The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been given a significant makeover and the whole family - which includes sedan, estate, coupe and cabrio and AMG models - has just been launched in South Africa.
The facelift brings a completely redesigned front end across the range, with the twin headlights making way for singular units, and it complements various changes to the side profile and rear end. Buyers of the sedan and estate also get to choose between two grille designs: Elegance versions have a more traditional grille with its 'star' on the bonnet and Avantgarde have a sportier design that places the badge in the centre of the grille.
NEW ENGINES
It's far more than just a cosmetic exercise, however, with the re-sculpted bonnet housing a new range of engines that are, naturally, more efficient. For starters, they're all mated to idle-stop systems for better urban efficiency and Merc's 7G-Tronic gearbox.
The new 'lean burning' direct injection 1991cc four-cylinder petrol engines poach some technology from the bigger V6 and V8 units. In fact, Merc claims combined cycle consumption of just 5.8 l/100km in the E 250 variant, which produces 155kW and 350Nm. The similar engine in the E 200 base model is rated at 135kW and 300Nm.
The next misleading badge is E 400, which signifies a 3-litre twin-turbo power plant credited with 245kW and 380Nm, while the V8 conversation starts with the 300kW/600Nm E500. Merc claims it'll take you 5.3 seconds to get to 100km/h in the E 400 and 4.9 seconds in the E 500 at a respective cost of 7.5 and 8.9 l/100km.
HYBRID DIESEL
There's a range of sensible diesels on offer too, including a squeaky-clean hybrid.
The E 250 CDI offers 150kW and 500Nm (and consumes a claimed 4.8 l/100km) while the 3-litre V6-powered E350 BlueTec is good for 185kW, 620Nm and 5.5 l/100km.
The advanced new E 300 Hybrid mates a 150kW/500Nm four-cylinder diesel engine to a 20kW/250Nm electric motor for startling (claimed) figures of 4.1 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 107g/km. Lose those eco aspirations and it's hardly a slouch, cruising to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds.
Our Star Motoring colleague Minesh Bhagaloo got behind the wheel of the hybrid model at its Western Cape launch and he reckons it’s a winner.
“I’ve always said that hybrids should run diesel versus petrol plants, with the consumption and torque benefits of diesel obvious.
"Merc’s iteration offers no turbo lag and cruises like anything equivalent would. My consumption of around 8l/100km was higher than the claim, but in city commuting should be greener.”
E 63 AMG
The big news at the hooligan end of the range is the new 'S' version of the E 63 AMG, which now pushes 430kW and 800 thunderous Newton metres. Even the 'standard' model has been uprated from 386kW/700Nm to 410kW/720Nm.
The 5.5-litre twin-turbo AMG V8 will launch this version to 100 in 4.2 seconds, while the 'S' requires just 4.1. In both cases the engine is mated to a three-mode seven-speed Speedshift sports transmission.
As par for the course, the 63 is endowed with AMG-specific chassis and design mods and buyers can also order it with the AMG high-performance composite braking system.
GADGETS
Standard across the range is the company's Collision Prevention Assist, a radar-based accident warning device with adaptive brake assist systems, as well as the Attention Assist gadget that aims to wake you up if you start dozing off behind the wheel.
If that's not enough, you can order the Driving Assistance Plus package (R25 300), which brings to the party Distronic Plus, Pre-Safe, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Rear-end collision warning and protection system, Brake intervention on pedestrian safety and various other gizmos.
PRICES
Sedan
E 200 - R541 000
E 250 CDI - R 565 000
E 250 R573 000
E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid - R634 000
E 350 BlueTEC - R716 000
E 400 - R736 000
E 500 - R928 604
E 63 AMG - R1 275 604
E 63 AMG S - R1 396 604
Estate
E 250 - POA
Cabriolet
E 250 - R675 211
E 400 - R858 032
E 500 - R999 445
Coupe
E 250 - R582 554
E 400 - R774 632
E 500 - R938 465