According to sources, Mercedes was planning to unveil it’s next generation E-Class in a week’s time but thanks to what is now becoming a tradition or marketing plan, an official brochure for the German spec E-Class has found its way to the internet. We have already seen pictures of the new three pointed sedan but this time, the brochure scans crisply reveals the cars squared-shaped interior as well as the full engine line-up and dimensions.
Following in the footsteps of the C-Class and more recently the GLK, the new E-Class exterior gets taut body surfacing and angular design elements such as the four diamond shape headlamps up front. Same goes for the interior, though in a less tacky way than the GLK’s cabin which looks like it was built from bricks. This gives off the impression that Merc designers could be trying to evoke the robustness of the mid 1980s E-Class – though whether they have succeeded or not remains to be seen.
Not surprisingly, Mercedes-Benz’s BMW 5-Series and Audi A6 rival has slightly grown in dimensions compared to the outgoing E-Class, measuring 4.868 mm in length (+12 mm), 1.854 mm in width (+32 mm) and 1.470 mm in height (-13 mm) with a wheelbase of 2.874 mm (+20 mm).
Powering the new E-Class is an updated range of diesel and gasoline engines but what will make it here to Malaysia remains to be seen. According to the brochure, diesel lovers will be able to choose from five different units: a new 2.1-liter 4-cylinder engine with 136, 170 and 204 HP and a 3.0-liter V6 with 231HP (BlueEFFICIENCY) and 211HP (BLUETEC).
Those who favor petrol can select between five different engine options: a 1.8-liter direct injection 4-cylinder with 184 and 204HP; a 3.5-liter V6 (for the 4MATIC model) delivering 272HP; a 3.5-liter direct injection V6 producing 292HP and at the top of the range, a 388HP 5.5-liter V8 that can be combined with RWD or AWD layout.
During the year, Mercedes plans to enrich its E-Class range with the introduction of the Estate (station-wagon) and Coupe models while in 2010 – 2011, the German automaker will add a hybrid version(s) and an AMG model aimed squarely at the BMW M5 featuring a 6.2-liter V8 engine that should be good for around 550-horsepower. We will have to wait at least till the third quarter of the year for it to make it to our shores, till then, these images will have to do.
