In the great city of Chicago, it is currently pouring down rain and in the mid 30’s, not exactly what you want for the first few days of spring. So, when the press release from MEC Design came in and I saw the beautfiul E-Class Cabrio, I have to admit I sat fantasized about driving with the top down with the summer sun beating down for a few minutes. The Berlin based Mercedes-Benz tuning company MEC Design are ahead of the weather and have already tuned an E-Class E350 CDI Cabriolet with their new mecxtremeIII. Though they have only made minor changes, one piece wheels, lowering springs and exhaust system, they have embodied summer in their design.
No sooner has the Spring Collection of mecxtremeIII wheels arrived, MEC Design have already installed them on the E-Class coupe ready for the summer. The mecxtremeIII 1pc wheels are available in a full range with 8 breathtaking finishes they have been shown here with the Satin Black, Satin White and Full Matt Black editions. Whichever colour you choose they all look great, you will have trouble choosing your favourite as they all look so perfect with the car.
Here are the facts for the car:
MEC Design have also made it easier to install as they have a rear diffusor in production which has been designed especially to fit with their 4-pipe exhaust system. All you will have to do is “Plug and Play!” The diffuser will be available in 4-5 weeks. It will be available in the standard primed version ready for painting and also in a Carbon version.
The mecxtremeIII 1 piece wheels are available in 9+10,5×20″ and are available with or without a Stainless steel outer lip. It doesn’t matter whether you have the E-Class or not the mecxtremeIII range of wheels will look amazing on your car and fit on most Mercedes Benz models without the need for work to the body.
Just in time for summer, automobile manufacturer / Mercedes tuner Carlsson has released a new tuning program for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet. With 20 per cent more power, the new aerodynamic package and an enhanced interior, Carlsson has taken the E-Class Cabrio’s sportiness to a new level.
The core piece of the sporty conversion is the additional ECU C-Tronic® DIESEL POWER. This plug-and-play solution enhances the performance of the V6-Diesel engine by more than 20 percent, from 231 hp (170 kW) to 280 hp (206 kW). The optimised engine management also has an effect on the maximum torque. Instead of 540 Newton metres, the driver now has 648 Newton metres at his disposal. The ECU CD35 REVO for the Mercedes 350 CDI engines is delivered by Carlsson as a completely retrofittable solution inclusive of all materials for connections and montage, at a total price of just 1,784 Euros inclusive of VAT. Complimenting the new power, the right exhaust notes are ensured by the sport end mufflers with the two double-walled stainless steel end tubes, available for a total of 2,319 Euros.
Increasing the Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet’s visual appeal, Carlsson has added a new aerodynamic package. Highlights include a new front spoiler for 594 Euro and a front spoiler lip RS for 629 Euro, which can also be obtained in carbon. Also present is a new rear spoiler (475 Euro) which not only rounds up the heightened dynamic appearance, but also ensures optimised airflow together with the entire aerodynamic package, thereby ensuring better contact with the road. Further improving handling, sports suspension springs (355 Euros) have been added, that both lower the Mercedes-Cabriolet 30 millimetres while giving rise to a significantly more dynamic response while negotiating curves. Completing the outward styling, Carlsson-light alloy wheelsin a variety of designs are available. Options include the classic sixteen spoke wheel 1/16 in 18 inches through the trendy double coloured design 1/5 REVO to the high end cast wheels 1/10 Ultra Light in 20 inches, which combine low weight with the highest load bearing capacity. Available as a complete wheel set with top brand tires, the packages start from 2,712 Euros.
And lastly, Carlsson completes their work on the E-Class Cabriolet with a sportily elegant finish in the car interiors. Changes include an automatic gear shift lever in leather and Alcantara (213 Euros), aluminium door pins (58 Euro), soft velvet doormats with the Carlsson logo (set available for 154 Euros), and aluminium pedals together with footrests (282 Euros).
To see more of the new Carlsson tuning package for the Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, you check out the full photo gallery immediately below.
Cabriolet was originally a French verb that meant “to cavort” or “cut a caper,” but in the 1700s, the term came to be used to describe “a light, two-wheeled horse carriage with a folding leather top.” Later, any carriage for hire became known as a “cab,” hence today’s synonym for a taxi. In the late 1800s, the first motor vehicles were all open cars, with no tops at all. As automobiles developed in the early 1900s, most were still convertibles.
Cabriolet – a Four-Seat Convertible
As the automotive industry evolved through the 1900s, the term “Cabriolet” acquired a specific meaning – a convertible that seats at least four people, in other words, a convertible with a real back seat. While Mercedes-Benz produced some of the world’s most collectible convertibles and Cabriolets across a 120-year history, its modern era began with the launch of the 1993 E-Class Cabriolet, its first four-seat convertible in several decades. A slightly smaller CLK Cabriolet followed in 1999, and a second-generation CLK Cabriolet line was offered through the 2009 model year.
The Ninth-Generation E-Class
The 2011 E-Class Cabriolet joins the all-new E-Class lineup – which debuted last year as the ninth generation of the company’s highly successful model range, with a total of more than 10 million E-Class vehicles produced over the past 70-plus years. Packed with useful, new safety technology, the E-Class is likely to become another industry trend-setter, and now with a full range of cabriolet, wagon, sedan and coupe models, the lineup should appeal to more consumers than ever.
Four Seasons, Four Seats
The two-door, four-seat Cabriolet boasts a classic fabric soft top, with year-round comfort, thanks to a number of innovative features:
The convertible top can be opened or closed in 20 seconds, even at speeds up to 25 mph. The soft top is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear seats. When the roof is up, the panel between the top stowage area and the trunk can slide to the rear, increasing the trunk capacity by 30 percent.
Two Versatile Engines for the E-Class Cabriolet
The E350 Cabriolet uses the latest four-valve-per-cylinder V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. The E550 Cabriolet model is powered by a 32-valve 5.5-liter V8 delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines feature double-overhead-cam architecture with variable valve timing and a two-stage intake manifold for increased low-speed power.
For better fuel mileage, both the V6 and V8 powerplants use new systems that minimize engine power needed to drive the alternator, power steering pump and electric fuel pump, plus intake tumble flaps and state-of-the-art engine management.
Astonishing Safety Innovations
Among the Cabriolet’s many standard life-saving features is an innovative “Attention Assist” system which couples a highly-sensitive steering sensor with intelligent software that can identify behaviors that drivers make as they begin to get drowsy. Elegant in its simplicity, the system senses drowsiness and alerts the driver. Contrasting examples of trailblazing innovations include optional automatic emergency braking, which is activated if a collision is likely, and adaptive high beams that use a small windshield-mounted camera to control high-low beam operation automatically. This system also provides a soft transition from low to high beam.
2011 E350 / E550 Cabrio Option Pricing
Premium 1 Package (P01): $4,000
Premium 2 Package (P02): $6,450
Appearance Package (321): $1,990/1,270
DISTRONIC PLUS Package (997): $2,650
Wood Trim Package (318): $760
Stand Alone Options:
2011 E350 / E550 Cabrio Standard Equipment
Comfort/Convenience
Performance/Handling
E350 Cabrio
E550 Cabrio
Safety/Security
Wheels
E350 Coupe
Staggered 17″ twin 5-spoke alloy wheels, 235/45 (F), 255/40 (R)
E550 Coupe
Staggered 18″ 5-spoke alloy wheels, 235/40 (F), 255/35 (R)