Mercedes E-Class - updated star
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Don't waste your time - customers are waiting. Most recently, at the Detroit fair, the Germans showed a refreshed E-class, and in early February I was on a plane flying to Barcelona, where I could test this key Mercedes model on the warm and tenacious Spanish pavement. . The clutch came in handy - because today, in addition to civilian versions, the strongest varieties signed with the AMG badge also came to our tests.
And this is another proof that Mercedes does not waste time - we do not have to wait for a set of engines, bodies or top versions. Clients will receive everything here and now. But what if… ardent E-Class fans wanted their favorite car to change so much? Let me remind you that in the case of this brand, as many as 80% of buyers are loyal users, convinced that there is no driving without a star, and I'm talking about a serious visual change that the E class has undergone - a change in the front of the car.
Strong visual changes
Mercedes has upgraded more during this facelift than some people have changed with the new generation. Until now, the manufacturer from Stuttgart was considered stable and calm, and therefore hardly anyone expected such a revolution - and yet it happened. So, let me ask this question on behalf of all Mercedes fans: “Where are the quad headlights and why has the E-Class lost that distinctive feature that made it stand out from the competition so effectively?” The double corner headlights used so far have been replaced by two single-element headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights. Representatives of Mercedes claim that the solution used still reflects the typical "four-eyed" appearance of the E-class. In fact, the glow of the LEDs creates a four-eyed pattern ... but this is not the same.
There are many changes and it is not known where to start. I've already complained about the completely redesigned front end. For a change, I praise the choice of two front belt options. The standard and Elegance line gets the classic three-bar air intake with a star on the hood, while the Avantgarde features a sporty grille with a central star on the grille (I'll open it up and it looks amazing). From now on, the redesigned bumper will not have lighting features. Of course, there could not be such additions as new drawings of rims, slightly modified thresholds, moldings, etc. Small changes can also be seen in the taillights and the shape of the rear bumper on both the sedan and station wagon.
Interior without revolution
As for the changes inside, they are relatively small compared to a small upheaval outside. New is a two-piece trim that runs across the entire dashboard. You can choose elements based on aluminum or wood, regardless of the equipment line. The screen on the center console in a flickering frame and the shape of the deflectors are also new.
The driver's eyes are dominated by three clocks, and on the center console are the stylish clocks of the latest CLS model. The regular versions are adorned with the Mercedes logo, while the AMG versions are adorned with the IWC brand. There are also bigger differences: only in AMG we find the gearshift lever on the central tunnel - in regular versions we shift gears traditionally for Mercedes with a lever on the steering wheel.
Mercedes E 350 BlueTEC
After arriving at Barcelona airport, I choose an E350 BlueTec sedan with a 252 hp diesel engine for a test drive. and a torque of 620 Nm. In real life, the car looks the same as in the photos in the press, the interior also looks familiar, because it has not changed much. The cold engine thumps and vibrates slightly for a moment, but after a few minutes the cabin becomes quiet. Driving this car, I wondered if I could, by observing its behavior on the road, learn that this is an updated version of the German sedan. Maybe the early version was so good that nothing needed to be fixed in the new one, maybe I didn’t notice the differences, but at first glance the car drives very similarly. The engine produces comparable power, the gearbox feels familiar, and "Mercedes comfort" is a proper name, so no comment. Driving this car, like the previous version, is a pleasure. However, there are differences - both in electronics and in new engines. Engineers changed or added a total of 11 electronic systems.
The radar system monitors everything that happens around the car and always has a plan for what to do about it if the driver decides that the driver is not coping. This applies both to situations in which it is necessary to warn the driver (a sound signal when the radar detects the danger of a collision with a vehicle in front, vibrations on the steering wheel after an accidental lane change, invitations for coffee, etc.) and situations when the driver needs to be helped by turning the steering wheel, braking in front of pedestrians or returning the car to the correct path (at the moment I recommend my video on our YouTube channel, where I showed the details of the operation of these systems and other interesting facts). And when he discovers that a collision cannot be avoided, he prepares passengers to pass through it unharmed.
Mercedes E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID
I also had the opportunity to ride a little in the hybrid version, which is a tandem diesel engine with a capacity of 2.143 cc. cm with a capacity of 204 km and a torque of 500 Nm, and an electric motor with a power of only 27 hp, but with a torque of up to 250 Nm.
Effect? Fuel consumption is slightly higher than 4 liters per 100 km with careful driving, while this tandem does not involve the driver in its secrets at all - the car drives exactly the same as the regular version. Almost. On the one hand, the car is slightly more nimble at low revs, but there is more weight in the corners.
Mercedes E63 AMG
Speaking of the E-class, it is impossible to forget about the top model. For a long time, AMG variants were something of a different shelf from Mercedes. True, we talk about the same model all the time – for example, the C-Class, CLS or the E-Class described – but these variants with the AMG badge are like from another world. The same goes for our main character. At first glance, the "regular" version looks like the most powerful model, but the devil is in the details. Up front, we basically have a new, redesigned, rather aggressive bumper. We don't mention the new lamps anymore because they haven't changed from the regular versions. The grille is slightly different, and there's a splitter under the bumper that improves airflow under the car. At the back we have a diffuser and four trapezoidal tailpipes. Appearance is pleasing to the eye, but the key to everything is hidden under the hood.
And here we have a real orchestra - a 5,5-liter V8 bi-turbo engine that develops 557 hp. at 5500 rpm with a torque of 720 Nm between 1750 and 5250 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in the sedan takes 4,2 seconds. For the 4MATIC all-wheel drive variant, acceleration takes just 3,7 seconds for the sedan and 3,8 seconds for the station wagon.
The most powerful E-class in history - Mercedes E63 AMG 4Matic S-Model
Mercedes also showed the E63 AMG 4Matic S-Model in two body styles - station wagon and sedan. Cars in this version have a modified rear differential and a more powerful version of the same engine - 585 hp. at 5500 rpm and 800 Nm in the range of 1750-5000 rpm. This version reaches 100 km/h in 3,6 seconds for the sedan and 3,7 seconds for the station wagon. Regardless of the version, all models have an electronic speed limiter at around 250 km / h.
Power is sent to the wheels via an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed transmission with multiple modes to choose from: C (Controlled Efficiency), S (Sport), S+ (Sport Plus) and M (Manual). As an option, ceramic brakes with ventilated and perforated discs with a diameter of 360 mm are available. The brakes are fitted with silver calipers on the regular AMG version, while the calipers on the S-Model are red. The Mercedes E63 AMG S-Model is fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/35 R19 tires at the front and 285/30 R 19 at the rear. The rear-wheel drive version will go on sale in April, while the 4MATIC and S-Model will be available in June.
How does the AMG version drive?
When I entered the garage where 34 AMG E-class cars were parked, I had a smile from ear to ear and the camera was taking 100 photos a minute.. When I finally got the key to one of those monsters, it was a silver rear wheel drive sedan. The first moment after starting the engine is frightening - the gurgling of eight cylinders, combined with the acoustics of an underground garage, gives an effect that the film I shot on this occasion will probably not give you. After a few seconds, the roar subsides a little, and subsequent engine starts become more polite. Rude after engaging S-mode and tightening the dampers, the car behaves like it always does, ready to jump, a tightly coiled spring that has little place on the streets of Barcelona.
On the highway, you can use the Mercedes E63 AMG for any purpose. Do you want to drive slowly? You shift into the right lane, shift into C mode of the transmission, active cruise control with radar, and relax in silence, as the engine and exhaust will not be heard, and the car will take care of maintaining your lead. Do you want to go faster? It will be loud, but the way you like it. You put the transmission into S or S+, pull into the left lane and… today you are the only one overtaking.
How much does it cost?
I always focus on a sedan, but in the Mercedes lineup there is a station wagon, and a coupe, and a convertible - everyone will find something suitable for themselves. And indeed, when we look at the E-class price list, we can get real nystagmus.
Let's focus on the sedan version, which costs 176 zlotys in the cheapest version with a diesel engine. Of course, if someone goes to a car dealership with the desire to buy a new Mercedes E-Class, they certainly won’t reduce their wallet by just that amount. Why? The offer of extremely tempting accessories is simply stunning. Even if we are satisfied with the basic version of the E 200 CDI with a four-cylinder engine producing 136 hp. more than 19 zlotys.
If we decide on a more powerful gasoline with a 4 hp 250MATIC V-260 engine, we must accept the cost of PLN 300. For this amount, we will get the E 4 19MATIC model, but in this case, this is just the beginning. If you add the Exclusive package and AMG sports package, new paintwork and AMG 320-inch wheels, the price will exceed . Again, this is just the beginning.
The spread of prices between the base and maximum price is almost cosmic. While the base version costs about PLN 175 thousand, the top model E 63 AMG S 4MATIC costs PLN 566 thousand. That's more than three times the size of the base model! And you can start counting again - a package that supports driving safety, KEYLESS-GO, carbon accessories in the cabin and on the body, and the price soars to the 620 mark.
Summation
Looking at the price list, we can conclude that the E-Class could be the answer for every wealthy buyer. For PLN 175 we get an economical engine, excellent equipment, beautiful design and prestige. If we want to spend more, it's enough to be tempted by a few extras. More demanding customers who are looking for more power and luxury should prepare a minimum of PLN. Even if you have over half a million to spend, you will also find “something” for yourself.
Is it worth it? As I wrote above, for 80% of Mercedes customers this issue does not exist at all. It remains to envy the remaining 20%, who find the updated E-Class better than ever.
