Bringing Sex-E Back
by Joe Tralongo
If you ask any dyed-in-the-wool car buff which is the sexiest Mercedes-Benz, the current E-Class would probably place somewhere near the bottom of the list. Not that the E-Class in unattractive, it’s simply better represented by less provocative adjectives such as stylish, elegant and expensive. Sexy is reserved for such lovely gems as the CLS and SL. But for 2010, all that’s about the change with the introductions of a noticeably more fashion savvy E-Class Sedan and an all-new, all-sexy E Class Coupe.
Though still recognizable as a Mercedes-Benz, the new E-Class represents one of the most radical departures from traditional Benz styling in years. Gone are the round headlamps and ribbed tail lamps, replaced by geometric gemstone cut shapes that might just as easily have come from a Lexus, or dare I say it, even a Hyundai. Thankfully the artfully sculpted body remains unmistakably Mercedes Benz, incorporating such subtle heritage styling cues as the curved line running from the rear quarter panel over the rear wheel arch. From grille to trunk lid, the E-Class’ lines are crisper, the front end more aggressive and the body stance just a tad lower. The new design achieves a remarkably low drag coefficient of just 0.25, which in layman terms means the E-Class slips through the wind like greased missile. Yet, while much of the focus (and sales) will no doubt point to the E-Class Sedan, it truth it is the Coupe that steals the show. Sharing the same chassis and engines, the E350 and E550 Coupes inspire the kind of jaw dropping drool fest the sedan simply can’t engender. From its beautifully arched roofline to the non-existent B-pillar and fully retractably front and rear side windows, the E-Class Coupe does for the Mercedes what Daniel Craig does for the James Bond franchise. It is, unapologetically, sex on wheels.
Inside, Mercedes-Benz has really upped the ante by creating a warm and luxurious interior with sophisticated textures, stylish sew patterns and a much more generous use of wood and contrasting leathers. On the sedan, the shift lever has been moved from the console to the steering column, which, in conjunction with the dash-mounted electronic parking brake, frees up more space in the center console for a set of large cup holders and the newly redesigned COMMAND controller. The Coupe retains the traditional console mounted shifter and gains steering-wheel paddle shifters. On the sedan, Sport models offer a new sport seat with side bolsters that automatically adjust during hard cornering. It’s an odd sensation that immediately brings back images of my Italian Grandmother squeezing the life out of me as a child. The coupe gets its own set of well bolstered custom sport seats, sans the electronic Italian Grandmother.
Under the skin, Mercedes has fitted its mid-level luxury sedan with a host of electronic stability and safety gizmos, including adaptive shock dampening and electronic traction and stability control, while inside no less than nine airbags help protect the occupants. Among the many impressive features is the Attention Assist drowsiness monitor that observes 70 different data points to determine if the driver is nodding off or simply not paying attention behind the wheel. A visual and audible reminder alert the driver to either wake up or stop texting (the two exhibit very similar driving patterns). Night driving is made less stressful with the optional High Beam Assist that employs a tiny windshield mounted camera to observe on coming traffic and adjust the low beam projection distance accordingly. The same camera is used in combination with the sonar to create a night vision system that can actually detect roadside pedestrian traffic and highlight an otherwise hidden bi-ped using the LCD monitor.
Also noteworthy is the Brake Assist Plus and PRE-SAFE Brake Assist. This feature uses the car’s built in sonar (part of the DISTRONIC adaptive cruise control) to monitor vehicles directly ahead and, should there be a sudden reduction in distance, slows the car automatically. The system can even bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
The first models to arrive are the rear-drive 268-horsepower E350 and the 382-horsepower E550. While both the V6 and V8 engine perform admirably, it’s the V8 that inspires the biggest grin, especially when pushing to overtake slower moving traffic. Although no manual transmission is offered the seven-speed automatic is more than up to the job, and the Coupe is fitted with a manual shift mode, the closest thing to a manual for do-it-yourselfers. Later in the model year the 4MATIC all-wheel drive option will arrive, as will the E350 BlueTEC diesel and the 518-horsepower E63 AMG.
The E-Class Sedan should arrive in dealer showrooms this June with a base price starting around $50,000 for the V6 model and $57,000 for the V8 (that’s nearly $5K less than last year’s model). The Coupes are priced at roughly $49,000 and $55,000 respectively.
Photos Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA
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