Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé: The New Generation

Motoring Channel Staff - 18/February/2009

Geneva, Switzerland – Making its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, followed by its Australian introduction in August, the new E-Class coupe is an intriguing new model for the world's oldest car maker.

Replacing the current CLK-Class coupe, the brand new E-Class Coupé model features an alluring design that removes the middle B-pillars to create a seamless, sophisticated look.

Expected to be priced from around $85,000 and extending up to $300,000 for the high performance AMG E63 Coupe model, the new Euro-styler puts Mercedes-Benz designs back in the spotlight after being overshadowed by Audi and BMW in the last half decade.

Images of the new model were leaked in January and even though we've been spoiled by the spy photos, the design becomes more appealing the more we look at it. 

It makes a strong first impression and is a lot easier on the eyes than Mercedes E-Class saloon.

As we mentioned previously, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé uses the front-end design of the recently unveiled E-Class sedan which gives the car an advanced, modernistic appeal. 

This German sports car shows off a sportier style with its sloping roof line and aggressive stance, and will be offered with 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder engines to suit a wide range of wants and desires.

The price will need to be very competitive if Mercedes wants to attract younger buyers, particularly during the worsening financial crisis, but the German car maker is making the right moves to entice new groups of drivers.

Like the sedan version of the E-Class, the Coupé displays the sharp-looking double headlight clusters, underneath which sit avant-garde LED fog lights.

An AMG sports kit will be made available, which includes larger wheels and an aero effects body kit, but the E500 model (pictured) looks fairly sporty regardless.

As well as side skirts, the E-Class Coupe boasts a subtle rear diffuser.

One of the best design elements of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé would have to be its new profile.

The coupe shape and profile looks very clean and defined and more aggressive than the previous CLK model which showed a smoother, curvier, some would say girlier design.

It does have a smoothly curved roofline like the CLK model before it but the sharper, more angular front and rear styling cues give it teeth.

The brake lights - which look a dated on the new E-Class sedan - integrate far better on the E-Class Coupe, giving the rear end a more modern appearance than its 4-door sibling.

Power for the new European coupe will come from five different engines, two diesel and three petrol. 

The engine choices are as follows:

All models are rear-wheel drive and offers 'a very special combination of two attributes for which the Mercedes brand is well known: fascination and efficiency'. 

All of the new coupés are very aerodynamic, with the German company claiming to have the world's most efficient coupe with a drag coefficient of 0.24.

According to the Merc press statement, 'this model is the world's most aerodynamically efficient series-production car'.

Some of the features of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé include the standard-fitment of Agility Control.

This is a dynamic suspension setup that adjusts the damping rates to the current driving situation.

Some of the car's other features include drowsiness detection, preventive occupant protection and an Active Bonnet to improve pedestrian crash-worthiness.

There's also Adaptive Main Beam Assist, road sign recognition and an automatic emergency braking system which the new E-ClassCoupé brings to the large luxury coupe category.

Two interior trim levels are offered with the E-Class Coupé, Elegance and AvantGarde, and the seats of the E-Class Coupé are new, whose design and technology reflect the sporty nature of the 2-door Mercedes.

They are electrically adjustable for seat height and backrest angle as standard and the high, sports car-like seat backrests have a practical Easy-Entry function to make access and egress easier for rear-seat passengers.

But the comfort doesn't stop there: luxury seats with active ventilation are available as optional extras, as are newly developed multicontour seats with inflatable air chambers in the front seat cushions as well as in the centre and side bolsters of the backrests.

Using a similar dashboard layout from the S-Class, the E-Class Coupé gets a multifunction steering wheel, a controller on the centre tunnel, colour display in the dash-board and direct selection buttons to make quick decisions.

The Controller puts all the functions of the advanced infotainment system -- such as the radio, CD/DVD player, telephone and navigation system -- at the fingertips of the driver and front passenger.

The Audio 20 CD radio with eight loudspeakers, a CD player and a Bluetooth interface for a mobile phone is fitted as standard.

Customers who specify the optional Comand APS multimedia system benefit from additional functions: a nationwide hard-disc navigation system, a DVD changer, the Music Register (hard drive storage for about 1000 music tracks) and voice control with whole-word recognition.

Further options for even greater listening pleasure are available in the form of a 500-watt surround sound system, a media interface for connecting external MP3 players and a tuner for digital radio reception.

But that's only the half of it. There are more options than we can list on this page making the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé one of the most advanced 2-door vehicles in existence.

The CLK-Class coupe may have been retired, but it's successor seems to have everything in order.

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