Thanks to its acoustic soft top, fitted as standard, the E-Class Cabriolet has one of the quietest interiors in the segment for four-seater premium cabriolets with a fabric roof. The soft top’s exceptionally high-quality insulation brings about a clearly noticeable reduction in the interior noise level compared to conventional fabric soft tops. Exterior noise caused by other vehicles and wind noise are therefore absorbed more effectively. On the road, the difference is audible from speeds of just 80 km/h, for example when driving through a tunnel or overtaking a convoy of trucks. At higher speeds, the benefits of the acoustic soft top are even more tangible. For instance, it is possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode even when travelling at a speed of over 200 km/h.
Three new developments enabled the Mercedes-Benz engineers to reduce the interior noise level substantially: the outer fabric coating on the soft top has been acoustically optimised, while a butyl layer in place of the previous neoprene layer on the inside acts as a water barrier. Finally, the intermediate felt layer is structured differently to that of the previous model. This layer also ensures that the elegant silhouette is not disturbed by bows visible from outside.
The E-Class Cabriolet likewise sets new standards when it comes to all-round visibility – important for both looks and safety. The soft top fabric in the C-pillar area‑is extremely slender thanks to the sophisticated kinematics of the rear windscreen which, rather than being rigidly fixed in place, moves out of the soft top fabric when the roof is opened and closed. Special water pockets prevent moisture ingress at the sides.
Of course, the soft top itself is also waterproof and windproof. Plus it can be put through an automatic car wash without any hesitation. With a total thickness of 23.5 millimetres, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the E-Class Cabriolet is also ideal for use in winter. The heated rear windscreen is made of glass and is therefore scratchproof. The soft top is available in black, blue or beige.
Supreme ease of use was a key criterion when developing the soft top, which is hydraulically operated by means of seven cylinders pressurised by an electric pump. Fully automatic opening and closing of the roof takes around 20 seconds and is possible at speeds of up to 40 km/h. A pull on the control on the centre tunnel is all it takes. Alternatively, the roof can be controlled remotely by pressing a button on the key. The soft top engages automatically at the front roof crossmember.
The soft top is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft top compartment from the boot area; it must be
closed in order to close the soft top. If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the boot capacity is increased by 90 litres to 390 litres.
Differences between the exterior and interior air pressures can cause a ballooning effect on certain cabriolet models when travelling at high speed. But not in the case of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet: a special zip fastener is used to fasten the soft top firmly to the frame over all three bows. This fastening and the short fabric lengths between the supports are effective at preventing ballooning of the roof when travelling at high speed. Sophisticated test equipment was used to measure and document this effect during the road-testing phase.
The cabriolet specialists at Mercedes-Benz also attach great importance to the durability of the fabric soft top. Hence the roof is designed for 20,000 load cycles – the highest figure in this competitive environment – equivalent to opening and closing the soft top once on every day of the year for over 25 years. In the unlikely event of the fully automatic closing mechanism failing, for example due to a flat battery, Mercedes-Benz has seen to it that E-Class Cabriolet drivers will not be left in the rain, since the hydraulic system can be depressurised quickly, enabling the soft top to be closed and locked by hand.
Good things come to those who wait: as far back as the early 1990s, when developing the cabriolet variant of the E-Class of that time (W124), the Mercedes aerodynamicists were looking for ways to reduce turbulence in the interior in order to give all passengers a true open-air experience without the all-too-annoying draught. The project was called KOF4 – from the German for ‘comfortable open-top driving for 4’. They tinkered for some two years before the project was finally shelved in 1992.
People today who see the pictures of the variants tested in the 1990s quickly understand why the company management gave KOF4 the thumbs down: the various draught-stop combinations, which could be mounted on the windscreen and behind the rear seats, looked too clumsy. As ever, the engineers had been very thorough at the start of the project: the basic principles were tested on an A124 prototype in the wind tunnel. The result of these tests is still valid to this day: the only way to achieve the desired effects is to combine a wind deflector at the front, including controlled airflow to elevate the flow, with a draught-stop behind the rear seats. Showing typical Swabian thoroughness, the engineers then tested numerous profiles, louvres and flap solutions to optimise the effect and minimise the amount of installation space required. Their conclusions: satisfactory functioning, but inadequate aesthetics and controllability. The technical design was not yet advanced enough and the components not yet small enough for KOF4 to go into series production.
Shelved but not forgotten: ten years later, in July 2003, the KOF4 project was resurrected for the new E-Class Cabriolet. A specifications book was drawn up, and initial test drives took place as early as November of that year with a louvred variant. The designers tested an active solution, deciding on a pivotable variant. But they were quick to realise that the result did not meet the Mercedes requirements for quality and design.
But Mercedes engineers are nothing if not persistent, and the project was revived again as early as October 2004. This time, they looked at a “snap-on” solution; however, this solution did not deliver the desired success in terms of easy handling. Detailed aerodynamic investigations in this project phase revealed that the KOF4 objectives were achievable: significantly enhanced comfort in the rear seats and no adverse effects for the front passengers when compared with the conventional bracketed draught-stop.
The fourth attempt, which began in late 2005, finally brought the breakthrough: a wind deflector which is retracted into the windscreen frame when not in use, complemented by an adjustable draught-stop between the rear head restraints. A great many design challenges still had to be overcome but, a good four years later and almost 20 years after the first idea, and after non-stop hard work characterised by dogged determination, KOF4 is now going into series production in the new E-Class Cabriolet. Now the roof made of air has a new name – AIRCAP® – to tie in with the name AIRSCARF® used for the neck-level heating system. Now the ‘cap and scarf’ are available as an option for four-seater cabriolets made by Mercedes.
Under the microscope: component and full-vehicle testing
Two summers and two winters in one year
Always on the road all over the world in the very latest cars – this exciting job description applies to test drivers as well as motoring journalists. Jochen Prokein from the Mercedes department responsible for full-vehicle testing is one of the latter and had already clocked up tens of thousands of miles in the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet long before its launch.
But before a new car undergoes full-vehicle testing, the individual components have already come through an exhaustive programme of tests of their own.
Take AIRCAP®, for example: in a special climatic chamber at temperatures between minus 25 and plus 80 degrees Celsius, the front wind deflector was retracted and extended 50,000 times and, on top of this, blasted with dust and water aimed specifically at the bearing points. In addition to this, the component took part in an extreme wind-load test involving wind speeds of between 60 and 250 km/h, in which it had to be activated more than 10,000 times to prove its wind-load resistance. For this test, the “small wind tunnel” in Sindelfingen, usually employed for developing the 1:4 models, had to be put to a different use. In special climatic chambers in which huge amounts of chemicals are admitted, the wind deflector was tested in its opened and closed states, during which time it had to remain resistant to corrosion for an entire vehicle lifetime. Further methods of torture involved carwashes as well as steam-blasting and icing tests.
Only once the individual components have come through this sequence of suffering can full-vehicle testing begin. Then the key factor becomes the interaction of all the components in the vehicle. “We are in effect the first customers,” says Prokein, who organised this part of the testing for the E-Class Cabriolet. “The old rule about a new vehicle having to experience two summers and two winters during testing essentially still applies,” explains Prokein. “The only difference now is that all this has to happen within a single year if possible.” This is why the testers work in two shifts, testing the prototypes on the road day and night.
And they do this all over the world: in Texas, the cars undergo “hot-country testing” in temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius at the Daimler proving ground. “This time, we were particularly keen to see how the AIRCAP® innovation fared in a combination of heat, high humidity and dust,” states Prokein. Naturally, the new draught-stop system also had to withstand these punishing conditions.
Testing also focussed on the standard-fit acoustic soft top, which is stowed in the soft top compartment in a different manner to a conventional soft top on account of its special design. As one would expect, the standard Mercedes test programme for open-top cars also includes frequent activation of the soft top as well as driving on torture tracks to test torsional stiffness.
Further destinations for the team testing the full vehicle included Lower Saxony, Italy and, for winter testing, northern Sweden. The ageing factor in these tests was approximately ten. In other words, 5000 kilometres on the notorious Belgian Block route at the proving ground in Texas are equivalent to around 50,000 kilometres of normal everyday driving, for example.
“We are always on the road with at least four vehicles, and we try to cover as many models in the range as possible,” explains Prokein, who was a designer prior to working in full-vehicle testing. As many different engines, equipment items and appointments as possible – from seats to cover fabrics – are used, since this approach allows the team to assess the interaction between literally all of the components. The test vehicles used by Prokein and his team are always state-of-the-art: whether it be modified components or the latest software updates, whatever is devised during the process of making a new car ready for series production in Sindelfingen goes straight into the cars used for full-vehicle testing.
Under the microscope: flow simulation
Sea of air Sindelfingen
Neither wellingtons nor a compass were required for this expedition as the Mercedes engineers actually discovered a sea of warm air in the wind tunnel. Such volumes of air can also be discovered by means of computer-aided flow simulation, although this requires a great deal of calculation work and aerodynamic know-how. For numeric flow simulations, Mercedes-Benz uses a finite-volume process as a mathematical model. Using the CAD data for the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, Alexander Wäschle and his team constructed a closed surface network.
By modelling the vehicle environment using around 30 million hexahedrons (small cubes), the engineers were able to simulate driving across an open area in a large, virtual wind tunnel. They allowed the air to flow at a realistic speed and with realistic turbulence.
As the flow conditions change very quickly over time whilst driving, the calculations had to be made in a stationary state using many small time steps. This meant that a high processing capacity was required: around 500 processors in parallel performed calculations for some two weeks, allowing the Sindelfingen airflow specialists to analyse the sea of warm air in a virtual environment.
“If you turn things around, the system functions in a similar way, of course,” says AIRCAP® developer Peter Dannhäuser: “If the E-Class Cabriolet driver wants the air conditioning to cool the interior in the summer, AIRCAP® can help again by providing what is essentially a sea of cool air. All at the push of a button.”
Under the microscope: Tanja the test dummy
Half a woman
Tanja shivers. She has just had the most tiring of afternoons involving hours of tough tests. We meet the young lady near where she works: in the wind tunnel at the University of Stuttgart in the suburb of Vaihingen. Mercedes-Benz is a long-term tenant here. And Tanja is a regular. For she is the test dummy the Mercedes developers use to test new cabriolet models in the wind tunnel. And this can take time – hour after hour in severe storms. So it’s hardly surprising that she looks a little dishevelled. But she kindly agreed to be interviewed nonetheless.
– may we call you Tanja…?
Tanja: …of course, that’s what everyone calls me…
So, how did you come by this interesting job?
Tanja: My current employer discovered me in the store room at a boutique and recruited me immediately, marking the end of my career in the shop window. But I was glad to be out of it and get the opportunity to do something really useful. I am a Swabian, after all.
What happened next?
Tanja: The engineers gave me a sleeveless little black number and then set about accessorising my head (minus the usual wig, unfortunately, without which I feel so naked), my neck and my arms with a total of 16 speed sensors to measure the wind flow speed in the interior of the car.
And what happens with these measurements?
Tanja: The measurements are subsequently weighted, since a draught on the neck is far more annoying than a draught on the top of the head. The weighted measured values are then added together to give what is known as a “wellbeing factor”. This figure indicates how effectively people sitting in the cabriolet are protected against draughts.
If we may be so indiscreet, Tanja, you appear to be a just half a woman. Why is this?
Tanja: Well, perhaps that’s because I actually work as a man. Or, to be more exact, as two men: a 75-percent man at the front and a 50-percent man‑in the rear of the car.
Amazing. What are we to understand by this?
Tanja: It’s quite simple. At the front, the way I’m sat means that I’m taller than 75 percent of all men. At the rear, I’m as tall as the average man. But I’m lucky really: my colleague Walter doesn’t have a body at all.
This is the first we’ve heard of Walter.
Tanja: “Heard” is an apt word to use. Walter is a dummy head. They use him to measure wind noise in the cabriolets.
Back to you, Tanja. What happened in the tests?
Tanja: It was tough at the start. AIRCAP® was not yet perfect. And then they started moving the thing in and out, over and over again. There was plenty of noise. At the end of my shift, I was in a bit of a tizzy.
And now?
Tanja: A salvation. You would not believe what it feels like after all that turbulence in the sea of warm air. Even on the rear seats. Even if it does blow around your head a bit more there. Nevertheless, AIRCAP® is top of the list for me when it
comes to quality at the workplace. And the best thing of all is that, if it sometimes gets too warm, you can get a blast of cool air at the push of a button.
One last question: what sort of car would you choose away from work?
Tanja: To be brutally honest, a coupé. I get enough cabriolet driving as part of my job.
Whether you want to feel the wind in your hair or not is entirely up to you: the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is the first car that can fulfil either of these wishes at the push of the button. The innovation behind this is called AIRCAP® – an automatic draught-stop system that reduces interior turbulence at all four seats whilst setting new standards in terms of ease-of-use and acoustic comfort. At the same time, this innovation enables the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet to be driven with the top down in all four seasons – even with a full complement of occupants on board. When paired with the further improved Mercedes innovation AIRSCARF®, it makes open-top driving a highly pleasurable fresh-air experience, even when it is cold outside. Because a ‘cap and scarf’ are always on board.
AIRCAP® consists of two components: a wind deflector that can be extended by around six centimetres with a net in the windscreen frame and a draught-stop between the rear seats. AIRCAP® therefore meets two aerodynamic requirements: the wind deflector elevates the airflow, while the net raises the pressure level in the interior in a controlled manner, thus reducing the backflow, which is curbed and equalised by the draught-stop. Hence the air movements in the interior of the E-Class Cabriolet are reduced substantially, creating a sea of warm air: warm air flowing into the interior from the heating system remains there for much longer when AIRCAP® is activated. Similarly, on extremely hot days, the air conditioning and AIRCAP® allow the passengers to enjoy a pleasantly cool interior, even when the roof is open.
Practical and comfortable: a new dimension of open-top driving
AIRCAP® offers a wealth of benefits over conventional bracketed draught-stops:
Vastly improved all-round visibility
During a product clinic organised by the Mercedes Market Research department, cabriolet drivers were able to test the new system on prototypes – and they welcomed it enthusiastically. Not least because the central control panel can be used to operate the AIRCAP® functions and, at the push of a button, lower all four side windows simultaneously. Furthermore, the driver can activate the AIRCAP® system at speeds of up to 160 km/h, while the system can remain in use right up to the car’s top speed.
The front element of the AIRCAP® system – the wind deflector with perfused net in the windscreen frame – is switched to either on or off. Meanwhile, the small draught-stop between the rear head restraints, together with which it is moved up and down electrically, has three positions: retracted, half extended and fully extended. In the lower position, AIRCAP® is deactivated. When the AIRCAP® button is pressed, the system adopts the middle position, in which case the front occupants enjoy the full benefit of less driving wind, while rear visibility is not impaired. If one of the rear occupants puts on a seat belt (i.e. if at least one of the rear seats is occupied), the head restraint and draught-stop move to their highest positions, meaning that even the rear passengers enjoy better protection from the wind than passengers in conventional cabriolets. Finally, the wind deflector module can also be extended when the roof is up, for cleaning purposes, thanks to a special switching system.
When AIRCAP® is activated, not only is there less draught, meaning increased comfort, the interior noise level is also reduced substantially – all passengers therefore find it much easier to communicate with each other.
How it works: a triumph of aerodynamics and design
Many years of intensive development work were required before AIRCAP® was ready for series production. When the team of aerodynamics experts headed by Peter Dannhäuser and Dr Alexander Wäschle started developing the automatic draught-stop for the E-Class Cabriolet, they seized an idea that had already been tested for the E-Class Cabriolet (model series 124) at the beginning of the 1990s but could not be implemented (see section entitled “Under the microscope – from KOF4 to AIRCAP®”).
The function of the two components soon became clear:
However, many simulations (see section entitled “Under the microscope: flow simulation”) and numerous wind tunnel tests were required to optimise the exact dimensions and positions of the two AIRCAP® elements. Selecting suitable nets proved especially time-consuming: over two hundred different combinations were tested until the optimum material mix was found in terms of through-flow, dirt deflection a Implementing the idea in series production then provided a further major hurdle for the team around Bernd Plocher together with the designers Daniel Seifert and Serkan Fidan. The invention of a new four-link kinematic system allowed them to integrate the extendable wind deflector into the smallest of spaces in the upper windscreen frame without altering the latter’s contours and, therefore, the car’s flowing lines. The intelligent construction and the selection of high-strength lightweight materials enabled them to produce an extremely slender wind deflector. It proved particularly tricky to house the electric drive system in a cavity measuring just three centimetres across – but a specially contracted Swiss supplier eventually came up with a suitable drive motor with a diameter of 1.8 centimetres and a torque of six newton metres.
The wind deflector also had to be designed to withstand the heavy pounding by the wind and weather without letting moisture or dust reach the car’s interior or the sensitive drive components – all of which was verified in extensive tests (see section entitled “Testing” in this press kit). Finally, the protective effect of the windscreen frame had to remain fully intact in the event of roll-over. This was achieved thanks to the integral design of the front wind deflector module with the kinematic elements.
The wind deflector module is also an integral part of the PRE-SAFE® functions for the E-Class Cabriolet.‑If an imminent accident is detected, AIRCAP® retracts into the windscreen frame.
The wind deflector module comprises a total of 211 individual components (motor/gear unit counted as one component), while the 32 different materials used are protected against all environmental influences by 14 different coatings and surfaces. One further number clearly underlines the lengths to which the developers went to enhance comfort for cabriolet drivers: the development is protected by almost 20 patents.
AIRCAP® is a world-first which sees Mercedes-Benz continuing its tradition of using innovations to make open-top driving exceptionally comfortable and safe. It was in 1989 that the brand introduced the first draught-stop as a world premiere in the SL model series – a feature that has now long been standard in roadsters and cabriolets made by many other brands. Here are some of
Mercedes-Benz’s other pioneering achievements:
| Mercedes innovations have been making open-top driving safer and more comfortable for over 45 years | |
| 1963 | Standard equipment for the 230 SL (W 113) included a removable coupé roof. The two-seater’s nickname “Pagoda” was derived from the roof’s classic shape. The removable coupé roof remained a regular feature of Mercedes sports cars up until the launch of the SL with vario-roof (R 230, 2001). |
| 1989 | The automatic roll-over bar and the draught-stop for the Mercedes SL (R 129) were world-firsts in the automotive industry. |
| 1996 | With the first-generation SLK (R 170), Mercedes-Benz revolutionised the idea of open-top driving: the folding top was made from steel rather than fabric, which is why the developers called it the “vario-roof”. |
| 2004 | The Mercedes SLK (R 171) marked the debut of the AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system. This patented system enables conditioned air to flow out of the head restraints to warm the driver and front passenger around the neck area. |
| 2010 | The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is available with the AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop. |
Two thirds of Mercedes SLK and Mercedes SL models are ordered with AIRSCARF®, making the neck-level heating system one of the most popular optional extras for these two model series. This patented system functions like an invisible scarf, which warms the occupants’ head and neck areas. AIRSCARF® is integrated into the backrests of the front seats and provides warm air through outlets in the head restraints. The Mercedes engineers have modified this unique innovation specifically for the E-Class Cabriolet: in this model, an adjustment wheel pivots the outlet nozzle upwards and downwards by a total of 36 degrees over and above the head restraint height adjustment, meaning that the driver and front passenger can enjoy the unique neck-level heating regardless of how short or tall they are.
In combination with the AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop (see page 23 of this press kit), the innovative neck-level heating system is even more effective at providing a flow of warm air, since the air inside the E-Class Cabriolet is already pre-heated before it is taken in by the blower in the backrest and passed through an electric heating element with an output of around 200 W and an operating current of 19 A. From here, the warm air passes through a plastic duct into the head restraint, where it is blown out of the adjustable air outlet. In this way, the Mercedes experts are able to provide warmth for all the occupants and pleasant temperatures at head height for the driver and front passenger when a cold wind is blowing over the Cabriolet.
As well as requiring very little space, this innovative Mercedes technology also has the major advantages of delivering warm air quickly and providing a constant heat output. The heating element in the backrest is based on sophisticated PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) technology: ceramic particles are energised so that they heat up in a matter of seconds and then give out continuous heat. The ceramic system protects itself against overheating by monitoring its own surface temperature and reducing the power consumption automatically when required. Nevertheless, the heating effect remains constant.
AIRSCARF® can be started at the push of a button. At speeds of up to 120 km/h, a control unit calculates the ideal warm air distribution automatically – depending on the interior and exterior temperature, on whether the soft top is open or closed, and on the vehicle speed. Above this speed, the system operates on a constant setting. Furthermore, the driver and front passenger can set the speed of the radial fan and, therefore, the heat supply, to any one of three levels, all at the push of a button on the centre console. The powerful AIRSCARF® system produces up to 27.4 kilograms of warm air per hour.
Shots taken using the thermography camera show how effectively the patented AIRSCARF® system operates at low outside temperatures in winter. Costing some € 50,000, the special camera enables people to see that which usually remains invisible: the heat radiated by persons or objects.
The principle at work here is as follows: at temperatures above absolute zero (i.e. minus 273 degrees Celsius), all objects essentially radiate heat – even ice cubes or snowballs. This thermal energy is infrared light with a wavelength that the human eye cannot perceive. The higher the temperature of the object, the more intense its infrared radiation.
The AIRSCARF® tests conducted by the Mercedes engineers using the thermo-graphy camera are based on this fundamental physical principle. The camera’s highly sensitive lens scans the driver, the seat backrest and parts of the interior, making heat visible: zones with high heat radiation appear in red, violet and white on the monitor, while cooler areas are coloured green or yellow. The dark blue and black areas, on the other hand, are the areas where the temperature is at its lowest. The thermograms clearly show where a large, wide sea of warm air is produced in the E-Class Cabriolet.
In addition, testers wear special measuring shirts during the tests. These garments are equipped with a total of 14 measuring points distributed around the throat, neck and shoulder areas, which can measure the various temperatures individually, allowing the distribution of warm air to be analysed.
When developing the AIRSCARF® components, the Mercedes engineers naturally placed great emphasis on occupant protection. This is why the outlet in the head restraint is slightly recessed and only clips into place. In the event of a crash, the outlet can disengage and move out of the way so as not to pose an injury risk for the occupants’ heads. Furthermore, the fact that the outlet is recessed prevents the head from coming into contact with the hard components when the occupant leans back against the head restraint as normal.
A robust basis is the ideal ingredient for a stiff bodyshell offering a high level of crash safety. It plays a decisive role in ensuring maximum noise-related comfort, outstanding vibration characteristics and hallmark Mercedes-Benz longevity. In these terms, the E-Class Cabriolet had an ideal starting position, given that it is closely related to the E-Class Coupé – a two-door model which meets the very highest requirements when it comes to torsional stiffness and occupant protection.
The same applies to the Cabriolet, which has one of the stiffest designs in its segment. The body’s static torsional stiffness can be seen as a reliable indicator of the excellent cumulative effect of the implemented measures. It has been increased by around 30 percent compared to the outgoing model.
To achieve this figure, the bodyshell of the E-Class Cabriolet received extra reinforcements compared to its Coupé sister model, the most important of which are as follows:
Intelligent lightweight construction: state-of-the-art materials and innovative joining techniques
Despite the enhanced spaciousness, comfort and safety compared to the outgoing model, the weight of the bodyshell has been kept practically the same for the new E-Class Cabriolet thanks to intelligent lightweight construction. High-strength steel alloys account for around 60 percent of the weight. In the case of the side skirts alone, this high-strength, low-weight material reduces weight by some five kilograms.
The design and construction of the bodyshell are likewise weight-optimised. The energy-absorbing front crossmember, for instance, is inserted into the longitudinal members and no longer ends in flange plates. Tailored Blanks made from sheet steel are used in many places, such as on the underbody, where individual blanks of varying thickness and strength are joined by means of laser welding, or on the transmission tunnel, where the blanks optimise structural behaviour and crash performance.
In addition to these measures, the use of state-of-the-art structural adhesive plays a further important part in enhancing the body strength. The total length of the high-strength adhesive seams used in the bodyshell of the E-Class Cabriolet amounts to around 70 metres.
Mercedes-Benz employs innovative “RobScan” robot-guided laser welding for the E-Class Cabriolet. This new welding technology allows a very high welding speed with optimum weld quality. The technology is used in the rear centre section of the Cabriolet – with a total of 26 welds.
Quality right from the start: visual inspection and NVH optimisation
Alongside the usual quality assurance measures, all joining techniques are subject to process monitoring, which ensures quality in each individual stage of production. The MIG (metal inert gas) solder seams, for instance, are monitored by means of a 3D light-strip sensor. The position, width and completeness of the adhesive seams are checked by an integrated camera when the adhesive is applied. The spot welds likewise undergo a visual inspection: the photos taken by a thermography camera confirm whether the spot welds have the correct diameter.
A further important aspect of quality is a car’s NVH behaviour (noise, vibration, harshness). Here, too, the bodyshell plays a key role. Sturdy transverse sections in the floor assembly – known as transmission tunnel braces – along with optimised lower seat crossmember sections and reinforced engine mounts are just some of the NVH measures implemented to improve vibration characteristics.
Easy to repair: reversible bonnet
Development of the E-Class body focussed on customer benefit at all times, as shown by the Active Bonnet, which reduces the risk of injury to pedestrians and features a reversible design.
Further easy-to-repair and, therefore, money-saving solutions include the bolted-on crash boxes at the front and rear as well as the radiator fastening.
In 1984, the E-Class (model series W124) achieved an aerodynamic landmark, posting a cd figure of 0.29. It became, and remains, the benchmark against which all saloons have to be measured – a benchmark that very few manage to match. Design elements such as smooth surfaces, an inwards-drawn rear end and a clear spoiler lip on the boot lid remain at the heart of good aerodynamic design to this day.
Since then, Mercedes has been working tirelessly to reduce this figure by yet more crucial hundredths. After all, lowering the cd figure by 0.01 is equivalent to a reduction of one gram of CO2 per kilometre (NEDC), or two grams in the case of average real consumption, and as many as five grams of CO2 per kilometre at 150 km/h.
The new E-Class family is the new benchmark in the automotive world. Although the base tyres are becoming increasingly wide – not necessarily to the delight of the aerodynamicists – and the wheels are becoming increasingly large, the Saloon version is one of the world’s most streamlined four-door models, with a cd figure of 0.25. And the Coupé model’s cd figure of 0.24 is a new record for production cars.
The detailed work behind this development is highlighted by the following examples:
The new E-Class Cabriolet also benefits from all of these measures. Naturally, the fabric soft top cannot quite match the closed sheet-metal design of the Coupé. But the fabric and the contours of the folding top have been optimised to such an extent (see the section entitled “The roof” in this press kit) that the Cabriolet likewise achieves the best aerodynamic performance in its segment with a cd figure of 0.28.
Calmness itself: acoustic optimisation right from the start
Wind noise is another discipline of aerodynamics. Key requirements for a low wind noise level in the interior include draughtproof door and window seals. This requirement especially applies to cars with frameless side windows such as the new E-Class Coupé and Cabriolet.
Measuring tools such as dummy heads and directional microphones enable even the slightest weakspots to be pinpointed. These can then be eliminated by implementing the best possible technical solutions. At a very early stage in the development of the new, sporty E-Class model, a three-metre concave acoustic mirror was used to optimise the exterior shape of the A-pillars and the shape of the exterior mirrors in the wind tunnel.
The Cabriolet model marks the debut of a new acoustic soft top, which is fitted as standard, meaning that the E-Class interior has one of the lowest noise levels in the segment for four-seater premium cabriolets with a fabric soft top. It is therefore possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode at speeds of over 200 km/h. Further details can be found in the section entitled “The roof” in this press kit.
A further innovation is likewise designed to enhance comfort: now the front seat belt straps no longer run horizontally but, instead, are turned 35 degrees towards the occupants’ shoulders. The advantage of this modification is that the wind pressure on the outside of the belt strap prevents annoying belt flapping when driving with the roof down. This “shoulder-knocking” effect has been reduced substantially at speeds of up to 120 km/h.
Under the microscope: aerodynamics
Technology for efficiency
Resistance that does not have to be overcome requires no power and, therefore, does not cause fuel consumption. As motor vehicles increase their speed, wind resistance above all becomes a factor, as it increases at the square of the vehicle speed: at a speed of around 80 km/h, it becomes greater than the sum of all other driving resistance, making it the key variable when determining the overall resistance. But even at lower speeds, the 1.2 kg or so of air per cubic metre that the car has to get through must not be neglected: in a modern car, assuming a typical customer driving cycle, around two litres of fuel per 100 kilometres are required just to overcome the wind resistance.
Wind resistance is determined by the vehicle speed, the air density and two further factors: the frontal area of the vehicle and the drag coefficient (cd figure). Whereas there is a significant difference between the frontal area of a roadster and that of a SUV, for instance, the difference between two vehicles in the same segment is far less pronounced: comfort and safety requirements determine the dimensions of the car, especially its height and width. Mounted components such as the exterior mirrors cannot simply be reduced to any size, since statutory requirements have to be met here.
Hence the main focus when developing a vehicle is to split the air ahead of the vehicle so that the flow is as unrestricted as possible and then bring the air together again as smoothly as possible behind the vehicle. The cd figure indicates how successfully this is achieved. But here, too, practice has shown that there are limits. Fully closed wheel covers, for example, are neither visually appealing nor beneficial for brake cooling. The aerodynamically ideal droplet shape with a long and tapered rear end, for instance, can be discounted immediately because of the length of parking spaces and garages, not to mention dimensional concept requirements such as the rear seat width, sufficient boot width and boot loadability. What’s more, the air has to be channelled around the vehicle so that the side windows do not become dirty and hamper the driver’s view of the exterior mirrors. A cooling air control system ensures that air flows through the radiator to provide the required degree of cooling here. Another important criterion in aerodynamic development work is driving stability, which is influenced by the front and rear axle lift.
From the very first drawings onwards, the Mercedes designers were sure of one thing: only a classic fabric soft top can convey a stylistically pure cabriolet feeling. Consequently, the new E-Class Cabriolet, which combines an elegant appearance with a high awareness of tradition, had to have a soft top. Viewed from the side, the two-door model therefore offers an enticing mix of clear proportions and a flawless cabriolet silhouette, including a long bonnet, wide doors, a high beltline with elongated side windows, a lowered soft top contour, and a short rear overhang. This look is complemented by the powerfully muscular section in the side wall at the rear axle and a slender C-pillar.
As well as sharing family traits with the other E-Class models, the new Cabriolet has its own, distinct identity characterised by a greater sense of passion. The arrow shape of the entire front section from front bumper to radiator grille to bonnet, the more extreme interpretation of the twin headlamp face and its more sinewy build give it a racier and more dynamic presence than the Saloon. At the same time, the close family ties with the E-Class Coupé are clearly apparent.
Powerful styling accentuates the sleek, flowing lines
A special characteristic of the contemporary Mercedes design idiom is the creative interplay of edges and surfaces. Taut, sharply defined lines, which grow out of surfaces organically and disappear into them again equally gently, structure the sides of the Cabriolet. The high shoulderline, a prominent, downward-pointing feature line (another contemporary Mercedes styling element) and a second structuring line delimit the sensitively sculpted surfaces. Alternately concave and convex, these create a sleek yet sharply defined flow of lines which creates a fascinating interplay of reflected incident light.
Arrow-shaped front and dominant radiator grille
From the front bumper to the radiator grille to the bonnet, the pronounced arrow shape of the front section emphasises the sporty character of the Cabriolet. A central crease in the bonnet picks up this shape and trails back towards the windscreen. A wide, upright radiator grille with two louvres, striking chrome strips, a powerful chrome surround and the central star testifies to status and self-assurance in time-honoured Mercedes style. The grille makes an effortlessly superior, expressive statement of the brand’s identity.
The traditional twin headlamp face is based on that of the new E-Class Saloon, but has its own distinct identity. Longer, more sharply inclined and flatter, the headlamps have a more dynamic look which is unmistakable. With their elaborate, high-tech interior and quadrant-shaped indicators, they add a sparkling finishing touch to the front of the car.
A distinctive front apron with large air intakes gives the vehicle a strong, powerful presence. Two vertical struts in the front apron provide visual support for the radiator grille and give it a substantial formal base. Depending on the model version, the bumper houses either the fog lamps or the daytime driving lights and fog lamps side by side. In the versions with bi-xenon headlamps, L-shaped daytime driving lights based on LED technology give the car an expressive look.
Powerful rear with innovative lights
“Powerful and not afraid to show it” could be the motto for the rear section of the new E-Class Cabriolet: the rear wings spanning the rear axle are sculpted to create a powerful, muscular form which visually enhances the car’s width. The distinctive feature line – a characteristic Mercedes styling element – is continued masterfully around the back of the vehicle and into the tail lights, thereby forming a link between front and rear.
The LED tail lights are split and extend from the boot lid far into the side wall. In so doing, they emphasise the width and dynamism of the vehicle. Their innovative lighting technology is particularly noteworthy. An LED background lighting system provides indirect illumination of the three-dimensional back cavity in both light units and in this way sets the basic background lighting tone. Twin light arrays with twin LED light guides stand out against the background lighting. These light arrays accommodate the tail lights and the brake lights, while the reversing lights and the LED‑fog lamp are integrated in the boot lid light clusters.
The narrowness of the gap between the light unit on the boot lid and that on the side wall, as well as the extremely precise bevelling of the adjacent light lenses allows light transmission between the two sections. As a result, the night design of the new Cabriolet maintains the perceived width and harmonious appearance of the rear section.
Interior with sporty lines and high perceived value
In the interior, the designers have continued the taut, sporty design idiom of the exterior. The compelling interplay of surfaces and clearly defined lines creates an interior whose elegance and high perceived value are evocative of modern architecture. The cockpit is structured horizontally with a dark upper section in order to avoid unwanted reflections. Interior appointments in two colours – in keeping with the logic of the two-level structure – create intriguing contrasts.
With its sporty look and feel, the cockpit design is clearly in keeping with the agile character of the new Cabriolet. The instrument cluster with five tubes for the dials and a central display has a slender look, while the dials themselves are clearly laid out and have high-quality chrome surrounds as well as a silver backing for the scales. The background colour of the dashboard is silver or black, depending on the choice of trim parts. The three-spoke steering wheel with multifunction buttons is available in a number of different versions and colours in order to match the interior appointments.
Next to the instrument cluster – and therefore in the primary field of vision of the driver and front passenger – is the display area for the control and display system for the radio, navigation system and other functions. The system is operated by means of a rotary and push-action Controller, which falls conveniently to hand in front of the asymmetrically split armrest between the front seats. This armrest also serves as a handrest when operating the Controller. Beneath this are the control buttons for the soft top and AIRCAP®. The horizontally divided dashboard merges into a dynamic, arrow-shaped centre console in which the air-conditioning controls, for example, are integrated.
Sporty individual seats for the rear passengers, too
The new E-Class Cabriolet is an out-and-out four-seater and also has sportily designed individual seats in the rear. The front integral seats with pronounced, faceted side bolsters and transverse piping on the seat cushion have a light, contemporary look and immediately create a distinctly sporty impression, while offering excellent seating comfort. Another notable characteristic of the seats is the high-quality, hand-stitched workmanship featuring discreet flat-felled seams. Further highlights include the audio system’s loudspeakers housed in the soft top compartment cover, which add an extra visual touch, especially when the roof is open.
Fine materials
The whole interior is dominated by pleasing surface finishes. Trim elements made from valuable, authentic materials emphasise the high-quality of the new Cabriolet. The sporty two-door model is equipped as standard with brushed aluminium trim parts with a sporty spin finish. Customers can also choose from fine woods: burr walnut, high-gloss black ash or the graphic linearity of pine. In all cases, the trim parts have a thin chrome strip along their upper edge.
The highly appealing and emotionally charged Cabriolet is the latest addition to the successful Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up. The open-top two-door model features a classic fabric soft top, making for a stylistically pure cabriolet feeling. Viewed from the side, the new model is an intriguing proposition – with clear proportions and a flawless cabriolet silhouette.
In keeping with the motto “four seasons, four passengers”, all-year-round suitability was right at the top of the developers’ list of priorities. With the new E‑Class Cabriolet, the open-top season lasts the whole year because, while many cabriolets tend to disappear from the roads of Western Europe in the autumn, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (length/width/height: 4698/1786/1402 mm) continues to provide driving pleasure and comfort at this time of year.
New features include:
The soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds – even when driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The cabriolet roof is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft-top compartment from the boot area; it must be closed in order to close the soft top. If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the boot capacity is increased by 90 litres to 390 litres. A through-loading feature is included as standard for the new Cabriolet, as is EASY-ENTRY – a manually operated entry and exit aid for the rear passengers.
The powerplants for the new E-Class Cabriolet are equally innovative: the new direct-injection diesel and petrol models combine efficiency with effortlessly superior power delivery. The exemplary, low fuel consumption is not only down to the new engines, but also thanks to a number of practical measures. These include on-demand activation of the steering and fuel pumps, the use of tyres with low rolling resistance, and an alternator control system which takes account of the current driving situation and the vehicle’s electrical power requirements, plus the crucial factor of outstanding aerodynamics. The Cabriolet’s cd figure of 0.28 is the best in its class, marking a continuation of the E-Class success story in the field of aerodynamics.
An overview of the engines :
Less turbulence, easier to use: AIRCAP® is a world-first
In 1989, Mercedes-Benz introduced a world premiere in the shape of a draught-stop for the SL model series, followed in 2004 by the AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system to further enhance comfort in open-top models. Now comes another world-first: the AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop, which can be activated at the push of a button, greatly reduces turbulence in the interior of the new Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, creating a “sea of warm air”. It is also much easier to implement and use than conventional draught-stops: there is no tricky installation, the two individual rear seats are easily accessible and the Cabriolet’s flowing side lines remain uninterrupted. AIRCAP® is therefore a classic Mercedes innovation: functional, comfort-enhancing, elegant and safe .
AIRCAP® consists of two components: a wind deflector that can be extended by around six centimetres with a net in the windscreen frame and a draught-stop between the rear seats.
The functions of the two components:
As well as enhancing occupant comfort and wellbeing, the reduction in draught when AIRCAP® is activated (it can be activated at speeds of up to 160 km/h and can remain in use right up to the car’s top speed) reduces the interior noise level – so passengers in all seats find it much easier to communicate with each other.
The Cabriolet Comfort package includes AIRCAP® with AIRSCARF®. This patented system functions like an invisible scarf, which warms the occupants’ head and neck areas. AIRSCARF® is integrated into the backrests of the front seats and provides warm air through outlets in the head restraints.
The Mercedes engineers have modified this unique innovation specifically for
the E-Class Cabriolet: in this model, an adjustment wheel pivots the outlet nozzle upwards and downwards by a total of 36 degrees over and above the head restraint height-adjustment range, meaning that the driver and front passenger can enjoy the unique neck-level heating regardless of how short or tall they are.
Quiet, warm and windproof: acoustic soft top fitted as standard
Thanks to its acoustic soft top fitted as standard, when closed the E-Class Cabriolet has one of the quietest interiors in the segment for four-seater premium cabriolets with a fabric roof. The soft top’s exceptionally high-quality insulation brings about a clearly noticeable reduction in the interior noise level compared to conventional fabric soft tops. Exterior noise caused by other vehicles and wind noise are therefore absorbed more effectively. On the road, the difference is audible from speeds of just 80 km/h, for example when driving through a tunnel or overtaking a convoy of trucks. At higher speeds, the benefits of the acoustic soft top are even more tangible. For instance, it is possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode even when travelling at a speed of over 200 km/h.
The soft top is of course waterproof and windproof. Plus it can be put through an automatic carwash without any hesitation. With a total thickness of 23.5 mm, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the E‑Class Cabriolet is also ideal for use in winter.
Safety: robust structure, anticipatory protection and windowbags
The new Cabriolet offers the wealth of safety innovations one would expect from a Mercedes model. Highlights of the open-top two-door model include roll-over protection, the A-pillars reinforced by two additional tubes and the plug-in B‑pillars. This new model is also the first Mercedes cabriolet to feature headbags.
The roll-over protection consists of two robust bars, each with a diameter of 35 mm, which are housed in the rear head restraints in modules behind the rear seat backrests. A tilting cone sensor detects imminent danger to the occupants based on extreme skidding movements or acceleration caused by impact. If this sensor then sends a corresponding signal, pre-tensioned pressure springs are activated by pyrotechnic means, i.e. extremely quickly.
Consequently, both roll-over bars in the rear head restraints are extended. They reach their highest point and are locked automatically within a fraction of a second. In combination with the robust A-pillars, the steel bars provide highly effective roll-over protection. The plug-in B-pillars are extremely robustly connected as they engage in the side skirts, thus offering highly effective protection in the event of a crash. A shoe made from ultra-high-strength steel braces the inside of the B-pillar against the rear seat crossmember.
With seven airbags fitted as standard, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seats, not to mention crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger, the new E-Class Cabriolet offers the most extensive safety equipment package in this vehicle category. The airbags, which can deploy in milliseconds in the event of an accident, include front airbags and sidebags for the driver and front passenger, a kneebag on the driver’s side, and headbags. The latter, which appear in a Mercedes cabriolet for the first time, are housed in the door panelling in the beltline area. Covering a wide area – around 0.7 x 0.5 metres, with a volume of 17 litres when deployed – the airbags provide extremely effective protection for large and small occupants in the event of a crash. The side protection system – comprising headbag and thoraxbag – optimises the level of protection afforded to individual parts of the body. Rear sidebags are available as an option.
Further exemplary safety equipment available for the E-Class Cabriolet includes ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection, the sophisticated Intelligent Light System, the Active Bonnet and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control.
The highly appealing and emotionally charged Cabriolet is the latest addition to the successful Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up. The open-top two-door model, which goes on sale on 11 January 2010, features a classic fabric soft top, making for a stylistically pure cabriolet feeling. Viewed from the side, the new model is an intriguing proposition – with its clear proportions and a flawless cabriolet silhouette.
In keeping with the motto “four seasons, four passengers”, all-year-round suitability was right at the top of the developers’ list of priorities. With the new E‑Class Cabriolet, the cabriolet season lasts the whole year because, while many cabriolets tend to disappear from the roads of Western Europe in the autumn, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (length/width/height: 4698/1786/1402 mm) provides driving pleasure and comfort whether the roof is open or closed.
New features include:
The soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds – even when driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The cabriolet roof is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft top compartment from the boot area; it must be closed in order to close the soft top. If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the boot capacity is increased by 90 litres to 390 litres. A through-loading feature is included as standard for the new Cabriolet, as is EASY-ENTRY – a manually operated entry and exit aid for the rear passengers.
The powerplants for the new E-Class Cabriolet are equally innovative: the new direct-injection diesel and petrol models combine efficiency with effortlessly superior power delivery. The exemplary, low fuel consumption has not only been achieved because of the new engines, but also with a number of practical measures. These include on-demand activation of the steering and fuel pumps, the use of tyres with low rolling resistance and an alternator control system which takes account of the current driving situation and the vehicle’s electrical power requirements, plus the crucial factor of outstanding aerodynamics. The Cabriolet’s cd figure of 0.28 is the best in its class, marking a continuation of the E-Class success story in the field of aerodynamics.
An overview of the engines:
In 1989, Mercedes-Benz introduced a world premiere in the shape of a draught-stop for the SL model series, followed in 2004 by the AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system to further enhance comfort in open-top models. Now comes another world-first: the AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop, which can be activated at the push of a button, greatly reduces turbulence in the interior of the new Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, creating a sea of warm air. It is also much easier to implement and use than conventional draught-stops: there is no tricky installation, the two individual rear seats remain free and the Cabriolet’s flowing side lines remain uninterrupted. AIRCAP® is therefore a classic Mercedes innovation: functional, comfort-enhancing, elegant and safe.
AIRCAP® consists of two components: a wind deflector that can be extended by around six centimetres with a net in the windscreen frame and a draught-stop between the rear seats.
The functions of the two components:
As well as enhancing occupant comfort and wellbeing, the reduction in draught when AIRCAP® is activated (it can be activated at speeds of up to 160 km/h and remains in use right up to the car’s top speed) reduces the interior noise level – so passengers in all seats find it far easier to communicate.
The Cabriolet Comfort package includes AIRCAP® with AIRSCARF®. This patented system functions like an invisible scarf, which warms the occupants’ head and neck areas. AIRSCARF® is integrated into the backrests of the front seats and provides warm air through outlets in the head restraints.
The Mercedes engineers have modified this unique innovation specifically for the E-Class Cabriolet: in this model, an adjustment wheel pivots the outlet nozzle upwards and downwards by a total of 36 degrees over and above the head restraint height adjustment, meaning that the driver and front passenger can enjoy the unique neck-level heating regardless of how short or tall they are.
Quiet, warm and windproof: acoustic soft top fitted as standard
Thanks to its acoustic soft top, fitted as standard, even the closed E-Class Cabriolet has one of the quietest interiors in the segment for four-seater premium
cabriolets with a fabric roof. The soft top’s exceptionally high-quality insulation brings about a clearly noticeable reduction in the interior noise level compared to conventional fabric soft tops. Exterior noise caused by other vehicles and wind noise are therefore absorbed more effectively. On the road, the difference is audible from speeds of just 80 km/h, for example when driving through a tunnel or overtaking a convoy of trucks. At higher speeds, the benefits of the acoustic soft top are even more tangible. For instance, it is possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode even when travelling at a speed of over 200 km/h.
The soft top is of course waterproof and windproof. Plus it can be put through an automatic car wash without any hesitation. With a total thickness of 23.5 mm, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the E-Class Cabriolet is also ideal for use in winter.
Safety: robust structure, anticipatory protection and windowbags
The new Cabriolet offers the wealth of safety innovations one would expect from a Mercedes model. Highlights of the open-top two-door model include roll-over protection, the A-pillars reinforced by two additional tubes and the plug-in B‑pillars. This new model is also the first Mercedes cabriolet to feature headbags.
The roll-over protection consists of two robust bars, each with a diameter of 35 mm, which are housed in the rear head restraints in modules behind the rear seat backrests. A tilting cone sensor detects imminent danger to the occupants based on extreme skidding movements or acceleration caused by impact. If this sensor then sends a corresponding signal, pre-tensioned pressure springs are activated by pyrotechnic means, i.e. extremely quickly.
Consequently, both roll-over bars in the rear head restraints are extended. They reach their highest point and are locked automatically within a fraction of a second. In combination with the robust A-pillars, each of which is reinforced with two high-strength steel tubes, the steel bars provide highly effective roll-over protection.
The plug-in B-pillars are extremely robustly connected as they engage in the side skirts, thus offering highly effective protection in the event of a crash. A shoe made from ultra-high-strength steel braces the inside of the B-pillar against the rear seat crossmember.
With seven airbags fitted as standard, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seats, not to mention crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger, the new E-Class Cabriolet offers the most extensive safety equipment package in this vehicle category. The airbags, which can deploy in milliseconds in the event of an accident, include front airbags and sidebags for the driver and front passenger, a kneebag on the driver’s side, and headbags. The latter, which appear in a Mercedes cabriolet for the first time, are housed in the door panelling in the beltline area. Covering a wide area – around 0.7 x 0.5 metres with a volume of 17 litres when deployed – the airbags provide extremely effective protection for occupants large and small in the event of a crash. The three-part side protection system – comprising headbag and thoraxbag – optimises the level of protection afforded to individual parts of the body. Rear sidebags are available as an option.
Further exemplary safety equipment available for the E-Class Cabriolet includes ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection, the sophisticated Intelligent Light System, the Active Bonnet and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control.
Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the world premiere of the new E-Class Cabriolet at the North American International Autoshow 2010. It not only completes the successful E-Class family, but also features a world first: the AIRCAP® draught-stop, an easily operated system that considerably reduces wind turbulence in the open interior of this all-year convertible. The stars on show in Detroit also include the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a Gullwing model that combines automotive passion and high-tech at the highest level. Mercedes-Benz is also presenting a surprise in the shape of a beautifully executed automobile sculpture, a work that alluringly communicates car design as a new art form.
Mercedes-Benz is adding a particularly attractive and emotionally appealing member to the successful E-Class family with the new Cabriolet. Thanks to its classic fabric soft-top, this four-seater convertible provides open-air driving pleasure in its purest form.
In line with the motto “Four seasons, four people”, all-year suitability was at the top of the specification list for the developers. Features ensuring year-round open-top driving enjoyment include the automatic AIRCAP® air deflector and draught-stop system. This can be deployed at the touch of a button, and considerably reduces wind turbulence in the interior of the new Mercedes E-Class‑Cabriolet, so that a “warm air bath” is created even when the roof is open. It also eliminates the installation procedure for conventional angled draught-stops, the individual rear seats remain accessible and the side contours of the Cabriolet are not disrupted.
Comfortable travel with the roof closed is ensured by the standard acoustic soft-top, which has a particularly high level of sound insulation. With the roof closed, the E-Class Cabriolet has one of the quietest interiors in the four-seater premium convertible segment with a fabric roof. The roof can be fully automatically opened and closed within 20 seconds – and even on the move up to a speed of 40 km/h.
Standard equipment also includes a further development of the AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system integrated into the front seat backrests, which blows warm air from adjustable vents in the head restraints to warm the neck and shoulder area of the seat occupant like an invisible scarf.
The E-Class is the heart of the Mercedes-Benz brand. With the new Cabriolet, the E-Class family now has four attractive models. Trailblazing innovations characterise all the variants in the E-Class model series. They include direct-injection diesel and petrol models that combine high efficiency with superior power delivery. Exemplary safety features include the drowsiness detection system “ATTENTION ASSIST”, the preventive occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®, the advanced technology of the “Intelligent Light System”, the active bonnet and the proximity control system “DISTRONIC PLUS”.
Over and above the innovations shared by all the models in this family, the individual variants have new features that enhance comfort, safety and attractiveness on a model-specific basis. The E-Class is the clear leader in its market segment: In Germany the market share of the E-Class Limousine in its comparative segment is approx. 60 percent and in Western Europe (excluding Germany) over 40 percent.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, due to be launched in spring 2010 offers automotive passion and high-tech at the highest level. This Gullwing model dazzles with its purist design, intelligent lightweight construction and superior handling dynamics. The new SLS AMG is nothing short of a masterpiece by Mercedes-AMG GmbH. As its first completely independently developed vehicle, the super sports car is the highlight in the company’s‑more than 40-year history.
The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is an alluring proposition with its unrivalled technology package: an aluminium spaceframe body with gullwing doors, AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid-engine developing 420 kW (571 hp) peak output, 650 Nm of torque and dry sump lubrication, seven-speed double-declutch transmission in a transaxle configuration, sports suspension with aluminium double wishbones – this superlative combination guarantees driving dynamics of the highest order. This ‘Gullwing’ accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and has a top speed of 317 km/h (electronically limited).
The purist design of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG impresses with its passionate sportiness, and reinterprets the breathtaking lines of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. As the stylistic highlight, the striking gullwing doors give the SLS AMG an incomparable charisma.
Art and automobile design
Mercedes-Benz is not only treating visitors to the North American International Autoshow 2010 in Detroit to the E-Class Cabriolet and the SLS AMG, but also to a beautifully executed automobile sculpture. It represents a vehicle body taking soft, flowing form from a level surface, suggesting the shape of a car in a sophisticated and encoded manner – as an exclusive, sensuous creation. The sculpture is therefore a work that alluringly communicates car design as a new art form. It shows that designing and modelling at Mercedes-Benz Design has a great deal to do with creativity and the work of artists. Naturally the sculpture also challenges the onlooker to speculate which future, real product may be nearing the end of its flowing design process here.
The highly appealing and emotionally charged Cabriolet is the latest addition to the successful Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up. The open-top two-door model, which goes on sale on 11 January 2010, features a classic fabric soft top, making for a stylistically pure cabriolet feeling. Viewed from the side, the new model is an intriguing proposition – with its clear proportions and a flawless cabriolet silhouette.
In keeping with the motto “four seasons, four passengers”, all-year-round suitability was right at the top of the developers’ list of priorities. With the new E‑Class Cabriolet, the cabriolet season lasts the whole year because, while many cabriolets tend to disappear from the roads of Western Europe in the autumn, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (length/breadth/height: 4698/1786/1402 mm) provides driving pleasure and comfort whether the roof is open or closed.
New features include:
The soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds – even when driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The cabriolet roof is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft top compartment from the boot area; it must be closed in order to close the soft top. If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the boot capacity is increased by 90 litres to 390 litres. A through-loading feature is included as standard for the new Cabriolet, as is EASY-ENTRY – a manually operated entry and exit aid for the rear passengers.
The powerplants for the new E-Class Cabriolet are equally innovative: the new direct-injection diesel and petrol models combine efficiency with effortlessly superior power delivery. The exemplary, low fuel consumption has not only been achieved because of the new engines, but also with a number of practical measures. These include on-demand activation of the steering and fuel pumps, the use of tyres with low rolling resistance and an alternator control system which takes account of the current driving situation and the vehicle’s electrical power requirements, plus the crucial factor of outstanding aerodynamics. The Cabriolet’s cd figure of 0.28 is the best in its class, marking a continuation of the E-Class success story in the field of aerodynamics.
An overview of the engines:
In 1989, Mercedes-Benz introduced a world premiere in the shape of a draught-stop for the SL model series, followed in 2004 by the AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system to further enhance comfort in open-top models. Now comes another world-first: the AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop, which can be activated at the push of a button, greatly reduces turbulence in the interior of the new Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, creating a sea of warm air. It is also much easier to implement and use than conventional draught-stops: there is no tricky installation, the two individual rear seats remain free and the Cabriolet’s flowing side lines remain uninterrupted. AIRCAP® is therefore a classic Mercedes innovation: functional, comfort-enhancing, elegant and safe.
AIRCAP® consists of two components: a wind deflector that can be extended by around six centimetres with a net in the windscreen frame and a draught-stop between the rear seats.
The functions of the two components:
As well as enhancing occupant comfort and wellbeing, the reduction in draught when AIRCAP® is activated (it can be activated at speeds of up to 160 km/h and remains in use right up to the car’s top speed) reduces the interior noise level – so passengers in all seats find it far easier to communicate. The Cabriolet Comfort package includes AIRCAP® with AIRSCARF®. This patented system functions like an invisible scarf, which warms the occupants’ head and neck areas. AIRSCARF® is integrated into the backrests of the front seats and provides warm air through outlets in the head restraints.
The Mercedes engineers have modified this unique innovation specifically for the E-Class Cabriolet: in this model, an adjustment wheel pivots the outlet nozzle upwards and downwards by a total of 36 degrees over and above the head restraint height adjustment, meaning that the driver and front passenger can enjoy the unique neck-level heating regardless of how short or tall they are.
Quiet, warm and windproof: acoustic soft top fitted as standard
Thanks to its acoustic soft top, fitted as standard, even the closed E-Class Cabriolet has one of the quietest interiors in the segment for four-seater premium cabriolets with a fabric roof. The soft top’s exceptionally high-quality insulation brings about a clearly noticeable reduction in the interior noise level compared to conventional fabric soft tops. Exterior noise caused by other vehicles and wind noise are therefore absorbed more effectively. On the road, the difference is audible from speeds of just 80 km/h, for example when driving through a tunnel or overtaking a convoy of trucks. At higher speeds, the benefits of the acoustic soft top are even more tangible. For instance, it is possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode even when travelling at a speed of over 200 km/h.
The soft top is of course waterproof and windproof. Plus it can be put through an automatic carwash without any hesitation. With a total thickness of 23.5 mm, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the E-Class Cabriolet is also ideal for use in winter.
Safety: robust structure, anticipatory protection and windowbags
The new Cabriolet offers the wealth of safety innovations one would expect from a Mercedes model. Highlights of the open-top two-door model include roll-over protection, the A-pillars reinforced by two additional tubes and the plug-in B‑pillars. This new model is also the first Mercedes cabriolet to feature headbags.
The roll-over protection consists of two robust bars, each with a diameter of 35 mm, which are housed in the rear head restraints in modules behind the rear seat backrests. A tilting cone sensor detects imminent danger to the occupants based on extreme skidding movements or acceleration caused by impact. If this sensor then sends a corresponding signal, pre-tensioned pressure springs are activated by pyrotechnic means, i.e. extremely quickly.
Consequently, both roll-over bars in the rear head restraints are extended. They reach their highest point and are locked automatically within a fraction of a second. In combination with the robust A-pillars, each of which is reinforced with two high-strength steel tubes, the steel bars provide highly effective roll-over protection.
The plug-in B-pillars are extremely robustly connected as they engage in the side skirts, thus offering highly effective protection in the event of a crash. A shoe made from ultra-high-strength steel braces the inside of the B-pillar against the rear seat crossmember.
With seven airbags fitted as standard, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seats, not to mention crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger, the new E-Class Cabriolet offers the most extensive safety equipment package in this vehicle category. The airbags, which can deploy in milliseconds in the event of an accident, include front airbags and sidebags for the driver and front passenger, a kneebag on the driver’s side, and headbags. The latter, which appear in a Mercedes cabriolet for the first time, are housed in the door panelling in the beltline area. Covering a wide area – around 0.7 x 0.5 metres with a volume of 17 litres when deployed – the airbags provide extremely effective protection for occupants large and small in the event of a crash. The three-part side protection system – comprising headbag and thoraxbag – optimises the level of protection afforded to individual parts of the body. Rear sidebags are available as an option.
Further exemplary safety equipment available for the E-Class Cabriolet includes ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection, the sophisticated Intelligent Light System, the Active Bonnet and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control. The E-Class range: four attractive models An innovative family at the heart of the brand Complete: the Cabriolet is the fourth model in the E-Class range Innovative: all variants are characterised by ground-breaking new products and features
Successful: the E-Class is the clear leader in its market segment
In March 2009 Mercedes-Benz embarked on the renewal of the E-Class model family – one year later, with the market launch of the Cabriolet, the portfolio will be complete. A number of technical innovations have been incorporated into the new E-Class which no other car in this class is able to offer – from drowsiness detection to automatic emergency braking when an accident is recognised as imminent, and from Adaptive Highbeam Assist to the active bonnet. The E-Class is one the safest vehicles in its segment, a fact which has also been proven by independent crash tests and the specialist press.
In addition, there is a wide selection of powerful and efficient engines which is set to be systematically extended over the coming months. Depending on model, these range from the innovative E 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY producing 100 kW (136 hp) up to the E 500 producing 285 kW (388 hp). There are also AMG versions producing 386 kW (525 hp) and the all-wheel drive system 4MATIC. Exemplary aerodynamics are yet another feature of the model range: with a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.25, the saloon is the most aerodynamically efficient four-door car in the world, while the model range’s Coupé achieves the best overall figure for a series-production car with a Cd figure of just 0.24.
“The renewal of the E-Class model family at the heart of the Mercedes brand has come at precisely the right time. The success of the new E-Class shows that even in what are now economically turbulent times, Mercedes brand values such as safety and efficiency, combined with exciting design, enjoy particular significance among discerning customers”, explains Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
As such the E-Class is the clear leader in its market segment: in Germany the E‑Class Saloon enjoys a market share of around 60 percent in its respective segment, while in Western Europe (excluding Germany) its share is more than 40 percent.
The four models in the current Mercedes luxury class series:
Market launch: March 2010
Besides the innovations which all of the models of this family share, the individual variants have a number of new products and features to enhance the comfort, safety and appeal which are specific to this model. With the new AIRCAP® feature, enhanced AIRSCARF® and also the standard acoustic soft top, the new E-Class Cabriolet for example provides all-year-round comfort which is unique in the segment of open-top vehicles. “The development of AIRCAP® is an example of the perseverance and tenacity of our engineers and technicians: convinced of the customer benefit of an automatic draught-stop, our specialists have finally found the Mercedes solution, which at the press of a button helps to significantly reduce turbulence in the car’s interior for all passengers – it is easy to use and always there. In this way we are enabling our customers to enjoy comfortable, open-top driving all year round”, says Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler Board Member for Corporate Research and Head of Development of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
For its part, in addition to air suspension with self-levelling at the rear as standard, the Estate model also provides unique new load compartment management features.
“Never before have we had such an effective presence with our E-Class model series as we have with today’s range. Saloon, Estate, Coupé and Cabriolet all share the same winning gene, yet appeal to our customers in a very individual way. This mixture has been extremely well received by our customers. With the new Cabriolet we are complementing our successful E-Class family with yet another particularly emotionally appealing model, in which our customers can continue to enjoy the Cabriolet season even longer thanks to the unique automatic draught-stop”, confirms Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
While we’re on the topic of the Mercedes SLS AMG, new spy photos have emerged today highlighting the not-yet-released cabriolet version of the model testing on the world famous Nürburgring. It’s still tough to tell whether or not the SLS cabrio will feature a retractable hard top (as opposed to a soft top), but one thing that is clear is the fact the Gullwing doors are no more (a fact visible from prior spy photos as well).
Also present on this version of the SLS AMG Cabriolet is a prominent rear spoiler, a feature that up until now we haven’t seen.
To see more of the upcoming Mercedes SLS AMG Cabriolet being put through its paces, keep scrolling for a few additional photos, then head over to SpeedLux.com for the full article and gallery.
It’s been extremely slow the past week for any new Mercedes news, but today we’ve finally managed to find a story worth posting thanks to our friends at Autoblog.nl. They managed to grab some spy photos of the forthcoming 2010 Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, and as you can see, the model is nearly unmasked.
From a technical standpoint, there really isn’t anything worth mentioning that isn’t already known. Power and technical features should be directly in line with the 2010 Mercedes E-Class Coupe, while the main difference (i.e., the cloth top) is clearly visible in the photos.
As you may remember, back in November spy photos emerged showcasing what appeared to be the new 2010 Mercedes E-Class Coupe in hard-top convertible form. It’s now January, and it appears Mercedes has instead opted to take the more conventional soft-top approach, as evidenced by these latest Mercedes E-Class cabrio shots.
Seeing it without any camouflage, I must admit that I really like the new design. Maybe its my imagination, but I feel like the altered rear roof line and the added surface area created by the folding roof compartment make the back end of the vehicle much more appealing. I’d even go so far as to say that of any of the new E-Class designs, either coupe or sedan, this is my favorite.
Obviously I’ll reserve final judgment until the model’s official unveiling, but as of now, I think it’s a fantastic improvement over the outgoing CLK. To see the new Mercedes E-Class Cabrio and judge for yourself, keep scrolling for a few additional photos (click any to enlarge), then head over to GlobalMotors.net where you can check out the entire, action-packed gallery.
And to Andrus: many thanks for the tip; we sincerely appreciate it.
Mercedes-Benz has gotten off to a good start in the “convertible season” with its updated models. Since spring of 2008, the new generation SL-Class has been carrying on the brand’s unparalleled sports car tradition, which began in 1954 with the legendary “gull-wing” 300 SL. The latest – and now the fifth – generation of the SL-Class has so far been chosen by 145,000 customers.
The world’s most popular premium roadster in its class features a new design emphasizing the car’s sporty character, and it offers even more athletic performance and enhanced comfort and safety. Since the beginning of the year, more than 8,000 customers around the world have purchased SL-Class models. Demand for the SL is particularly high in the U.S., where half of all SL-Class roadsters are sold. The SL 500 is by far the most popular model among customers who choose SLs.
The compact SLK-Class roadster also continues to be very popular among customers: Since the roadster’s market introduction in March 2004, Mercedes-Benz has sold about 200,000 vehicles of the latest production series – 20,000 units in this year alone. Since the beginning of April 2008, Mercedes-Benz has been offering an even sportier SLK generation. The SLK is a particularly admired by German customers. One third of all SLK drivers live in the home market of Mercedes-Benz. In Germany the SLK thus continued to defend its position as the market leader in its segment since the beginning of 2008. Moreover, Mercedes-Benz delivers one fifth of its SLK models to the U.S. The best-selling variant worldwide is the SLK 200 Kompressor.
In July 2008 Mercedes-Benz also delivered the 125,000th convertible of the new CLK-Class to a customer. Since the CLK’s market introduction in 2002, more than 700,000 coupes and convertibles have been purchased by customers worldwide. The most important markets for the CLK are Germany and the United States, and the CLK 350 is the favorite model of CLK drivers worldwide.
Bolstered by a new V8 engine developing 285 kW/388 hp, the CLK 500 Coupé and Cabriolet models now serve up sports car-esque driving pleasure. The newly developed 5.5-litre V8 engine boasts a peak torque of 530 Nm (outgoing model: 460 Nm), allowing the CLK-Class to deliver a virtuoso performance: the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 5.2 seconds (outgoing model: 5.9 seconds), while the top speed is 250 km/h (electronically limited). Despite the 26 per cent boost in power, NEDC combined fuel consumption remains at an impressive 11.4 – 11.5 l per 100 km, matching the excellent figure posted by the previous model.