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By EWAN
KENNEDY
3 August 2009
This new E-Class is the ninth generation of the executive-class
car and replaces the previous version released in Australia in
2002. Mercedes-Benz launched the new E-Class sedan out of
Melbourne in a road test that included going from the airport to
Daylesford via a circuitous route and returning through Mt
Macedon. All up, around 400 km.
Styling is obviously related to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class with the
wheel arch extensions, larger bumpers and character line that
extends just under the door handles bearing close resemblance to
the flagship. The new E-Class has sportier, more aggressive front
appearance thanks to a wider, sculpted grille. The interior is
slightly roomier and the fit and quality is what we have come to
expect from Mercedes.
There are two equipment levels – Elegance (traditional and
classic appearance) and Avantgarde which is more modern and sporty
The active safety area is one where the E-Class tackles head-on
the issue of alerting the driver that he/or she is in need of a
hand. It has an impressive array of new technology. There's
Attention Assist, a driver fatigue detection system; intelligent
light system with five headlight functions, adaptive High
Beam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist,
Distronic Plus radar guided cruise control, and lastly Speed Limit
Assist.
Speed Limit Assist is not yet available in Australia but a number
of new luxury cars will have the technology when it does arrive.
It uses a car mounted camera that is able to `read' international
standard speed zone signs and alert the driver. The delay in
implementing the system in Australia is caused by the roll-out of
the technology and the need for engineers to verify it for
Australian conditions. The technology does not slow the car to the
correct speed. It simply tells the driver and passes on that
responsibility to them.
Technology to keep drivers alert is called Attention Assist and
uses sensors that continuously monitor 70 parameters,
particularly the driver's steering behaviour. Mercedes say
research has shown drowsy drivers make minor steering errors that
lead to sudden corrections, which are picked up by the technology
and conveyed to the driver, initially by a coffee cup icon popping
up in the instrument binnacle.
The Lane Tracking package includes Blind Spot Assist and a new
development, Lane Keeping Assist. This technology detects when a
car is drifting over either centre or roadside white lines and
causes a shudder to vibrate through the steering wheel. This is
standard on all V6 and V8 E-Class models and optional on
four-cylinder variants.
Adaptive High Beam Assist uses a windscreen
mounted camera to recognise on-coming traffic and vehicles ahead
to control the headlamps so that the beam does not reach the other
vehicle. If the road is clear the lights gradually increase to
high beam. This prevents the lights temporarily dazzling other
drivers which can cause crashes. This is included in a package,
apart from E 220 CdI,
that includes the intelligent light system and the LED daytime
driving lights.
The car's new architecture has resulted in a 30 per cent increase
in the rigidity
of the body shell. The car has Pre-Safe where the car detects an
accident is about to happen and prepares the cabin, and occupants,
for the inevitable. E-Class also features nine airbags.
The LED daytime lights are compulsory in parts of Europe and are
used on the new Mercedes E-Class in Australia.
Technology from the flagship Mercedes S-Class has filtered down to
the E-Class and includes the optional Night View Assist Plus,
where using heat sensing technology pedestrians are highlighted in
the on-board display screen to warn the driver that people are on
or near the roadway.
We drove the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 and E500 variants that both
feature the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission. The gear
lever is on the steering column, unlike the coupe that has the
sportier feature of a floor-mounted changer. The E350 is powered
by a 3.5-litre V6 putting out 200 kW of power and 350 Nm of
torque. Mercedes has measured it at 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres
and 219 grams per 100 km of CO2 emissions.
We drove the E500 V8 first so the E350 did seem a little lethargic
in comparison. The reality is the E350 is pretty quick, but makes
no fuss about it, unlike the V8 roar out of the E500. The E350
feels lighter and our test car had a standard suspension set-up
compared to the air suspension in the E500.
We found the air suspension quite ponderous in `comfort' mode
particularly at speed and under tight cornering, but a vast
improvement when switched over to `sport' mode. No such
impressions from the E 350 with its steel springs.
The E500 is powered by a 5.4-litre V8 pushing out 285 kW of power
and 530 Nm of torque. Its consumption is 11.0 L/100 km and it has
CO2 emissions level of 258 g/km. The V8 delivers effortless
acceleration at all speeds and, even driven enthusiastically,
seems to have reasonable economy around the sub 15.0 L/100 km
level.
In both cars the brakes have a great feel even under a heavy left
foot. Handling is predictable and the NVH is what you expect from
luxury cars, that is excellent.
For those looking for more economical cheaper variants of E-Class,
there are diesel alternatives in addition to a four-cylinder
petrol, all arriving in late September this year.
PRICING:
E 220 CDI 4-cyl Elegance $80,900 (late September 2009 )
E 250 CDI 4-cyl Avantgarde $96,900 (late September 2009)
E 350 CDI V6 Avantgarde $131,900 (late September 2009)
E 250 CGI 4-cyl Avantgarde $93,900 (late September 2009)
E 350 V6 Avantgarde $128,900 (late July 2009)
E 500 V8 Avantgarde $178,900 (late July 2009)
(These prices do not include
government or dealer charges).
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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