Mercedes-Benz Reveals 2018 E-Class Coupe Before Its Official Detroit Auto Show Debut

New Mercedes-Benz Two-Door Packs Luxury and Performance Tech into a Larger Package

The Detroit Auto Show doesn’t take place until January, but Mercedes-Benz is giving us a look at its 2018 E-Class Coupe it plans on showing there right now.

Compared to its predecessor, the B-pillarless coupe is almost five inches longer, nearly three inches wider, more than an inch taller, and rides on a wheelbase that’s been stretched by 4.4 inches. Up front, a large three-point star dominates the one-bar grille. That sits below a twin-power-dome hood. The frameless windows make up a greenhouse that points to a rear bookended by tailights with crystal optics, which Mercedes says gives them a stardust-like appearance. An available Sport Package adds chrome tips to the grille insert, visual tweaks to the front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and upsized AMG-style wheels on the outside, and an AMG sports steering wheel on the inside.

The E-Class Coupe’s larger exterior dimensions give occupants more rear headroom and legroom, and additional front and rear shoulder room. A 12.3-inch high-res COMAND screen is standard; the optional 12.3-inch widescreen instrument cluster can display the readouts of the digital instruments in three modes: Classic, Sport, and Progressive. Turbine-like air vents flank the three-spoke steering wheel, which features Touch Control Buttons that allow the driver to control the instrument cluster and multimedia system by swiping a finger. Two light wood trim packages – in natural grain or glossy finish – are available. Additional interior touches include a touchpad that recognizes handwriting and a controller in the center console, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (in cars with COMAND Navigation), and 64 colors of LED ambient lighting.

Under the hood, the E-Class Coupe will launch in E400 form with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 that produces 329 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. That’s all channeled through the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic and rear- or 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The available Air Body Control suspension is designed to allow the driver to set it to one of three levels of stiffness, from soft and luxurious to taut and sporty. Mercedes pairs that with a continuous adaptive damping system. Dynamic Select controls the suspension settings as well as the throttle response, ECO Start/Stop, and shift points for the gearbox, which can operate in Comfort, ECO, Sport, Sport +, and Individual (custom) modes.

Look for the 2018 E-Class Coupe in Detroit this coming January and in U.S. dealerships in the summer of 2017.

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via [Mercedes-Benz] and [Motor Authority]

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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