2010 Mercedes Benz e Class
Prices: (Starting at $48,600)Engines:E350: (3.5 liter V6: 268 horsepower)-(18 city/26 highway)E550: (5.5 liter V8: 382 horsepower)-(16 city/24 highway)E63 AMG: (6.3 liter V8: 518 horsepower)-(13 city/20 highway)With the launch of the new E-Class sedan and coupe much confusion reigned over which platform the two door model was based on. Is it based on a C-Class like the previous CLK or is it based on the new E-Class sedan platform? Why did anyone care when both models are phenomenally talented? Such is the hierarchical status of Mercedes owners and fanatics, always needing to know exactly how superior they are by which class of car they buy.It is unfortunate that Mercedes has allowed itself to be saddled with this reputation for financial status separatism because they really do make some fine automobiles. Although a few years back they may have been skidding by on their sterling reputation it is obvious from the looks of the new E-Class that they are back on track. It may not be the most exciting car ever made but it is a Mercedes through and through. Meaning it could probably survive a nuclear attack (or a drive in Los Angeles rush hour traffic) and survive unscathed.The interior of the new E-Class is a tribute to formal Teutonic style. It may be somewhat angular and solid but it is in the tones of the leather and wood that the honesty of this luxury shines through. As a contrast, leathers and woods in Lexus models look like they have been explained to someone who has never seen a tree or a Prada runway show. The boys and girls at Mercedes really studied up their materials choices on this one.As is usual for a Mercedes there are way too many optional extras including the absolutely necessary COMAND system, a drowsy driver monitoring system called ATTENTION ASSIST (why is all Mercedes technology always spelled out in capital LETTERS?) as well as the very Knight Rider aping NIGHT VISION ASSIST which allows you to see increased distances in the dark. Don't ask me how any of this technology works because I think it all involved Mercedes engineers travelling through time to steal the technology from the Starship Enterprise.The two door E-Class coupe is one of the sexiest hardtops to come from Stuttgart in years. It is stylish and svelte in a way that only seems possible in places like Hollywood and Miami Beach. The interior is the same as in the 4 door except it has a transmission shifter on the console instead of up by the steering wheel.Call me crazy but I am still not a big fan of those tiny automatic transmission shifters that you have to push and pull in counter-intuitive manners and explain for 10 minutes to anyone who ever has to drive your car. Make the transmission lever normal (like in the coupe or E63 sedan) and everyone knows how to use it! That's intuitive! Have none of these engineers heard of valet parking? These guys can't know everything!Mercedes has done a lot of catch-up work in individual areas of the cabin to trump its enemies at Audi and BMW. The available sport steering wheel is a work of art and rivals any of the best helms from BMW. As for the leather on offer in the new E-Class it is as tactile and expertly hued as anything you see coming out of Audi's workshops. Yes, I believe Mercedes has finally built an interior worthy of taking on Audi owners. (Their secret? Mercedes said goodbye to scratch prone, glossy plastic! They must have sold it all to Kia for the interior of the new Forte.)The launch of the last generation E-Class was a bit of a disaster resulting in a huge brake recall and millions of dollars in lost revenue thanks to higher than average warranty claims. This generation E-Class has a whole different feel. It is one of solidity and conservatism with just a touch of Teutonic style to give it that final and lasting touch of class.
Prices: (Starting at $48,600)
Engines:
E350: (3.5 liter V6: 268 horsepower)-(18 city/26 highway)
E550: (5.5 liter V8: 382 horsepower)-(16 city/24 highway)
E63 AMG: (6.3 liter V8: 518 horsepower)-(13 city/20 highway)
With the launch of the new E-Class sedan and coupe much confusion reigned over which platform the two door model was based on. Is it based on a C-Class like the previous CLK or is it based on the new E-Class sedan platform? Why did anyone care when both models are phenomenally talented? Such is the hierarchical status of Mercedes owners and fanatics, always needing to know exactly how superior they are by which class of car they buy.
It is unfortunate that Mercedes has allowed itself to be saddled with this reputation for financial status separatism because they really do make some fine automobiles. Although a few years back they may have been skidding by on their sterling reputation it is obvious from the looks of the new E-Class that they are back on track. It may not be the most exciting car ever made but it is a Mercedes through and through. Meaning it could probably survive a nuclear attack (or a drive in Los Angeles rush hour traffic) and survive unscathed.
The interior of the new E-Class is a tribute to formal Teutonic style. It may be somewhat angular and solid but it is in the tones of the leather and wood that the honesty of this luxury shines through. As a contrast, leathers and woods in Lexus models look like they have been explained to someone who has never seen a tree or a Prada runway show. The boys and girls at Mercedes really studied up their materials choices on this one.
As is usual for a Mercedes there are way too many optional extras including the absolutely necessary COMAND system, a drowsy driver monitoring system called ATTENTION ASSIST (why is all Mercedes technology always spelled out in capital LETTERS?) as well as the very Knight Rider aping NIGHT VISION ASSIST which allows you to see increased distances in the dark. Don't ask me how any of this technology works because I think it all involved Mercedes engineers travelling through time to steal the technology from the Starship Enterprise.
The two door E-Class coupe is one of the sexiest hardtops to come from Stuttgart in years. It is stylish and svelte in a way that only seems possible in places like Hollywood and Miami Beach. The interior is the same as in the 4 door except it has a transmission shifter on the console instead of up by the steering wheel.
Call me crazy but I am still not a big fan of those tiny automatic transmission shifters that you have to push and pull in counter-intuitive manners and explain for 10 minutes to anyone who ever has to drive your car. Make the transmission lever normal (like in the coupe or E63 sedan) and everyone knows how to use it! That's intuitive! Have none of these engineers heard of valet parking? These guys can't know everything!
Mercedes has done a lot of catch-up work in individual areas of the cabin to trump its enemies at Audi and BMW. The available sport steering wheel is a work of art and rivals any of the best helms from BMW. As for the leather on offer in the new E-Class it is as tactile and expertly hued as anything you see coming out of Audi's workshops. Yes, I believe Mercedes has finally built an interior worthy of taking on Audi owners. (Their secret? Mercedes said goodbye to scratch prone, glossy plastic! They must have sold it all to Kia for the interior of the new Forte.)
The launch of the last generation E-Class was a bit of a disaster resulting in a huge brake recall and millions of dollars in lost revenue thanks to higher than average warranty claims. This generation E-Class has a whole different feel. It is one of solidity and conservatism with just a touch of Teutonic style to give it that final and lasting touch of class.
