Although spy photographers have captured exterior shots of the next E-Class floating around the net, the cars are so heavily camouflaged that it's hardly worth looking. There are, however, two fantastic pictures of the interior of the car. One comes by way of the UK's AutoExpress, the other is of unknown origin (and slight blurriosity). The interior is a fair split between the boxier, more traditionally robust interior in the C-Class and the leather-covered lunar module in the S-Class. And the same "hood" that covers the LCD screen in the S-Class (not to mention BMW's cars) appears here too. In all honesty, I'm not wild about it. But I don't get wild about much. Maybe an E250 CDI. Anticipate a formal debut for this car in the fall at one of the major European auto shows.
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I was more or less committed to buying an E-Class last year. It took one ride in a friend’s E to change my mind. The interior looked so cheap and uninspired that it would not have been out of place in a Chevy. It was disappointing enough for me to abandon any thought of buying the Mercedes; I bought a Lexus GS instead.
From what I can see in the photo, the new dash is a definite improvement, but still not equal to the interior in my Lexus.
The dash looks good. Something is weird and un-Mercedes-like about the steering wheel, though. Perhaps that is not what will show up in the final version.
Justin, are you suggesting that we might see E250 CDI in the US?
My uncle’s Lexus has that bird’s eye wood that’s super shimmery and fancy and 3-Dish in the sunlight, but BMW/Merc’s wood is all flat and plastiky looking especially that depressing black wood crap in the sport models. Everyone should buy a Lexus! We’d be a happy planet.
Ok. So, someone tell me again, why do manufacturers go way out of their way to hide interiors of up and coming models. I can understand the exterior, but honestly, I would think only car nerds (like us!) would care about this. The real people in buying these cars are not scouring sites and magazines for glimpses of what is coming out. They just go to the damn dealers whenever they feel like and purchase is their mood says so. Right?
That’s hideous, for my money (as if I had any).
The hooded nav screen, rows of indistinguishable center-stack buttons, and general incoherence of shapes reminds me of the new Accord, itself a knockoff of the equally ill-conceived geometry riot of the Bangle dashes.
Worst of all, though, is that thoroughly clashing chrome ring around the center ducts. Can you imagine the reaming you’d see from all quarters if that was seen on, say, the Genesis or the next CTS?
Yeah, the interior of the current E really can’t cut it in comparison with the 5-series, GS, or the class/industry leading A6 interior (eventhough I think the interior of the new A4 is a step back from the previous one).
I always thought the panel gaps were too big (especially around the glove compartment, even now if you look at the the S class…) and the plastics are quite cheap.
The new C-class interior seems to be a step forward though, but I’m still not sure about the plastics.
@Bluebrat: I wouldn’t underestimate the way that people who like cars influence the public perception of certain brands or models. If a car’s interior is uniformly disliked by the people who see it first this might very well have an influence on the public perception of that car. But of course, that is just an opinion.
@hwyhobo: a 250CDI? I’m sure Mercedes will bring some kind of diesel option to the US, and since this car will be out next year it’s most likely going to be based on their current offerings. In Europe they currently have the 200CDI, 220CDI (both 2.2 4 cylinder turbodiesels), 280CDI, 320CDI (both 3.0 V6 turbodiesels) and 420 CDI (V8 turbodiesel, will be discontinued at the benefit of a twinturbo V6 diesel, after BMW’s 35d example).
I think they will start of with the V6 versions (already have sort of with the Bluetecs), and then when they changed the image of diesel AND 4 bangers in the US enough come along with the 4 cylinder models if gas prices stay high or get even higher.
Whether it will be called 220 or 250…who cares?
Looks like they made a space-shuttle dash and attempted to make it more “comfy” by slapping an Acura grille surround in the middle of it.
Too many goddamn buttons; driving is taking second-fiddle to fiddling with nav buttons…
There appears to be some sort of convergent evolution of car interiors going on to the point where they all look the same. For all I know this could be a BMW interior.
I’m with carguy. This looks like a copycat of BMW. Not a good thing. That vaginal hood covering the nav should be a black mark on all designers at Merc. Shame on you.
I’d say Audi is the only one that cares about elegant interior design, but even they are screwing the pooch with button overload. Who is to save us? GM? Ford of Europe?
Gotta give one more thumbs up for Lexus. Real wood that looks like real wood, and I’ve never need a hood for my nav screen.