E-Class takes technology to a new level
LISBON, PORTUGAL • The Mercedes- Benz E- Class is now in its 10th generation. The distance it has travelled since its launch is remarkable: The latest car takes technology to an entirely new level, one that even manages to eclipse the range-topping S- Class.
The list of what’s new stretches from an interior ambient lighting system — at the driver’s choosing, it bathes the cabin in a subtle aura in one of 64 colours — to a driver- assist system designed to keep the car in the lane by actively steering it and maintaining a set distance behind the car ahead. On the highway, I took my hands off the wheel and the car happily steered for the better part of a minute before getting annoyed and flashing the “hold the wheel” symbol.
Then there’s the automated braking system. Among other things, it looks for other vehicles closing in from the left or right when approaching an intersection, and if it deems a crunch is likely, it warns the driver and automatically stops the car if no action is taken. This is part of the Intelligent Drive package.
The cabin takes the level of customization to a place it has never been. Two huge 12.3- inch screens dominate the dashboard. The first, which is optional, delivers all of the driving information virtually. The second screen looks after the navigation and infotainment system.
Accessing t he lot is through the Comand infotainment system’s touchsensitive controller or buttons on the steering wheel, all of which recognize swipe and click gestures, and operate like mini mice. Of course, the E- Class also has voice recognition.
The rest of the car comes together with two superb front seats that i nclude, on t he up- l evel pews, a hot- r ock massage f unction. It is swanky — and then some. The rear riders fare equally well, with more legroom, thanks to a 65- millimetre stretch in the wheelbase. The optional 40/ 20/40- split folding rear seats add versatility to the generous 540- litre trunk.
Where things get serious is the manner in which the drive characteristics can be customized; Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual modes alter everything from the throttle response and shift timing to the new ( optional) Air Body Control suspension and its adaptive dampers. The air springs have the ability to self- level and change the ride height, which can be lifted by 15 mm to increase ground clearance or lowered to reduce drag and improve stability at higher speeds.
Also new is the powertrain lineup. The base E300 uses a 2.0- L turbocharged four- cylinder engine that makes 241 horsepower and 273 pound- feet of torque at a low 1,300 rpm, enough for most eventualities. It moves off the line with authority and builds speed nicely right through the mid-range.
The better choice, however, is the up- level twinturbocharged 3.0-L V6 found under the hood of the E400. It makes 329 h. p. and a rewarding 354 lb.-ft. of torque, which brings a much more urgent work ethic to the drive. It runs from rest to 100 kilometres per hour in 5.3 seconds, pulling hard and fast in spite of the car’s full-size dimensions.
The other model available for testing was the E350e plug-in hybrid. It blends the 2.0-L turbo-four with an electric motor and a 6.4 kWh battery. The combination delivers a net system output of 282 h.p. and 406 lb.-ft. of torque, a rest-to-100 km/h run of 6.2 seconds and an electric-only driving range of 30-plus km.
The 2017 E- Class takes great strides forward in all areas; it is a technical sophisticate with ample power, proving it can be both a city clicker and a back- road demon. Looking forward, expect to see a couple of AMG models — i ncluding the mighty E63 — along with a diesel and a wagon. Pricing is not yet available, but the E300 arrives in June and the E400 in September.
To prove the new E- Class is more than a boulevardier, the company unleashed the E400 on the Circuito Estolil racetrack just outside Lisbon. This 4.2-km speedway is technically demanding; from the esses to the Parabolica Ayrton Senna and the topography, it’s a tough drive. Add a sprinkle of rain and you have a serious playground.
In the beginning, it felt like the car was being driven on ball bearings, but the E400’s composure showed more t he harder it was pushed. Through the esses, it pulled with more tenacity than expected: tromp on the gas at the apex and ride this puppy toward the Parabolica.
Helping lay the power down was the E400’s 4Matic all- wheel- drive system, which split the power 45 per cent to the front and 55 to the rear.
In the end, the test proved the E- Class is an all-weather driving champ.