Mercedes E-Class

10th January 2009

Mercedes has pulled the wraps from the latest E-Class.

On sale in the UK from June this year, the all-new marks a radical departure for Mercedes, both in terms of the newcomer's styling, and its high tech equipment.

There's no missing the fact that this model has a wild new look, but under the skin, there are some interesting innovations, too.

Design inspiration comes from the Fascination concept. , which includes the new squared-off headlamps, which replace the circular units of the current car. Flagship versions will get LED daytime running lights.

Other changes include a significant increase in size – the E-Class is around 70mm longer than the current car – which should mean it will be more spacious but perform better in crash tests.

Inside, the cabin has been heavily influenced by the S-Class - with many of its luxury features, including infra-red night vision, a system that detects driver fatigue and a lane departure warning system too.

Under the bonnet, the emphasis is on increased fuel efficiency with a tweaked range of four-cylinder petrol and all-new common-rail diesels. However, the range-topping models will still be powered by large V8 units, with a 5.5-litre engine for the E500. There will also be a high performance E63 AMG model too.

A diesel hybrid, offering 55mpg and emitting less than 140g/km of CO2 will join the line-up a year or so after launch. Prices will be revealed early next year, but expect the range to start at around £28,000. An estate model will arrive in 2010.

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