Mercedes-Benz new 2018 E-Class Coupe joins the rest of the E-Class family for next year.
A day before Mercedes-Benz was set to debut its new E-Class Coupe – and a day after a brochure about the new two-door was leaked – the German automaker is taking the new model out from hiding.
Much like has already been chronicled, the new E-Class Coupe isn’t a dramatic departure from its C- and S-Class coupe cousins with very similar styling language. It’s also clear it is a sibling to the already introduced E-Class sedan and wagon.
“With its clear, aesthetic lines, our new E-Class Coupe appeals equally to the heart and mind. It combines contemporary luxury, agile sportiness and high-tech engineering into an automotive personality with spirit, offering exclusive, refined driving pleasure,” said Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, in a statement.
While the exterior borrows from the other coupes, the maker maintains it is “based technically on the sedan.” The aforementioned brochure provided some information about the new model’s interior, including the large 12.3-inch high-res touchscreen for the COMAND system.
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The new E400 Coupe's exterior styling borrows from its C- and S-Class cousins.
Another optionally available 12.3-inch widescreen instrument cluster– unique in this segment – is merged under a single lens to produce a widescreen cockpit that appears to float in space. The key design element emphasizes the width, as does the fascia-spanning trim.
Positioned in the driver’s direct field of vision, the digital instrument cluster shows virtual instruments, which can be selected by the driver in three different styles, “Classic,” “Sport” and “Progressive,” depending on which information and views the driver desires.
Additionally, touch control buttons allow the driver to manipulate the instrument cluster as well as the infotainment system using finger swipes. This allows the driver to keep their hands on the wheel at all times. However, there are also “direct-access buttons” for controlling several functions of the vehicle.
The big differentiation between the leaked brochure info and Merceds reveal was in the models available. In Europe there appears to be four versions: the E200, E300, E400 and the diesel-powered E220d. However, the U.S. appears to be getting just the E400 and the 4MATIC version — for now at least.
The big-boy version is the E400 featuring Mercedes’ familiar 3.0-liter biturbo V6 developing 329 horsepower from 5,250 to 6,000 rpm and 354 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 to 4,000 rpm. It goes from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. The 4MATIC does the same sprint in 5.5 seconds. Both top out at 130 mph.
The interior of the new Mercedes E-Class Coupe features the usual luxurious and technological appointments on a top luxury vehicle.
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Handling all of that power is a standard lowered suspension with selective damping; however, it can be equipped with a multi-chamber air suspension, including all-around roll/pitch/heave stabilization, Mercedes notes. This allows the driver enjoy a softer, more comfortable ride at lower speeds while gaining the benefit of a tauter version at higher speeds.
Of course, the driver also gets the option to select some driving characteristics with the Comfort, ECO, Sport, Sport + and Individual driving modes. The Individual mode allows he driver to configure their own preferred transmission modes.
Naturally, it’s not a Mercedes if doesn’t come with all of the techie appointments as well. A new era of connectivity and digitalization is marked by the multimedia system in the E-Class Coupe with standard COMAND Navigation. This includes effortless integration of the smartphone into the vehicle’s infotainment system by means of wireless pairing and wireless charging, eliminating the need to find a plug and connect a cable. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available.
A further comfort highlight is the Concierge Service, which is available on all carlines for customers with mbrace Connect and mbrace Secure. For participating customers, the range of services includes a host of personalized assistance options: from making a restaurant reservation to obtaining tips about tourist routes, information on cultural and sporting events and bookings through to sending navigation destinations directly to the vehicle.
(To see more about how Mercedes’ strong sales boosted Daimler’s bottom line, Click Here.)
It also comes with a variety of driver assistance features, including Drive Pilot, Mercedes semi-autonomous driving technology. With Distance Pilot DISTRONIC, it is not only able to keep the car at the correct distance behind vehicles in front on all types of road, but, for the first time, it can also automatically follow them at a speed of up to 130 mph. Pricing wasn’t made available.