowing into a sensual, broad-shouldered tail end creates an exciting silhouette. The powerfully extended vehicle body is characterized by short overhangs, a long wheelbase, large wheels and taut, well-defined flanks displaying a fresh, stylish and dynamic interpretation of the feature line, all of which allows the E-Class to deliver the perfect take on the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of “Sensual Purity.”

A muscular front end underlines the status to which the business-class sedan aspires, boasting a different look for each design and equipment line. The Luxury version features the classic Mercedes radiator grill with the star on the hood, while the Sport models are identifiable by the sport radiator grill with a large Mercedes star as its centerpiece. Each of the radiator grill designs lends the E-Class a distinct character, offering a unique degree of diversity that makes each model stand out.

At the rear end, broad shoulders above the rear wheel arches lend the E-Class its unmistakably muscular character. Single-piece tail lights featuring a two-bar design framed by the vehicle body clearly identify the E-Class as a new member of the Mercedes sedan family. Rear lights provide additional levels of detail with an appearance designers refer to as the “stardust effect.” Making its debut on the new E-Class, this available “stardust effect” is created by innovative reflector technology with a specially configured surface structure for the tail lights.

The New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Next Level Interior Design

The interior of the new E-Class embodies the synthesis of emotion and intelligence, poles that are defined by the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy – distinct forms with a sensual flow to them. The U.S. version of the E300 offers a next-generation high-resolution display, with a wide navigation display screen diagonal of 12.3 inches – a first in this segment, and a traditional gauge cluster behind the steering wheel, all integrated into one casing. Beneath its integrated glass frame, the display visually conflates into a wide-screen cockpit that seems to be hovering in thin air, creating a central element that emphasizes the horizontal orientation of the interior design.

Touch-sensitive control buttons (‘Touch Controls’) on the steering wheel make their first appearance in a car. Like a smartphone interface, the Touch Controls respond precisely to horizontal and vertical swiping movements, allowing the driver to control the entire infotainment system without having to take their hands off the steering wheel. In keeping with the motto “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road,” this new control interface minimizes driver distraction.

Further controls for the infotainment system are provided by a touchpad with a controller which can recognize handwriting in the center console and a voice control system, accessible at the push of a button. For systems such as air-conditioning or various driver assistance systems, there are direct-access buttons located on the center stack.

A new, intelligent graphic design with high-resolution animations, together with simplified logic, further enhances this all-new infotainment experience. At the same time, the occupants enjoy a spacious interior, which combines the elegance of the luxury class with sportiness.

The New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Intelligent material design

High-quality materials define the E-Class’ interior style, including Natural Grain Ash wood, and wood with “flowing lines.” Another Mercedes hallmark clearly evidenced is the high-quality look and feel created through meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship.

Interior materials and colors have been carefully selected, highlighted by various shades of brown, including several attractive, new color combinations which allow for an even more personalized interior design.

The New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Lighting atmosphere with 64 colors

Interior lighting makes exclusive use of durable, energy-saving LED technology, even throughout the enhanced ambient lighting system. With 64 colors to choose from, the ambient lighting system offers a host of possibilities for personalization, adding touches of light to various trim parts, central display, storage on the center console, handle recesses, door pockets, front and rear footwells, overhead console, and tweeters (if the vehicle is equipped with the Burmester® high-end 3D surround sound system).

Seat design: first class

A further highlight of the new E-Class is its seats. Their ergonomic and sculpted form combines Mercedes-Benz’s hallmark suitability for long journeys with a refined, sporty look. Another new feature in this segment is a Warmth and Comfort package, which includes heated door armrests and center console, heated steering wheel and rapidly-heating front seats.

The rear bench seat in the new E-Class sedan comes with a three-piece backrest with a 40% – 20% – 40% split, making it exceptionally versatile. Integral features of the center armrest include a storage box and two pop-out drinks holders. There is also the option of a holder for a tablet device for the rear passengers.

New engine generation

In the US market at launch, the new E-Class will feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 241 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Further model variants will be added to the range after the market launch.

The New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Nine-speed automatic transmission

All E-Class models available at market launch will be equipped with the new 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. This advanced transmission enables both fast gearshifts and low engine revs while cruising, which provides improvements in both efficiency and interior noise levels.

Suspension – sporty comfort

The suspension on the new E-Class offers agile driving pleasure on twisting roads as well as the highest level of ride comfort in the segment. The E-Class sedan comes with a steel-spring suspension as standard. Two DIRECT CONTROL suspension systems with selective damping are available in conjunction with this suspension:

• DIRECT CONTROL Comfort suspension
• DIRECT CONTROL Sport suspension

The New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension

Alternatively, the new E-Class can be equipped with a multi-chamber air suspension at all corners – the only car in its segment to offer this option. Three chambers of different sizes in the spring struts of the rear axle and two in the spring struts of the front axle make it possible to control, in three stages, how firmly the suspension reacts to the road. In this way, the occupants enjoy a soft base suspension, together with the secure feeling of good handling stability as speed increases.

Furthermore, the highly sensitive and fast-responding AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension features all-round self-leveling for excellent ride comfort even with the vehicle loaded. It automatically controls the ride height depending on the speed and reduces fuel consumption on the freeway, for example, by lowering the vehicle. When driving on rough roads, ground clearance can be increased at the push of a button.

The multi-chamber air suspension is supplemented by a continuously operating, electronically controlled damping adjustment system, which automatically adapts the damping on each individual wheel to the current driving situation and road conditions. The system therefore delivers good road roar and tire vibration characteristics, excellent ride comfort and outstanding driving dynamics.

A DYNAMIC SELECT switch in the cockpit enables the driver to select from four AIR BODY CONTROL modes: “Comfort,” “ECO,” “Sport” and “Sport+.” The additional “Individual” option allows drivers to configure their vehicle to suit their own preferences.

The New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Next-generation driver assistance systems

Mercedes-Benz’s new assistance and safety systems take safety, comfort and driver assistance to a new level.

Standard on the new E-Class is PRE-SAFE® Sound. This system is based on a protective human reflex in the inner ear, called the stapedius reflex. PRE-SAFE® Sound emits a short interference signal through the vehicle’s sound system if the risk of a collision is detected. This signal can trigger the natural reflex and thus prepare the occupants’ ears for the expected sound of the accident.

Active Brake Assist, fitted as standard, is able to warn the driver of impending crash situations, provide just the right level of support during emergency braking and, if necessary, also apply the brakes automatically. In addition to slower-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles, it can also detect pedestrians crossing within the area ahead of the vehicle.

Additional standard equipment includes ATTENTION ASSIST with adjustable sensitivity, which can warn the driver of inattentiveness and drowsiness, and Crosswind Assist, which can assist the driver by substantially mitigating the effects of strong crosswinds to prevent the vehicle from drifting too far off track.

Highlights of the optional Driver Assistance Package Plus that make the E-Class the most intelligent sedan in its class include:

• DRIVE PILOT: This system represents Mercedes-Benz’s next step along the road to autonomous driving. While on both freeways and country roads, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is not only able to automatically maintain the selected distance from the vehicle in front, but, for the first time, it can also follow the traffic in front at speeds of up to 130 mph. This can make life easier for the driver, who no longer needs to operate the brake or accelerator pedal during normal driving and also receives plenty of steering assistance from Steering Pilot – even on moderate bends. Another unique feature of Steering Pilot is that the system can continue to actively intervene by taking account of surrounding vehicles and parallel structures, even if the lines are unclear or nonexistent, as they can be during road construction, even at speeds up to 81 mph. The system therefore makes driving much easier, especially in traffic jams or heavy congestion. Additional DRIVE PILOT innovations include, for the first time, Active Lane-change Assist. This radar-and-camera-based system assists the driver when changing lanes on multi-lane roads and can steer the vehicle into the lane selected by the driver – when overtaking, for example. Once the driver has indicated a turn for at least two seconds, Active Lane-change Assist assists with steering into the adjacent lane if it detects that the lane is unoccupied. More details will be offered at the time of the U.S. launch in summer 2016.
• Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function: Compared with the standard version, this system has extended speed thresholds with respect to vehicles and pedestrians. Furthermore, it can detect crossing traffic at junctions and, if the driver fails to respond, apply the brakes autonomously. For the first time, it can also detect hazardous situations at the tail end of a traffic jam where there is no room to maneuver and initiate autonomous braking well in advance. Consequently, it is possible to completely avoid accidents at speeds up to 43 mph or substantially reduce the severity of accidents at speeds above this level.
• Evasive Steering Assist: This new system ideally complements the pedestrian detection function of Active Brake Assist. When the driver deliberately or instinctively performs an evasive maneuver in a dangerous situation, this function can assist by adding precisely calculated steering torque to support the movement of the steering wheel. This helps the driver to avoid, for instance, a pedestrian in a controlled manner while subsequently facilitating the straightening-up of the vehicle to allow the situation to be negotiated safely.
• Advanced assistance systems: The intelligent assistance systems in the new Driver Assistance Package Plus also include proven systems that have been further developed in terms of their mode of operation and the sensors they use. Active Lane Keeping Assist can help stop the driver from unintentionally changing lanes, this being done by corrective one-sided application of the brakes, including in the case of broken lines and risk of collision, e.g. with oncoming traffic or fast overtaking vehicles. Active Blind Spot Assist can now also warn of the risk of a lateral collision in typical urban traffic at low speeds. PRE-SAFE® PLUS can also protect against collisions with traffic following behind, reducing whiplash and other adverse effects on the occupants.

The range of new features in the new E-Class also includes:

• Remote Parking Pilot: For the first time, this system allows the vehicle to be moved into and out of garages and parking spaces remotely using a smartphone app, enabling the occupants to get into and out of the car easily, even if space is very tight. More details will be offered at the time of the U.S. launch in summer 2016.
• Car-to-X communication: The MY2017 E-Class will have the world’s first fully integral Car-to-X solution going into series production. The mobile phone-supported exchange of information with other vehicles further ahead on the road, for example, can effectively allow the driver to “see around corners” or “through obstacles” well in advance. This means that the driver receives an earlier warning than previously in the event of imminent danger, such as a broken-down vehicle at the edge of the road or also in the event of heavy rain or black ice on the road ahead. In this case, the new E-Class simultaneously acts as a receiver and a transmitter, since warning messages are conveyed automatically by evaluating vehicle status or manually by the driver to the backend. More details will be offered at the time of the U.S. launch in summer 2016.
• PRE-SAFE® impulse side: This system is part of the Driving Assistance package PLUS. If a lateral collision has been detected and is imminent, it preventively moves the driver or front passenger away from the danger zone to the side. To do this, the system inflates an air chamber in the side bolster of the front seat backrest nearest the side of the imminent impact in a fraction of a second, thus increasing the distance between occupant and door while, at the same time, reducing the forces acting on the occupants.

The New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Three-dimensional listening pleasure

Fitted as standard, the Mercedes-Benz Frontbass system in the new E-Class delivers a unique listening experience, utilizing space in the cross-member and side member of the body structure as a resonance chamber for the bass speakers. The E-Class is optionally available with two Burmester® sound systems, including the top-of-the-line Burmester high-end 3D surround sound system. If the vehicle is equipped with the optionally available Burmester high-end 3D surround sound system with 23 speakers, the occupants are treated to a listening experience reminiscent of the acoustics in a concert hall, as it includes a third dimension of sound courtesy of roof speakers.

Robust yet lightweight bodyshell

An outstandingly stiff body forms the basis for exceptional handling, astonishingly low noise and vibration levels and a high level of crash safety. To achieve this, the engineers opted for a bodyshell with a far higher proportion of aluminum and ultra-high-strength steel components than its predecessor. The front fenders, hood, trunk lid and large sections of the front and rear ends are made of sheet or cast aluminum. This lightweight design reduces fuel consumption while making for perceptibly sporty and agile vehicle handling.

The New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Against the wind

Aerodynamic performance is one of the main reasons behind the outstanding efficiency of the new E-Class. To achieve this, the aerodynamics experts had to optimize numerous details and implement new ideas. The sophisticated aerodynamics also minimizes wind noise while making sure that the new E-Class is quieter than many luxury-class models.

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class will be available at US dealers in the summer of 2016.

With one eye on the road and another on a tiny green steering wheel icon emblazoned on the display in front of me, I watched as the all-new 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class drifted across the yellow lane marker. Just as the lefthand tires crested the line, the car proceeded to buzz the steering wheel to warn me, the driver, of an unsignaled lane departure.

No, you can’t nap behind the wheel of Mercedes’ semi-autonomous E-Class

“Oh, don’t give me that,” I hollered at the car, as I grabbed the wheel and jerked the mid-size luxury sedan back into the lane. “You’re the one doing the steering!”

Now back in my lane with the Mercedes mostly keeping itself in check, my heart sank a bit.

I felt disheartened because Mercedes’ new suite of semi-autonomous safety tech, Drive Pilot, simply didn’t feel as robust as Tesla’s Autopilot that I had tested on the very same stretch of freeways some eight months before.

During my test, the Model S was able not only able to stay planted within its lane, it also stayed almost perfectly centered in that lane. Comparatively, the E-Class struggled to even keep itself in a single lane — forget hopes of holding dead center.

While it’s too bad Drive Pilot isn’t as exacting as Tesla, I soon learned there was good reason for it. And, no, Tesla fanboys, it’s not because the Musk machine is better or more tech-heavy than the Mercedes. It’s far more complicated than that.

Drive Pilot

Drive Pilot is more than just Distance Pilot DISTRONIC (Mercedes speak for adaptive cruise control) and Steering Pilot (steering assist). Though the E-Class has those, too.

Drive Pilot also includes Active Lane Change Assist that will autonomously change lanes when a driver signals a lane change, Speed Limit Pilot that can read speed-limit signs and automatically lower its set cruising speed to the posted limit and Active Emergency Stop Assist that will bring the car to a stop in its lane and activate the emergency flashers on the freeway if the driver for some reason becomes unresponsive behind the wheel.

With all these things engaged, Mercedes representatives told me the car could drive itself down a well-marked and well-lit freeway without the driver touching the steering wheel for as many as 60 seconds at a time at speeds up to 81 mph. And most of the time, it worked as advertised.

When the car’s digital cameras recognized the lane markings, a small icon of a steering wheel about the size of a pea on the 12.3-inch instrument display went from grey to green. This meant the Steering Pilot was active and engaged in steering. While the lines were recognized by the system and the car was steering itself, I could keep my hands in my lap.

Once every 60 seconds (or less), the system would prompt me to perform some action to show I was still paying attention. To do so, I could either jiggle the steering wheel or touch one of the steering wheel’s two touchpads.

On a straight, well-marked freeway, following traffic ahead, the system worked great. However, as soon as lane markings on either side became too hard to read or simply dropped away, Steering Pilot would cut out — sans warning.

Really, the only indication the car wasn’t steering anymore was that the little steering wheel icon on the instrument display would go from green back to grey. If I didn’t notice this because I was paying attention to the road ahead, like I am supposed to, I could suddenly and rapidly find the car drifting out of its lane. This happened to me several times over the two days I tested it.

I’ll admit, Steering Pilot suddenly cutting out without warning irked me. The more I thought about it, and after speaking further with Mercedes representatives about the issue, the more Steering Pilot’s perceived lameness made sense. What’s more, it shouldn’t be viewed as a technical deficit but rather a safety benefit.

Via: Mashable

Hot on the heels of the world premiere for the new Mercedes‑Benz E-Class, its first high-performance variant is on the way from Mercedes-AMG. The E 43 4MATIC with the 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine on board will represent the most powerful variant of the executive saloon when it is introduced in September 2016. With two new turbochargers and corresponding software applications, the supercharged six-cylinder engine delivers an output of 295 kW (401 hp). As ever, the standard-specification AMG Performance 4MATIC four-wheel drive combines optimum traction with high agility on the E 43, thanks to rear-biased torque distribution with a front-to-rear ratio of 31:69 percent. The 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission with shorter shift times, the retuned sports suspension based on the AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension and the more direct steering ratio also provide for signature AMG Driving Performance.

“The new E 43 4MATIC offers impressive driving dynamics coupled with cutting-edge efficiency. Twin turbocharging, features adopted from motorsport and the characteristic AMG design immediately indicate to our customers that the new E‑Class from AMG offers pure Driving Performance coupled with cutting-edge technology and intense emotion,” notes Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

On the E 43 4MATIC, Mercedes-AMG has upgraded the six-cylinder engine’s output by 25 kW (34 hp) to 295 kW (401 hp) with the aid of two larger turbochargers and sophisticated software applications. The ample peak torque of 520 Newton metres is available right from a low engine speed of 2500 rpm.

The looks of the E 43 4MATIC also render it immediately recognisable as a member of the AMG family. Apart from underscoring the powerful and self-assured appearance, three large openings in the front apron also ensure an optimum flow of air to the coolers. Two elegant cross fins on the outer cooling openings enhance the vehicle’s visual presence. The diamond grille with chromed pins, a louvre in high-gloss black and the AMG lettering represent further hallmarks of the AMG 43 models.

The interior reinforces the dynamic calibre of the new E 43 4MATIC with numerous individual details. The driver and front passenger find a secure position in the sports seats even when driving at speed, thanks to the improved lateral support. The upholstery in ARTICO man-made leather/DINAMICA microfibre in black (optionally: nappa leather) features a distinctive layout and red topstitching. To match the seat design, the door centre panels and the dashboard are finished in ARTICO man-made leather with red topstitching. Exclusive pedals, a black roof lining and red seat belts add further sporty highlights.

Mercedes reckons the new E is the Future. Possibly even the FUTURE. Looks rather like an upscaled C-class to us. Or a downsized S-class.

It’s all of the above. Merc’s design vice president Gorden Wagener bristles slightly if you suggest Mercedes is re-embracing the ‘Russian doll’ idea for its volume saloon line. “What’s the problem with that?” he says. “We wanted the C-, E, and S-class to sit at the heart of it all, with 40-odd other models around them. I think the new E-class is as elegant as the CLS. It’s certainly the most luxurious E-class Mercedes has ever created.”

We’ll see about that. But it’s definitively the first one that can deliver the full autonomous ‘sod-the-driver’ shebang.

Yep. Over to Daimler’s Chairman and Big Kahuna, Dr Dieter Zetsche for more on that. “We have been pursuing the vision of accident-free driving for some time, and we are now making big, big steps towards the realisation of that,” he tells TG.com. “When it comes to autonomous cars, we have to be the first, we cannot be a fast follower.”

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

What? What about Stuttgart’s taxi drivers?

The new E is the car they’ve been waiting for, no doubt, but it’s also the Mercedes that might put them out of a job. High on an epic list of new technologies is Drive Pilot, which uses a stereo camera, radar sensors and a modestly-sized box of tricks secreted in the rear wing to drive the car autonomously, accelerating, braking, changing lane and even coming to a complete halt without any input from the driver. The new E-class also extends Merc’s ‘car-to-X communication’ smartphone and Cloud-based infrastructure, relaying info or warnings from further up the road. Amazing and slightly terrifying if you’ve ever read any William Gibson novels or watched pretty much any sci-fi film.

Great. Maybe Merc should have called it the T-1000. What if you still like the idea of actually driving? Are we petrolheads doomed?

Don’t be so melodramatic. After all, aeroplanes have been landing themselves for years. Besides, the answer’s academic, because the only thing restricting autonomous driving right now is the necessary international legal infrastructure. So we’d better get used to the idea.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

We get the picture. But does it work?

Not entirely. As impressive as the tech is in theory, it remains imperfect in practice: I found myself second-guessing it repeatedly on the test route around Lisbon, unable and unprepared to trust it. If you take your hands off the wheel, a warning chime will sound, and if you keep them off the wheel longer than 60 seconds the car will assume you’re a moron or have passed out, and glide carefully to a complete stop. It’s fiendishly clever, but really – what’s the point of an automated car that still needs your hands on the wheel? It should be all or nothing. And although our skies are extremely busy, that’s nothing compared to a busy provincial high street on a wet Wednesday night – it’s only when you try to cede control to a machine that you realise just how many variables you deal with as a driver, and how much improvisation goes on. So we reverted to the fusty, 20th century, analogue mode: we took control ourselves. Now pass me my quill, would you?

Forsooth. So is the E-class good to drive, or what?

Ironically, the Drive Pilot and the myriad other ‘–Assist’ packages – Evasive Steering Assist, Pre-Safe Impulse Side, and Remote Parking, to name but three from a list that’s as long as the Beijing phone directory – are a distraction from what is a supremely well-engineered car. Like the C-class, the new E-class seems to have rediscovered the concept of genuine comfort, which is vastly more important in a car like this than being able to corner it on its door-handles. Even the E220d – the likely big sales hitter in the UK – rolls along with exquisite refinement.

This model uses a new engine, right?

Yes. The 220 has an all-new 2.0-litre with an aluminium block and steel pistons, reversing the usual pattern to deliver much lower friction and improved thermodynamic efficiency. Untreated emissions are dealt with via improved exhaust gas recirculation, and Mercedes has worked hard to minimise NOx. The upshot is a combined economy figure of 72.4mpg, 102 CO2s and a future-proofed engine that should absorb the evolving challenge of ‘real driving emissions’, ie: it won’t need to cheat to do the numbers.

No end to diesel here, then…

Anyone anticipating wholesale rejection of diesel in the wake of the VW scandal won’t get any joy from Mercedes: Zetsche says take-up rates on diesels are exactly the same as before, and an engine as good as this is only going to keep it in play. On a night drive into Lisbon, the 220 proves whisper quiet at motorway speeds, and doesn’t grumble too much if you do lean on it to summon all 295 torques. The 9G-tronic auto wafts through the ratios so smoothly it makes the smoothest-talking bar steward sound like Ronnie Barker’s stammering shopkeeper in Open All Hours.

Other engines are available, one presumes.

The 350 d that arrives later this year is gruntier, but we preferred the plug-in hybrid 350 e, whose 2.0-litre four-pot petrol and electric motor combine to produce 285bhp. The E e can do around 20 miles in pure EV mode, a haptic response on the throttle pedal advising you that maximum electric oomph is being deployed, while a double pulse prompts you to make better use of the regenerative braking mode. Set a sat-nav destination and the car will optimise its energy blend according to the route. Forget autonomous driving: this is artificial intelligence. Spooky.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Any other versions tickle your fancy?

We also tried the not-for-UK E400 4Matic fitted with Dynamic Body Control around a damp Estoril circuit, and it managed not to feel remotely barge-like (which bodes well for the AMG version). The suspension is multi-link front and rear, with steel springs as standard and the option of active damping. Whatever the configuration, this is a majestically comfortable and unimpeachably safe car; the body mixes high tensile steel and aluminium for improved stiffness and enhanced occupant protection, with reduced weight. And even the airbags have airbags…

Inside?

It’s magnificent, assuming you dig a fair bit into the options list and keep the taste polizei on standby. Gordon Wagener reckons the interior design is a three-generation jump forward from the outgoing car, and he might be right. The wood and leather are gorgeous, almost Bentley-esque in terms of richness. This peerless interior quality is matched by yet more obsessively hi-tech: there’s wireless charging for your phone, which can also double as the key thanks to Near Field Communication. The view ahead is dominated by two (optional) 12.3in flat screen displays; the main TFT instrument cluster fully configurable, while the central infotainment screen can be twiddled to display sat nav or audio, or both, in dazzling resolution. The steering wheel now incorporates a pair of thumb-sized touch-pads on either spar, whose response time can be tweaked. The E-class’s cabin represents a truly amazing confluence of technology and style, and will have rivals down the road in Bavaria and Ingolstadt scratching their heads, and plunge the Coventry-based lot into existential despair.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

How much is it?

Prices start at £35,935 for the E220 d SE, rising to £47,425 for the E350 d in AMG line trim. As ever, the options list groans with pricey possibility. So choose wisely. “Making the best cars is our core business. But the car doesn’t end with the hardware. Now it’s about widening the scope,” Dr Zetsche concludes. The new E-class does so with impressively realised, widescreen ambition.

Specification
1950cc, four-cylinder, 194bhp, rwd, 295lb ft, 0-62mph 7.3 secs, 149mph top speed, 72.3mpg, 102g/km CO2

Verdict
An awesomely, almost intimidatingly complete car. Not the last word in driving fun, but the first when it comes to a hi-tech mainstream future.

The Remote Parking Pilot allows the vehicle to be moved into and out of garages and parking spaces remotely using a smartphone app, enabling the occupants to get into and out of the car easily, even if space is very tight. The optional Parking Pilot can take the strain off the driver by helping them to search for a suitable parking space and making it easier to manoeuvre into and out of parking spaces with active steering intervention.

Remote Parking Pilot

The new E-Class combines sensually pure design and an exclusive interior with innovations that make it the most intelligent saloon in the executive category. There are initially three engines available at market launch: the first two models are the E 200 with a four-cylinder petrol engine developing 135 kW (184 hp) available from €45,303.301 and the E 220 d (available from €47,1241) featuring an all-new four-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 143 kW (195 hp), which has combined NEDC fuel consumption of 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres, equivalent to CO2 emissions of 102 grams per kilometre. The third variant, delivery of which starts in June 2016, is the powerful E 350 d (available from €55,602.751) with a V6 diesel engine developing 190 kW (258 hp) and a torque of 620 Nm. All three models are equipped with the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission as standard.

Despite a significant increase in efficiency and output (143 kW/195 hp compared with 125 kW/170 hp) and far lower fuel consumption (3.9 litres compared with 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres) with the automatic transmission, the basic price of the E 220 d is comparable with that of the previous E 220 BlueTEC (€47,124 compared with €46,945.50).

E 220 d

Right from the launch of the new E-Class, Mercedes-Benz Bank is offering attractive financing and leasing deals for private and business customers.

As an example, private customers can lease a new E 220 d worth €47,124 for a monthly rate as low as €399[2]. At the end of the contract, the customer can choose to buy the vehicle at a guaranteed purchase price or return it to the dealer. Furthermore, customers can opt for one of Mercedes-Benz Bank’s private and business leasing mobility packages to provide financial flexibility and insurance cover for a fixed monthly instalment.

The E-Class Saloon comes with an extensive array of standard equipment, including the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission, Active Brake Assist, the PRE-SAFE® system with PRE-SAFE® Sound, THERMATIC automatic climate control, DYNAMIC SELECT with five selectable transmission modes, the Audio 20 USB infotainment system and electrically adjustable front seats. Exterior and interior individualisation is possible by ordering the AVANTGARDE, EXCLUSIVE or AMG Line design and equipment package.

E 350 e

The new E-Class marks the premiere of numerous technical innovations, including:

• High-resolution MULTIBEAM LED headlamps (€2320.501). These headlamps, each with 84 individually activated high-performance LEDs, automatically illuminate the road surface with a hitherto unsurpassed, precision-controlled distribution of exceptionally bright light – without dazzling other road users.

• AIR BODY CONTROL (€22611). With this multi-chamber air suspension – a first in this segment – the occupants enjoy soft base suspension, and the secure feeling of good handling stability as the speed increases.

• Driving Assistance package (€22611). Components of this package include the DRIVE PILOT comprising Steering Pilot with Active Lane-change Assistant, extended tolerance levels for the hands-off warning and active emergency-stop assist, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC with extended automatic restart in traffic jams and Speed Limit Pilot, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function and a function for initiating autonomous emergency braking at the tail end of traffic jams, plus Evasive Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and PRE-SAFE® PLUS.

• Driving Assistance package Plus (€28561). In addition to the components of the Driving Assistance package, this package includes PRE-SAFE® impulse side. If a lateral collision has been detected and is imminent, this system moves the driver or front passenger away from the danger zone in a sideways direction by way of precaution.

• Remote Parking Pilot. This system enables the vehicle to be manoeuvred into and out of garages and parking spaces from outside the vehicle via a smartphone app for the first time. The Remote Parking Pilot is one of the Mercedes me connect services and is available in combination with the Parking package (€1725.501) and KEYLESS-GO (€8331) or the KEYLESS-GO package (€1439.901) and COMAND online (€3272.501).

• Digital vehicle key (€1191, from June 2016). This drive authorisation system uses Near Field Communication technology and allows the driver’s smartphone to be used as a vehicle key.

• The interior combines emotion and intelligence. Optional highlights for the new E-Class include a wide-screen cockpit with individually configurable double display (€1011.501) and the sophisticated COMAND Online multimedia system (€3272.501). The latter of these options is the world’s first fully integral Car-to-X solution to go into series production. The mobile phone-supported exchange of information with other vehicles allows the driver to receive an earlier warning than previously in the event of imminent danger, such as a broken down vehicle at the edge of the road or also in the event of heavy rain or black ice on the road ahead.

The model line-up at a glance:

Our good friends over at Indian Autos Blog carefully studied spy photos of the upcoming E-Class Estate, set to arrive in September, and from those developed this spot-on rendering.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate Rendering

Dimensions of the E-Class estate will likely be similar to the E-Class sedan, with a possible addition of 30 mm more to the overall length and heigh, which would make is 43 mm longer than its 4,923 mm predecessor.  The wheelbase has had an increase of 65 mm to make it  2,939 mm. Expect exterior features to include Multibeam LED headlamps with DRL, new air intake design, long horizontal LED taillamps, power tailgate, and optional Multi Chamber air suspension.

Source: Indian Autos Blog

According to a recent reveal from Detroit, a jacked up all-wheel drive crossover wagon dubbed All-Terrain will be a surprise addition to the Mercedes-Benz’s fifth-generation E-Class line-up this Fall.

Thee off-road E-Class would be positioned between the standard E-Class Estate and the GLE SUV, poised specifically to go head-to-head with the Audi Allroad Quattro in concept. The All-Terrain is expected to break cover during the new E-Class wagon launch in September, launching in Europe before the end of the year. It is unlikely however that it will ever see its way to American Soil as Mercedes’ own Matthias Luhrs commented that crossovers are market dependent and “Americans don’t like station wagons”. Case in point, the souped up kiddie hauler that was part station wagon part mini-van(Vision R63 AMG) from 2005 that should have been a hit with soccer moms everywhere but sadly missed the mark.

Other interesting additions to the line-up confirmed to motoring.com.au overnight in Detroit include:

>> The all-new C-class Cabriolet in August
>> The new C 450 AMG 4MATIC in the final quarter, but updated from current spec with the new Benz 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic
>> The all-new GLC Coupe in the final quarter

The new E-Class will come with a choice of two engines at market launch: the E 200 with a four-cylinder petrol engine and the E 220 d with an all-new four-cylinder diesel engine.

Further model variants will be added to the range after the market launch, including the E 350 e featuring hybrid technology. The PLUG-IN HYBRID impresses with its dynamism and efficiency, allowing around 30 kilometres of purely electric and therefore locally emission-free driving. Its four-cylinder petrol engine, in conjunction with a powerful electric motor, gives it a total system output of 210 kW (286 hp) with a system torque of 550 Nm. With this set-up, the E 350 e achieves the performance of a sports car yet consumes less fuel than a small, compact-class car.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class – E 220 d, AVANTGARDE, Night Package, Hyazinth red, black/macciato

The most powerful diesel variant will boast a six-cylinder engine incorporating advanced SCR exhaust technology, with an output of 190 kW (258 hp) and a peak torque of 620 Nm.

Another variant to join the range will be the E 400 4MATIC whose six-cylinder petrol engine has an output of 245 kW (333 hp) and a maximum torque of 480 Nm.

Engines boasting top efficiency

Provisional

Further variants will later complete the engine range, including a new four-cylinder diesel unit developing 110 kW (150 hp). The range of petrol engines will comprise four-cylinder versions with outputs ranging from 135 to 180 kW (183 to 245 hp) plus a six-cylinder variant developing 245 kW (333 hp).

All engines for the new E-Class are equipped with the ECO start/stop function. The petrol engines meet the requirements of the EU 6 emissions standard, while the new OM 654 four-cylinder diesel engine is already configured with future RDE limits in mind.

All-new four-cylinder diesel engine

The new four-cylinder diesel unit marks the birth of a new Mercedes-Benz engine family and opens up new dimensions in efficiency. What’s more, it is shorter and more compact than its predecessor thanks to reduced cylinder spacing (90 mm instead of 94 mm). Despite having a lower displacement than its predecessor, reduced to around two litres, the new diesel powerplant has an output of 143 kW/195 hp and, when installed in the E 220 d, delivers NEDC combined consumption of just 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres, which equates to CO2 emissions of 102 grams per kilometre – a figure that until now only significantly smaller vehicles have been able to deliver.

In addition to this, the four-cylinder unit is exceptionally refined. In its basic form it features single-stage turbocharging and variable turbine geometry. Both the cylinder head and the crankcase are made of aluminium. The Mercedes-Benz developed NANOSLIDE® surface coating efficiently reduces the friction between cylinder surface and steel piston.

Nine-speed automatic

All models available at market launch are equipped with the new 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission as standard. It enables fast gear changes and allows low engine revs, which has a particularly beneficial effect on efficiency and noise levels.

X-Tomi Designs rendered the recently released 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and offered up a glimpse and what the E63 AMG, E63 AMG Estate and E-Class Estate could look like. Check out the photos in the gallery below and for an in-depth look at the all-new 2017 E-Class, click here.

Source: X-Tomi

The new E-Class is sophisticated, confidently stylish and sporty. Compared with its predecessor, its wheelbase length has grown by 65 millimetres (2939/2874), its overall length by 43 millimetres (4923/4880). Its design displays hallmark Mercedes-Benz saloon proportions. The elongated bonnet coupled with a coupé-esque roof flowing into a sensual, broad-shouldered tail end creates an exciting silhouette. The powerfully extended vehicle body is characterised by short overhangs, a long wheelbase, large wheels and taut well-defined flanks displaying a fresh, stylish and dynamic interpretation of the feature line. All of which allows the E-Class to deliver the perfect take on the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy: Sensual Purity.

E 350 e, EXCLUSIVE

A powerfully designed front end underlines the status the business-class saloon aspires to, boasting a different look for each design and equipment line. The base version features the classic Mercedes radiator grille with the star on the bonnet, as does the EXCLUSIVE line – albeit in an even more elaborate fashion. The AVANTGARDE and AMG Line models are identifiable by the sports radiator grille with a large Mercedes star as its centrepiece. Each of the radiator grille designs lends the E-Class a distinct character, offering a unique degree of diversity that makes each different model stand out.

E 400 4MATIC, AMG Line

At the rear end, broad shoulders above the rear wheel arches lend the E-Class its unmistakably powerful character. Single-piece tail lights featuring a two-bar design framed by the vehicle body clearly identify the E-Class as a new member of the Mercedes saloon family. Optionally available rear lights provide an additional highlight reminiscent of stardust, the Milky Way or the glow of a jet engine. This “stardust effect” is created by innovative reflector technology with a specially configured surface structure for the tail lights and is making its debut appearance on the new E-Class.

E 220 d, AVANTGARDE, Night Paket

The interior of the new E-Class embodies the synthesis of emotion and intelligence, poles that are defined by the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy – distinct forms with a sensual flow to them. Optional extras include two next-generation high-resolution displays, each with a wide screen diagonal of 12.3 inches – a first in this segment. Beneath their shared glass cover, the two displays visually conflate into a wide-screen cockpit that seems to be hovering in thin air, creating a central element that emphasises the horizontal orientation of the interior design. As the instrument cluster, this wide-screen cockpit contains a large display with virtual instruments in the direct field of vision of the driver as well as a central display above the centre console. The driver can choose between three different styles to select their preferred design for the wide-screen instrument cluster: “Classic”, “Sport” and “Progressive”.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Interior

In addition, touch-sensitive control buttons (‘Touch Controls’) on the steering wheel make their first appearance in a car. Like a smartphone interface, they respond precisely to horizontal and vertical swiping movements, allowing the driver to control the entire infotainment system using finger swipes without having to take their hands off the steering wheel. In keeping with the motto “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road“, this allows achieving minimum driver distraction.

Further controls for the infotainment system are provided in the shape of a touchpad with controller in the centre console, which can even recognise handwriting, and the LINGUATRONIC voice control system. There are also direct-access buttons for controlling functions such as the air-conditioning system or – in another first – for convenient activation and deactivation of certain driver assistance systems.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Interior

A new, intelligent graphic design with high-resolution visualisations and animations, together with a simplified logic, further enhances this all-new operating experience. At the same time, the occupants enjoy a sensual interior with spacious architecture, which combines the elegance of the luxury class with accomplished sportiness.
Intelligent material design

High-quality materials define the interior style. They include open-pore woods, wood in a yachting look with flowing lines as a contemporary interpretation of inlaid wood and a novel metal fabric. The use of authentic materials is continued in the leather-covered doors and the beltline for selected lines. Another Mercedes hallmark clearly in evidence is the high-quality look and feel created through meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship.

Just as carefully composed is the material/colour concept with various shades of brown, including new attractive colour combinations such as nut brown/macchiato and saddle brown/macchiato. This allows a personalised interior design.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Interior

Lighting atmosphere with 64 colours

The interior lighting makes exclusive use of durable, energy-saving LED technology. The same applies to the enhanced ambient lighting included in the lines. With 64 colours, it offers a host of possibilities for personalisation. It adds touches of light, for example, to the trim parts, central display, front stowage facility on the centre console, handle recesses, door pockets, front and rear footwells, overhead console, and tweeters (if the vehicle is equipped with the Burmester® high-end 3D surround sound system).

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Interior

Seat design: first class

A further highlight of the new E-Class is its seats. Their ergonomic, sculptural form combines Mercedes-Benz’s hallmark suitability for long journeys with a refined, sporty look, featuring a unique design for each line. Another new feature in this segment is a Heat Comfort package including heated armrests in the doors and on the centre console.

The rear bench seat in the new E-Class Saloon comes with the option of a three-piece backrest with a 40% – 20% – 40% split, making it exceptionally versatile. Integral features of the centre armrest include a stowage box and two pop-out drinks holders. There is also the option of a holder for a tablet PC for the rear passengers.

On 29 January 1886 Carl Benz applied to the Imperial Patent Office in Berlin for the most significant patent of the industrial age: a “motorised vehicle powered by a gas engine” – the initial idea behind all further automobile designs in the century that followed. 130 years later, on 11 January 2016, Mercedes-Benz is in “Motown” Detroit to show the new E-Class, the car with the technological capability to revolutionise mobility all over again.

On 29 January 1886 Carl Benz applied to the Imperial Patent Office in Berlin for the most significant patent of the industrial age: a “motorised vehicle powered by a gas engine” – the initial idea behind all further automobile designs in the century that followed.

As the inventor of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz continues to press forward with the development of mobility in all areas. The company’s expertise at both a technical and a conceptual level is underscored by more than 90,000 registered patents, together with a long list of innovations that were first introduced to the market in models from Mercedes – these range from engines to safety, comfort and design features. The absolute state of the art of automotive development in all these areas is reflected by the new E-Class.

Just two examples: the innovative plug-in hybrid drive system, coupled with lightweight construction techniques and superb aerodynamic performance, sets new standards for efficiency. The similarly new multi-chamber air suspension is an option that ensures outstanding ride comfort. The tremendous scope of the E‑Class’s innovative features, which include among them the Active Lane-change Assistant that steers the saloon as if by magic into the lane selected by the driver, makes it the most intelligent saloon in the business class.

It is this intelligence that also makes the new E-Class a milestone on the way to the self-driving automobile – for Mercedes-Benz and for the automotive industry as a whole. The latest evidence of this special status was provided just a few days ago, when the authorities in the US state of Nevada gave their approval to allow the testing of autonomous driving with the new E-Class – not with a prototype, but with a production vehicle. Mercedes-Benz was the first motor manufacturer in the world to receive the relevant licence during this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The processing power of the car’s high-tech electrical/electronic systems and its IT infrastructure, together with its sensors, allow a level of mobile autonomy hitherto unmatched in series production: the driver only needs to steer – assuming they wish to do so – on a temporary basis. The traffic lane and speed are regulated, while the vehicle reacts to speed limits and to the traffic around it.

The new E-Class – Design Insight: interior

The E-Class as the next stage of automotive evolution

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class thus marks the beginning of a new phase in automotive development: “For Mercedes, as the inventor of the automobile, it was always clear that the next great revolution in mobility would be the self-driving car”, notes Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. At the Consumer Electronics Show 2015 in Las Vegas, which saw the world premiere of the fully autonomous Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion research vehicle, Dr Zetsche was already talking about this role for the automobile of the future: “People have been dreaming of self-driving cars since the 1950s. We at Mercedes were the ones who once turned the vision of mobility without a horse into reality. Now it’s time for us to offer the possibility of managing without a driver as well.”

Building the technological bridge to freedom

As the Head of Group Research at Daimler, Anke Kleinschmit sees this technological avant-garde as part of a cultural tradition: “At the time of its invention, the groundbreaking innovation of the automobile brought about what could perhaps be described as a space warp. Suddenly distances contracted and people came closer together. Fast, individual transport provided a technological bridge between two worlds that until then had lain so very far apart.”

This bridge was to prove extremely successful: since its invention, the automobile has developed into one of the world’s most important economic factors, with more than 50 million people working in countless companies carrying forward the legacy of Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler. The desire for individual transport is still a strong selling point today, when so many people rely on the car for personal freedom.

Self-driving vehicles in the 21st century

But while in the 20th century this freedom was above all the freedom to travel and get around, today’s cars allow a different sort of freedom. As Dr Zetsche describes it: “Cars have become mobile homes, in the truest sense of the words. Protected spaces, as it were, where people can pursue their dreams and fulfil their individual needs.” Daimler’s Board Chairman sees the autonomous vehicle as holding a key role in this respect: “This technology will give every occupant of a vehicle completely new opportunities to make use of valuable time.”
With the new E-Class now going into production, Mercedes-Benz is able to look back on a thirty-year tradition of technology for self-driving cars. Although the first experimental vehicles with autonomous mobility functionality formed part of the Prometheus project as far back as the late 1980s, the pace of development has been stepped up in recent years: in August 2013, the so-called “Bertha Benz Drive” saw an autonomous S-Class follow the historic route of the first journey ever in an automobile.

Two years later Mercedes-Benz presented the F 015 Luxury in Motion, a design study for the car of the future, in Las Vegas. And just a few months after that, the Governor of Nevada issued the first official licence plate for an autonomously driving truck: the Inspiration Truck of Daimler subsidiary Freightliner has been operating its freight routes ever since as the first goods vehicle with autonomous technology on board.

Masterpiece of Intelligence: The inventor of the automobile is presenting the most advanced production vehicle in the world, the new E-Class, in Detroit. It sets new standards for safety, efficiency and automobile intelligence.

The automobile of the future

The new E-Class now transfers this technology to a standard-production passenger car, so securing mobile autonomy as an established part of everyday life. This model series enjoys particular popularity as a business saloon and, over the decades since it was first introduced, has built up its standing as the mainstay of the company. For Professor Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, this makes the new E-Class the right model to take up this trend: “We are taking a further major step on the way to autonomous and networked driving. The innovations found in the new E-Class define a new benchmark in terms of safety, stress relief, comfort and networked living, so allowing Mercedes-Benz once again to underline its leadership position.”

In this, the 130th year since Carl Benz invented the motor car, there is one thing about which Dr Dieter Zetsche is certain: “The best is still to come for the car sporting the three-pointed star. The Mercedes of the future will drive not only with zero emissions, but autonomously, too. It will be even safer, even more luxurious and fully networked as well. A comfortable retreat for the journey between office and home – a place to work, communicate, relax and enjoy.”

There’s no question that Mercedes-Benz is a pioneer in the auto industry, specifically in terms of digitalization in the industry. The best place to showcase this pioneering spirit is the annual CES, Consumer Electronics Show, and that is exactly what Mercedes will be doing in just a few days. If you’re lucky enough to be attending, Mercedes will immerse you in the world of Mercedes Me.

Under the motto “It’s all about me”, you’ll discover how Mercedes-Benz has been able to combine the strict requirements of modern autos with the digital lifestyle we’ve all become accustomed to. From connected vehicles with digital lifestyle offerings, to the intelligent car of the future, Mercedes is giving an in-depth look.

What we’re truly looking forward to however, ahead of the Detroit premiere, Mercedes-Benz is giving a look at the high tech cockpit of the upcoming E-Class. This is not your standard model release either, the new E-Class will usher in an all new era in digitalisation – with high-resolution visualisations and animations, touch-sensitive control and also smartphone integration with capacitive aerial coupling and wireless charging. An insight into the future of the User Interface and User Experience Design, meanwhile, comes courtesy of the “Concept Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile” show car.

Stay tuned as we won’t leave out any of the details. If you can’t wait, check out our most recent teaser video here.

Mercedes-Benz kicks off 2016 with a video teaser of the new E-Class, showing off sleek lines, high-tech lighting and overall sexy design. This is a departure from what we’ve seen from spy photos but stay tuned as we’ll get a detailed look January 11 during the press days at NAIAS.

Mercedes-Benz is taking a big step into the future by numerous innovations with the new E-Class, including in terms of the design of the interior, which features a wide high-resolution next-generation dual display (12.3 inches per display) that appears to hover in space. In addition, touch-sensitive control buttons on the steering wheel make their first appearance in a car. They allow the driver to control the entire infotainment system using finger swipes without having to take their hands off the steering wheel. The all-new experience is rounded off by a novel, intelligent graphic design with high-resolution visualisations and animations as well as simplified control logic. At the same time, the occupants enjoy a sensual interior with spacious architecture and high-quality materials.

“With the interior of the new E-Class, we are giving a new interpretation to the concept of contemporary luxury,” says Hartmut Sinkwitz, Head of Interior Design. “We have designed a spacious and intelligent interior. True to Mercedes-Benz’s design philosophy of sensual purity, it employs technological innovation and high-grade equipment to create an exceptionally emotive experience for driver and front passenger. The E-Class thus not only sets a new standard in the business class. Alongside a workplace and private environment, it also becomes a “third place” – a living area in which passengers are able to enjoy contemporary luxury.”

Wide dual display can be configured to suit personal preferences

The eye-catcher in the comfort-oriented, luxurious interior of the new E-Class is two displays each with a 31.2 cm (12.3-inch) screen diagonal and a resolution of 1920 x 720 pixels. These merge visually to form a wide-screen cockpit, thus acting as a central element to emphasise the horizontal bias of the interior design of the new E-Class. As the instrument cluster, this wide-screen cockpit contains a large display with virtual instruments in the direct field of vision of the driver as well as a central display above the centre console. A common glass cover results in a modern flat-screen look. The driver can choose between three different styles to select their preferred screen design for the wide-screen instrument cluster: “Classic”, “Sport” and “Progressive”.

The wide-screen instrument cluster is optionally available with COMAND Online. Instead, the entry-level model of the new E-Class combines two tube-type round dials and a 17.8 cm colour display cluster (1000 x 600-pixel resolution) with a central display with a 21.3 cm screen diagonal (960 x 540-pixel resolution). The round dials, instrument cluster and central display are installed in a single frame with a high-gloss piano-lacquer look.

The driver can adapt the content of the central display to suit their personal preferences. With the exception of the navigation map (which always fills the complete display area), the graphic content of the central display of COMAND Online is divided into a main area for informative graphics and animations (2/3 on the right side of the display) and a supplementary area (1/3 on the left side of the display).

The display can be backlit at night with multicolour ambience lighting – which then makes the wide-screen cockpit appear to float in space.

The All-New E-Class Interior

Touch control: finger swipes

In a further innovation, the new E-Class is the first ever car to integrate touch control buttons in the spokes of the multifunction steering wheel. Like the surface of a smartphone, the buttons are touch-sensitive and therefore respond precisely to horizontal and vertical finger swipes. This enables the driver to control every function of the infotainment system in the same simple, logical and intuitive manner as with a smartphone without having to take their hands off the steering wheel. Having selected the desired function with a swipe, the driver presses the appropriate touch control button to trigger the function. Another four buttons in each switch panel are provided with the familiar functions, such as for volume control and telephone control.

A further input option, familiar from the C-Class, is offered by the touchpad on the centre console. This, too, allows all functions to be controlled by single or multi-finger gestures (multitouch). The touchpad also permits letters, numbers and special characters to be entered in handwriting. Having recognised the handwritten characters, the system reads them out to enable blind operation without the driver having to divert their attention from what is happening on the road. A handrest detection feature makes for added operating safety while helping to prevent incorrect inputs. Three touch-sensitive buttons are arranged behind the touchpad and can be used to operate key functions quickly and directly (back function, switch to favourites menu, audio quick menu).

In addition to the touch control buttons and the touchpad, the driver can use the COMAND controller and LINGUATRONIC voice control to control the infotainment system. They can choose at any time which input method they prefer.

The new E-Class can also be controlled by direct buttons, such as for controlling the air-conditioning system or – in another first – for simple activation/deactivation of certain driver assistance systems.

In designing the control and display elements, the aim was not only to logically group the vehicle’s controls and display functions in terms of form and content, but also to upgrade and emphasise them. Metallised switch surfaces and genuine-metal controls are used to special high-value effect. Thanks to finely textured, metallic-looking surfaces, some of them in a special finish, each individual control in the vehicle radiates an attention to detail in terms of both touch and sound.

New control experience

The goal in developing the all-new control and display concept was to closely unite intuitiveness of use with functionally expressive yet attractive design. The result is that passengers in the E-Class can enjoy a new control experience with high-resolution visualisations and animations. The developers have focused on the use of newly implemented presentation and display techniques to make it easier – i.e. more intuitive – for the driver to register and experience information. For example, animated displays are used to show the mode of action of assistance systems, or of DYNAMIC SELECT. The likewise animated ECO display in the instrument cluster helps the driver to adopt an economical driving style in an easily understandable manner.

The new look also comes with a novel, clearer menu structure that makes functions easier to select and which, in many cases, leads efficiently to the desired outcome in a manner appropriate to the situation. Ergonomics and intuitiveness of use were key criteria for the developers.

With user experience and connectivity ever more in the spotlight, Mercedes-Benz has set up two new departments to address the digital future: “Digital Graphic & Corporate Design” and “User Interaction”. These centres are closely networked for designing the control and display concepts, i.e. the user interface, for current and future vehicles. This is because, alongside a workplace and private environment, the vehicle interior is increasingly becoming a “third place”, a living area in which passengers wish to enjoy contemporary luxury. With the new department, Daimler is responding to the global trend of “Digital & Connected Life” and thus the rapid advance of digitalisation in all areas of life.

The interior as an expression of emotion and intelligence

With its design bias towards a sense of space, the interior of the new E-Class combines the elegance of the luxury class with the cultivated sportiness of the C‑Class. The design idiom of the new business saloon is characterised by an interplay of strong solid bodies with sculptural surfaces and an avant-garde clarity and extensiveness of control and display zones. This gives form to an expression of emotion & intelligence, a wholly unique, contrast-rich Mercedes-Benz design language that optimally reflects the design philosophy of “Sensual Purity”.

The horizontal, low-lying trim part of the instrument panel with its elegantly sweeping form and flowing lines creates a visual sense of space with a formal calm. The wrap-around of the wave motion into the door linings provides a continuation of the horizontal emphasis on width with timeless sweeping forms. This is typical of the design of Mercedes-Benz saloons from the C-Class to the S-Class. Four circular air vents as in the S-Class make it additionally clear that the new E-Class is closely focused on the luxury segment.

Above the low-lying trim part is a formally coherent and separate solid body, which is forceful and sporty in appearance, as if the upper part of the instrument panel is floating in space. Free-standing yet successfully integrated, the wide-screen display stands in front of the upper part of the instrument panel. Ultra-flat and smoothly glazed across its entire area, the high-resolution screen is of a uniquely superior quality of manufacture. It lends the interior an avant-garde quality that forms a contrast between the cutting-edge design of state-of-the-art consumer electronics and the classically elegant automotive design of the passenger compartment. With its emotional design idiom on the one side and intelligent interior architecture as well as highly advanced control and display elements on the other, the interior of the new E-Class perfectly embodies the synthesis of the two opposite poles of emotion and intelligence.

Depending on the transmission variant, the new E-Class comes with two differently designed centre consoles. Models with automatic transmission have a straight-through centre console, with dynamically rising, sportily high connection to the cockpit, by a control panel in a “Black Panel” glass look. Other controls, such as in the doors, also feature the “Black Panel” look. Conversely, models with manual transmission are provided with a centre console in the form of two separate trim parts.

The All-New E-Class

Intelligent material design

High-grade materials define the both sporty and elegant style of the interior. They include open-pore woods, wood in a yachting look with flowing lines as a contemporary interpretation of inlaid wood and a novel metal fabric. The use of authentic materials is continued in the leather-covered doors and the beltline for selected lines. Typical of Mercedes is the high-quality look and feel thanks to meticulous detail design and craftsmanship.

Just as carefully composed is the material/colour concept with various shades of brown, including new attractive colour combinations such as brown/macchiato and saddle brown/macchiato. This allows a personalised interior design.

Lighting atmosphere with 64 colours

The interior lighting makes exclusive use of durable, energy-saving LED technology. The same applies to the optionally available enhanced ambience lighting. With

64 colours, it offers a host of possibilities for personalisation. It adds touches of light, for example, to the trim parts, central display, front stowage facility on the centre console, handle recesses, door pockets, front and rear footwells, overhead console, mirror triangle and tweeters (if the vehicle is equipped with the Burmester® high-end 3D surround sound system).

Seat design: first class

A further highlight of the new E-Class is its seats, which create an ergonomic, sculptural impression with their torso form, uniting Mercedes-Benz’s typical suitability for long journeys with a refined, sporty look. The seats are differently designed depending on the line:

Even the basic fabric version emphasises the luxurious ambience of the new E-Class.

The sporty bias and adapted contours of the seats for the AVANTGARDE line, the centre sections of which are transversely tacked, put the accent on sportiness with good lateral support and back-ventilation.

The newly developed seat for the AMG line impresses with a sportier form of the backrest with extremely sporty side bolsters and wide shoulder section for added lateral support.

The EXCLUSIVE line comes with longitudinally tacked centre sections, colour-matched to the overall seat sculpture in fabric/leather combination or nappa leather.

Also available is a diamond-patterned designo seat with perforations similar to an S-Class seat combined with the enhanced lateral support of the sports seat.

3D sound with concert hall experience

The Frontbass system in the new E-Class delivers a special listening experience as standard. It uses the space in the cross-member and side member of the body structure as a resonance chamber for the bass speakers. If the vehicle is additionally equipped with the optionally available Burmester® high-end 3D surround sound system, the occupants are treated to a listening experience reminiscent of the acoustics in a concert hall. This is because the new second-generation Burmester® high-end 3D surround sound system (the first generation is available for the S-Class) uses four roof speakers – two in the front of the roof and two in the rear. The effect: reflections, which come off the ceiling in a concert hall, are incorporated in the same authentic manner into the sound design of the E‑Class. By contrast, other 3D sound systems dispense with roof speakers and merely use appropriate algorithms to simulate a 3D sound.

Apart from 3D Surround, four other preset sound modes can be selected to suit every taste and audio source:

• Pure: audiophile sound reproduction with no additional effects, for unadulterated musical enjoyment
• Live: appealing, dynamic sound background akin to live music
• Easy Listening: milder sound background for relaxed listening over longer periods
• Surround: virtual surround sound
• 3D Surround: three-dimensional listening experience provided by the roof speakers

The technical specification of the Burmester® high-end 3D surround sound system employs 23 high-end speakers with diaphragms of glass-fibre fabric for high level stability, low weight and higher power. Specially developed for their task, the roof speakers are extremely small and flat and radiate sound in all directions. The speaker package includes a 25-litre bass box with its own 400 W amplifier in the boot, two woofer/mid-range speakers in the front doors as well as seven mid-range speakers and ring radiator tweeters of aluminium for precise sound resolution. The tweeters in the front mirror triangle not only fulfil their sound function, but are also fascinating design objects: when the sound system is turned on, they revolve out from the mirror triangle into the optimal radiation position. The ambience lighting also transforms them into a visual highlight. Two amplifiers with a total power of 1450 W drive all the speakers individually via separate channels and active crossovers.

A combination of digital and analogue amplifiers also contributes to the special listening experience. The analogue technology ensures a warm, round and full sound, while the digital technology uses a separate power supply to produce high peaks in order to enable a high dynamic between the quietest and loudest tones.

As in the S-Class, the sound can be optimally adjusted for every seat position using the so-called VIP setting.

New headlamps

The intelligence of the new E-Class is reflected also in the headlamps. A characteristic element is the double eyebrow of the reinterpreted front lights. The face of the vehicle is shaped by distinctive headlamps with a clear-lens design. The optional LED High Performance headlamps give the saloon a majestically focused look while featuring an unmistakable design, also by day, with double torch and high-quality modelled details.

A striking feature is the integration of the brand-typical corporate design in the MULTIBEAM LED headlamps. Following the inner contour, it gives a distinctive note to the direction indicators, Coming Home lights, side lights and daytime running lamps. The result is that, in both their night and day design, the Mercedes-Benz models are uniquely identifiable, clearly standing apart from other vehicles at the visual level.

All the headlamp functions are grouped under a lens of clear polycarbonate with scratch-resistant coating. Like various other design elements, the edging is in black, giving an impression of quality and depth.

High-resolution MULTIBEAM LED technology

The E-Class is optionally available with a MULTIBEAM LED headlamp system with ILS (Intelligent Light System) and Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus. The MULTIBEAM LED headlamps are immediately identifiable. They provide new, visual highlights with passively illuminated, blue light surfaces. These outline the hallmark E-Class “torch effect” of the daytime running lamps and side lights and, even when low beam or high beam is switched on, create a blue setting for a fascinating look. This lends an unmistakable character to the light design of E-Class models with MULTIBEAM LED headlamps.

This characteristic look also points to a new dimension in headlamp technology, because MULTIBEAM LED headlamps use 84 individually controlled high-power LEDs in each headlamp. This makes them bright and precise, as they automatically illuminate the road surface with a previously unsurpassed, precision-controlled distribution of light – without dazzling other road users.

When it comes to the number of pixels, the same is true of an LED headlamp as of a monitor: the higher the number of individually controllable pixels, the higher the resolution and the more detailed the image. A high number of pixels also allows greater dynamism in the display. In terms of perception, this leads to a clear increase in precision and brilliance.

This new dimension of precision in light distribution also allows longer use of the partial main-beam lights for added safety, because the driver benefits from better illumination of the road. Compared with conventional systems, MULTIBEAM LED headlamps have up to 2.5 times the partial high-beam light output.

New safety-enhancing functions

Thanks to the totally freely configurable, high-resolution light distribution, it is possible to implement all high- and low-beam functions of the Intelligent Light System by all-digital means. In a world first, the dynamic cornering light function is implemented purely by electronic means. In addition, a host of new, adaptive light functions are possible that make night-time driving safer for both the driver and other road users. These include newly developed bad-weather lights, a City light and a navigation-based junction light.

Stardust at the rear

Another visual characteristic of the new member of the family of Mercedes saloons is the one-part rear lights. The tail lamp in torch design takes up the contour of the rear light not only to emphasise – also in the night design – the characteristic form of the rear light, but also to improve safety.

Optionally available rear lights provide an additional highlight reminiscent of stardust, the Milky Way or the glow of a jet engine. This “stardust” effect is due to many minute and irregular reflectors in the lens of the tail lamp. These so-called Lambert reflectors ensure an extensive, highly homogeneous and brilliant appearance. The optionally available rear light uses all-LED technology.

The newly designed rear lights are also brilliant in terms of safety. The light intensity of the brake lamp varies between daytime and night-time within the legally permissible limits (multi-level functionality). In addition, the direction indicator, which also has multi-level functionality, extends across the entire width in the lower region of the rear light.

When the current Mercedes-Benz S-class was introduced for 2014, it threw down a gadget gauntlet that has thus far been unequaled—although the upcoming new BMW 7-series appears armed to give it a good fight. Next from Mercedes-Benz is the redesigned 2017 E-class, and Mercedes did not hold anything back. The E-class comes loaded with enough straight-from-tomorrow features to make it the star of CES.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Autonomous Driving. Autonomous driving is the siren call of leading-edge automotive technology, so it was clear that the E-class would follow the S down the hands-free highway. In fact, Mercedes has enhanced the system it debuted on the S-class. (First though, a word about the need to steer. Yes, the 2017 E-class, like the S-class, can steer itself along for brief periods. No, that doesn’t mean you’re supposed to leave the steering to Benz. The company describes it as “a semi-automated assistance system in which the driver still needs to keep their hands on the steering wheel.”) The system, which is again a function of Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control, can steer autonomously—sorry, “provide significantly enhanced steering assistance”—not only on highways but also on secondary roads even with no lane markings, the latter at speeds up to 60 mph. It does so by following the car ahead and by scanning for structures such as guardrails and even buildings at the side of the road. As for the cruise-control function, it works at speeds from zero to 120 mph, can creep along in stop-and-go traffic, and can adjust a set speed in response to speed-limit signs or speed-limit info taken from the nav system.

Mercedes-Benz Autonomous Driving.

Automated Parking. A car that can steer itself into a parking space is no longer news, but the E-class ups the wow factor by parking itself while the “driver” stands outside of the vehicle. The driver tells the car where to park via the Remote Parking Pilot app on a previously paired, Bluetooth-connected smartphone, so in that sense he is still “driving” the vehicle. The car can maneuver into a perpendicular space, parallel park, or pull forward into a tight garage. The driver initiates the maneuver by tracing a circle on the smartphone and must continue that action for the car to keep moving. The phone also needs to be within 10 feet or so of the car. (We should note that the 2016 BMW 7-series also can perform this party trick, but BMW won’t offer that functionality in the United States. Land Rover has demonstrated similar tech, too.)

Cell Phone as Car Key. Whereas BMW’s new 7 offers a key fob with a touch screen, the new E-class takes the opposite tack, turning the touch screen in your pocket into a key fob. You can then hold a paired smartphone up to the driver’s door handle to unlock the car; the connection works via Near Field Communication protocol (used also by Apple Pay). Once inside the car, placing the phone on the wireless charging pad enables the ignition. Phones need to be NFC compatible and equipped with a secure SIM card.

Mercedes-Benz Automated Parking

Automatic Braking. Automatic braking to avoid or mitigate a crash has been bundled with forward-collision warning for a while, but the new E-class can initiate braking earlier (when the system detects that an evasive maneuver is not possible), and it works under more scenarios, including cross traffic entering the lane (also when backing up) or a pedestrian stepping out into your path. In the latter scenario, the driver is further aided by Evasive Steering Assist, which adds torque to the steering to help the driver swerve correctly to avoid the person. It does not, however, initiate the steering action. You still have to do that.

Mercedes-Benz Automatic Braking

Car-to-X Communication. The E-class takes the first baby steps toward a future of car-to-car communication. Using the vehicle’s built-in data connection, the driver can push a button on the screen to indicate a road hazard such as an accident, a disabled vehicle, or icy pavement. The alert goes to a dedicated computer network that can analyze it and then send out alerts to other, similarly equipped Mercedes vehicles in the area (keyed to those that are most likely to encounter the hazard, based on their current route). The warning consists of an icon on a map and then, when the car is closer, an audible warning. The system also is set up to automatically receive alerts triggered via airbag deployment or even cars with their hazard lights on. Later, the system could receive alerts from emergency vehicles or from other manufacturers’ vehicles, as the German automakers are working on a common car-communication standard. The more vehicles that are reporting in, the better the information going out will be.

Adaptive LED Matrix Lighting

Adaptive LED Matrix Lighting. Introduced on the CLS for 2014, Mercedes’ Multibeam LED headlamps are enhanced for the 2017 E-class. The individual LED count increases from 24 to 84, each individually controllable—switching between high- and low-beams, and the curve-following adaptive-lighting functions are now achieved entirely via electronics. The light pattern is also altered in city driving or via information from the navigation system (such as when approaching intersections). Additionally, the light unit glows blue, which just looks cool.

Other Safety Stuff. A few lesser items are new, or new to Mercedes. As part of the Pre-Safe collision-readiness technology, the active-contour seats will quickly puff up the outboard bolster in the event some phone-gazing nitwit sails through a red light and T-bones your Benz, giving you a bit more cushion between your ribcage and his grille. When a collision is imminent, the system also puts an interference signal out over the audio system (it sounds like a test of the Emergency Broadcast System), to which occupants’ ears react so they won’t be as startled by the noise of the crash. Inflatable rear seatbelts (seen first on the 2011 Ford Explorer, and currently available in the S-class) also can now be had.

Many of these features build on systems that are already in other Mercedes models, and they will spread to other car lines with new model-year updates. Even so, the new E-class is likely to be ahead of even the S-class in the fields of autonomous driving and connectivity for at least some period after its debut in the middle of 2016. Because in the fast-moving world of automotive high tech, there’s no place for sandbagging.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Via: Car and Driver Blog