E-Class

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Model Range

Words Thomas Philips | March 11, 2009
Mercedes-Benz is continuing a success story which has been without parallel in the luxury-class car segment since 1947
Words Thomas Philips March 11, 2009

With the launch of the new E-Class, Mercedes-Benz is continuing a success story which is without parallel in the luxury-class car segment: Since 1947, when the Model 170 V was introduced as the direct forerunner of the E-Class, the Stuttgart-based automaker has produced more than ten million saloons in this vehicle category. In 2002 alone, some 1.3 million drivers chose the E-Class, whose market share of up to 40 percent makes it the top seller in this market segment in Germany and many other countries in Western Europe.

But as well as being by far the best-established and most successful business saloon, the E-Class is the “heart” of the Mercedes brand – it is the typical Mercedes-Benz. No other model reflects the core values of the brand as precisely as the E-Class: safety, comfort, environmental compatibility, design, quality and individuality.

The new E-Class represents another major advance by Mercedes-Benz in all these fields as the saloon marks the series-production debut of a series of innovative technical features which cannot be found in any other car in this vehicle category – from the drowsiness detection system to automatic emergency braking when an accident is imminent, from Adaptive Highbeam Assist to the Active Bonnet with its reversible actuation mechanism, from the air suspension with electronically controlled damping to the trend-setting BlueTEC exhaust aftertreatment system.

Mercedes-Benz is also offering the saloon as a specially protected E-Guard model. This is mainly distinguishable from the standard model by a network of intelligently conceived protective features of special steel, which are invisibly integrated beneath the otherwise identical body. This protective cocoon also includes all-round polycarbonate glazing. Accordingly the new E-Guard Saloon offers its occupants effective protection against the increasing worldwide risk of criminal attack in the street. With this new Guard model, Mercedes-Benz is continuing its eight decades of expertise in the design and production of special protection vehicles.

Along with innovation, individuality has always been one of the outstanding characteristics of the E-Class. And the new saloon is no exception: For example, the model range comprises ten engines, two drive concepts and three suspension variants. Further scope for individual configuration exists in the choice of two design and equipment lines, twelve wheel/tyre combinations in 16, 17, 18 or 19-inch size, twelve exterior paint finishes and six different seat upholstery materials in up to five colour combinations . The choice of interior trim has been doubled versus the preceding series, with the range now including high-gloss exotic wood, open-pored wood and aluminium.

The standard-equipment version is complemented by two design and equipment lines which form the basis for the individualisation of the E-Class. These lines emphasise the outstanding characteristics of the new Mercedes model and offer drivers scope for adjusting the car’s appearance and equipment in line with their personal tastes and lifestyle.

Standard equipment: Safety and comfort features expanded significantly

As well as incorporating the perennial core values of the E-Class, such as comfort, safety and style, the standard-equipment version includes the following items as standard:

Adaptive airbags for driver and front passenger

Adaptive brake lights, flashing

Active Bonnet with reversible actuation mechanism

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Connector for external audio device

Electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors

Selector lever for automatic transmission on steering wheel (V6 and V8 models)

Audio 20 CD radio with twin tuner, CD player and eight loudspeakers

Controller

Brake Assist

ADAPTIVE BRAKE system with Hold function and Hill Start Assist

Direct-Steer system (V6 and V8 models)

Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) with acceleration skid control (ASR)

DIRECT CONTROL suspension with adaptive damping control

Colour display in dashboard

Five-speed automatic transmission (E 250 CDIand E 250 CGI)

Belt tensioners and belt force limiters for outer rear seats

Belt tensioners and belt force limiters for driver and front passenger

Ventilated glove compartment

Remote boot lid unlocking

LED rear lights

ISOFIX child-seat attachment points

THERMATIC automatic climate control with combined activated charcoal filter

THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control (E 500 and E 500 4MATIC)

Kneebag for driver

NECK-PRO crash-responsive head restraints

Light-alloy wheels

AIRMATIC air suspension (E 500 and E 500 4MATIC)

ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system

Multifunction steering wheel in nappa leather with chrome inserts

PRE-SAFE®anticipatory occupant protection

Tyrepressure loss warning system

Shift/selector lever in nappa leather

Windscreen wipers with intermittent setting and rain sensor

Six-speed manual transmission

Sidebags for driver and front passenger

7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission (V6 and V8 models)

Daytime driving lights

Bluetooth hands free system for telephone

Cruise control

Front seats electrically adjustable for height, inclination and backrest angle

Green-tinted windows all round

Windowbags

Central locking with crash sensor

High-gloss eucalyptus wood trim elements

AVANTGARDE: A contemporary character with its own front design

In AVANTGARDE guise, the E-Class has a distinctly contemporary and innovative look as a result of additional appointments and equipment, such as…

17-inch five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels

Ambient lighting

Bi-xenon headlamps with Intelligent Light System

Waistline trim strip in polished stainless steel

245/45 R 17 wide-base tyres

Chrome trim strips on sides and rear bumper

Sporty front bumper

Automatically dimming interior mirror

Special interior colours: chestnut brown and natural beige with black roof lining

Instrument cluster in bright silver with sporty tubular design

LED daytime driving lights

Combined fabric/ARTICO man-made leather upholstery

Headlamp cleaning system

Seats with padded horizontal piping

Sporty, lowered suspension set-up

Chromed radiator grille with three louvres painted in high-gloss black

All-LED tail lights

Trim elements in black high-gloss ash wood (optional: brushed aluminium)

ELEGANCE: A stylish presence with extensive use of chrome

The ELEGANCE line (standard for E 500 and E 500 4MATIC) lives up to its name by emphasising the elegant, classic character of the E-Class — with the following additions to the standard equipment, for example:

16-inch ten-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels

Ambient lighting

Wide-base tyres: 225/55 R 16 or 245/R 17 (for V8 models)

Chrome trim strips on front bumper, sides and rear bumper

Front bumper with black air intake and chrome trim strips

Automatically dimming interior mirror

Chromed radiator grille with four louvres painted in silver

Seats with longitudinal piping pattern

Trim elements in brown high-gloss burr walnut wood

AMG sports package: Exclusivity on 18-inch wheels

In addition to the design and equipment lines, the AMGsports package offers customers further scope for equipping the new E-Class in line with their personal tastes while adding emphasis to the dynamic character of the saloon. The package contains high-quality features, most of which are not available separately. For example:

18-inch five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels

Wide-base tyres: 245/40 R 18 (front) and 265/35 R 18 (rear)

Larger brake discs

Nappa leather three-spoke sports steering wheel with shift paddles

Floor mats with AMGlettering

Perforated brake discs and brake callipers featuring the Mercedes logo

Shift paddles on steering wheel (if automatic transmission is fitted)

Black fabric roof lining

7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission with M programme

(V6 and V8 models)

Lowered sports suspension

Brushed stainless steel sports pedals with black rubber studs

Front sports seats in DINAMICA microfibre and ARTICO man-made leather

AMG front and rear aprons and side skirts

Exclusive package: Sheer indulgence for drivers

For particularly discerning drivers, Mercedes-Benz has put together the Exclusive package which includes:

Velour floor mats in appointments colour with nubuck border

Wood steering wheel

Roof lining, sun visors and pillar trim in Alcantara

High-quality dashboard finish with decorative stitching

Seat upholstery, armrests and door panels in nappa leather

Equipment packages: Combinations of safety and comfort technology

No other car offers such a comprehensive and intelligently matched array of advanced driver assistance systems as the new E-Class. To allow drivers to enjoy the benefits of these technologies to the full, Mercedes-Benz offers certain inno-vative features as optional packages. This approach ensures that the systems operate perfectly together and complement each other’s functionality:

The Lane Tracking package contains newly developed features which support the driver by helping to prevent accidental lane departure and aiding safe lane changing: Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist.

The principal systems which Mercedes-Benz offers in the Driving Assistance package are designed to make an active contribution to avoiding head-to-tail collisions: the radar-based DISTRONIC PLUSproximity control system, Brake Assist PLUS and the PRE-SAFE® Brake automatic braking system. This package also includes Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist.

Mercedes-Benz has put together the Light package for drivers who are often on the road at night. Along with bi-xenon headlamps, the Intelligent Light System and LED daytime driving lights this package includes the new Adaptive Highbeam Assist function.

The new E-Class offers comfort-conscious customers the Active Multicontour Seat package, containing the newly developed multicontour seats with massage and dynamic function. Mercedes-Benz offers the multicontour seats with adjustable seat cushion length and side bolster support in the Multicontour Seat package.

The Rear Comfort package includes leather-upholstered luxury individual rear seats for the rear passengers, luxury head restraints, roller sunblinds integrated in the rear doors and an electrically operated roller blind on the interior of the rear window.

The Memory package offers electrically adjustable seats with 4-way lumbar supports for the driver and front passenger as well as a memory function for the seats, exterior mirrors and steering column.

The Mirror package consists of automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors as well as electrically folding exterior mirrors.

The Sun Protection package contains an electrically operated roller sunblind for the rear window, manually operated roller sunblinds in the rear doors and luxury, two-part folding sun visors for the driver and front passenger.

The KEYLESS-GO package consists of the KEYLESS-GO automatic vehicle unlocking functionality and remote boot closing.

The Anti-Theft Protection package contains the anti-theft alarm system with interior monitoring and tow-away protection.