All good things come to those who wait for Geneva. Hot on the heels of the redesigned (thankfully) S- and C-Class Mercedes comes MB's new bread und butter. (The E-Class is still Western Europe's taxicab of choice). Set to debut in 2009 as a 2010 model, the new E-Class should continue Mercedes' trend of quality uber-alles, especially when it comes to interiors (reliability is in the eye of the warranty holder). Like all Benzes, the big news is the choice of engines. Starting with a turbocharged four-pot good for a measly 184hp (though not in the States), motor options continue upwards in both displacement and power. Expect our base engine to be a direct-injected V6. We may also get a 354hp torque-monster diesel and of course the tire-detonating 6.3-liter V8 in the AMG version, good for at least 550 hp (if not more). One year after launch, MB will offer a hybrid E-Class. A wagon, too. Prices should remain in the "four years at a private liberal arts school" bracket.
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Set to debut in 2009 as a 2010 model, the new E-Class should continue Mercedes’ trend of quality uber-alles, especially when it comes to interiors (reliability is in the eye of the warranty holder).
They’d better…The interior quality/materials of the current E is not great, the previous S and C weren’t either. I’m not completely convinced yet by the new C interior (also depending on trim), although it’s definitely a big step up and it seems Audi and BMW are now going the other way, strangely enough, so it’s about on par with those I think, which is good.
We may also get a 354hp torque-monster diesel
That would be a V8 then (BMW’s I6 Biturbo diesel in my opinion is pretty much at it’s production engine performance limit at 286HP, so I doubt Merc will find another extra 70 HP for a six, also; Merc’s current V8 diesel has 314 HP) but then again that would be strange because I read they (Merc AND BMW) were going to discontinue V8 diesels (which would be a good thing too).
I see more C-Classes than Es as taxis in Western Europe. It’s also interesting that Western Europe’s equivalent of Manhattan’s ubiquitous “black cars” (Lincoln Town Car limos) is the S-Class with the smallest possible engine, whatever that is in Europe.
Taxicab of choice? In Berlin, fair enough, here (Newcastle, UK) my ride home from work tends to be a Skoda Octavia/Superb or a Peugeot 407..
beeb375:
Newcastle’s Europe like burgers are fancy.
Wilkinson — In my experience taxis are Es while car services are Cs.
And if you’re ever sick of, you know — breathing, hail a cab in Lisbon.
I work for a car service part time in France and we’ve got a 2007 E-Class with the 2.8 CDI in Avantgarde trim. (Sorry Jonny, we don’t own any C Classes)
Let me just say: Greatly disappointed.
I’ve never really been a Merc fan, but admired them for what they were, but this E Class is just a big waste of 50K € (in France at least). Nothing’s really “wrong” with it (actually the autobox is pretty shitty…no car should take a half-second to think about accelerating), but the car just a multitude of mediocrity, the leather’s fine, the plastics are fine, everything’s just fine but for that coin it should significantly better than fine.
Jonny, not sure what your experience is, but since my first trip in 1957, I’ve been to Europe alone probably 300 times…and I’ve certainly never seen a C-Class car-service vehicle. And I still think there are way more C-Class taxis than Es.
JJ: That would be a V8 then
No; both MB and BMW are dropping their V8 diesels for twin-turbo diesel I6’s. They make all the power they need, are lighter, and more efficient.
Sweeet.
So, I gather it’s new then, eh? Totally new, new?
No; both MB and BMW are dropping their V8 diesels for twin-turbo diesel I6’s. They make all the power they need, are lighter, and more efficient.
Yah…I kind of stated that after my that would be a V8 then comment…
That’s why I was surprised about the 354HP figure…BMWs I6 Biturbo diesel manages 286HP. I doubt Merc all of the sudden can find 70 more.
Stephan Wilkinson: Only a dozen or so times across the pond. And I’m… younger than you are. But I’ve seen more E-Class taxis than any other.
Could be I don’t notice the C-Class…
That said — the two times I’ve taken a car service in Europe they were both C-Classes.
Here in Finland the E-class was the most common at some point. Now i see BMWs, Audis Volvos, Skodas, Toyotas(inc. prius), Peugeots, pretty much everything.
And i would have to agree with whoever said the E-class interior is nothing special. Creaking door handles anyone? The new C is not great either. And at least the standard seats in MBs are rock hard and uncomfortable.
Jonny….that tire detonator “6.3” is actually only 6.2 liters…MB marketing at its finest.
I’m excited for when this baby comes out because all of the current E-classes will depreciate ever MORE! Right now, 2003’s are around 20k. I’m waiting for a 15k E320, then I’m trading in my ’09 Camry.
Wait I’m confused… four years at a private liberal arts school is like a solid 170-80K. Is that how much this new E-Class is gonna cost?