2010 Mercedes Benz E550
After 14 long years when we had the boring, old CLK (in my opinion), Mercedes-Benz’s idea of the E-Class for 2010 had a totally 100% makeover; exterior and otherwise. For example, instead of the 3-star insignia which was on top of the CLK’s hood, Mercedes-Benz had enlarged the insignia, and positioned in the middle of the front grille. The front air dam is lowered for improved aerodynamics and efficiency. When you order your E550 coupe with the Sport Package, it comes with an upgraded Sports-tuned suspension with dynamic handling, upgraded 18-inch rims, and a stunning aerodynamic body kit. To me, the new 2010 E550 coupe looks like a grown-up version of the CLK; I guess 14 years of having the CLK in the U.S. market were not too bad for some Mercedes-Benz drivers, current or else.
The engine for the E550 coupe is the same as in its bigger brother, the S550 (and the E550 sedan, obviously), which generates 382 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, and 391 lb-ft. of torque at 2,400-2,800 rpm from a 90-degree, DOHC, 5.5-liter V-8. Linked to a 7-speed automatic with manual mode, the Benz sprints from 0-60 mph in just five seconds flat; the ¼ mile is clocked in at just 13.5 seconds at 105 mph. And look, no turbocharger is needed like much rivaled BMW 335i. While this may not handle as well as a 335i on the track, the power coming from the E’s V8 engine is smooth when up- or down-shifting with the standard paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
I really liked the interior features of this redesigned coupe. It looked kind of like a baby version of the S-Class with the same stalk lever next to the steering wheel, and the COMAND system up on the dash. There are two common packages that you could order with your E-Class, as you can probably imagine with any other class of Mercedes. There is the Premium 1 package which gives you your 40-gigabyte hard drive navigation system with a back-up camera, a beefy Harman-Kardon Logic7 Stereo Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound system, heated seats, and HD Radio. The Premium 2 package has all of the features that was mentioned in the Premium 1 package, but with a little bit more bells and whistles, if you are willing to pay a bit more. This package includes your LED lights for both daytime-running lights and turn signals, a Keyless-Go system where you never have to take your key out of your pocket to open your doors and start the car, active-ventilated front seats, and Bi-Xenon headlamps with active curve illumination when the lights turns at the same time you turn your steering wheel to the left or to the right as both a safety and convenience feature. Now, I know you might think that the panoramic sunroof is a bit of overkill for a car like this since the next-generation E-Class convertible will be making its debut soon, but if you do not wish to spend another $8k for the convertible, then I think that the panoramic sunroof for the coupe is a way to go. Besides, the E-Class convertible does not come with a retractable hardtop like the SLK.
Like the sedan, the E550 coupe comes with the Attention Assist System, where it alerts the driver of such behaviors behind the wheel like absent-minded lane changes. The steering wheel vibrates as the car drifts off (perfect for someone who’s falling asleep behind the wheel while driving back up the 5 from San Diego at 1 in the morning). The COMAND system is very easy to use since 90% of the commands are all done by voice-recognition.
No doubt that the E550 coupe is pure German machinery, but Mercedes-Benz had the intention of lowering the MSRP by $5,000, so try and beat that with a stock BMW 335i. It offers as much performance as an S550, but at a much lower price. Of course, an E would not really stack up to a 3 in terms of both power and price, but with that kind of power coming from those types of engines, they may as well be at-hand competitors.
