Meet the New Mercedes-Benz E-Class
High-tech E-Class sticks to good old Benz gas traditions.
While Mercedes-Benz continues on its electric vehicle charge, the Stuttgart, Germany company has not forgotten its traditional gas roots. Benz Tuesday revealed its hight-tech new 2024 E-class sedan with hybrid power, advanced infotainment, and a traditional gas twist.
High Tech Hybrid New E-class Still a Gas Classic
In the face of Mercedes’ electric onslaught, the new E comes in a launch range of a four-cylinder gas E350 and the straight-six. Both are coupled to a 23-HP electric motor-generator. The latest also E continues as a traditional long-nosed three-box sedan. The E-class however has an EQ-like black trim between the headlights and grille. Full-width taillights get a pair of tri star elements side.
The slick new body is a few inches wider and rides on a slightly longer wheelbase than the outgoing car. Mercedes claims improved interior space for the high tech new cabin. One option even includes a full width Superscreen dash with a third screen for the passenger. The infotainment now works off a single onboard computer to allow live streamed videos and games on the move. So long as a dash camera senses the driver’s eyes stay on the road!
New E-class Gets Vivaldi, Zoom, TikTok, & Angry Birds
Augmented reality navigation now uses live images from the car’s cameras, and the Hey Mercedes voice assistant can now listen for commands at all times. E-class also gains several third-party infotainment system apps, with access to web browser Vivaldi, Zoom, TikTok, and Angry Birds.
The rich-looking leather trimmed cabin gets metal switchgear, ambient lighting wrapped around the dashboard, with an optional disco-like pulse package in tune with the Burmeister surround sound system. The light strip can also display visual driver assistance alerts.
Upgraded Gas Turbo Engines
US buyers have the choice of two hybridized powertrains at launch. Both feature a 23 HP 148 lb.-ft 48-volt integrated starter-generator. It boosts torque to reduce turbo lag and smoothen the start-stop process. The 255 HP 295 lb.-ft turbocharged 2-liter inline-four E350 is up 22 pound-feet over the outgoing four-cylinder. The 375 HP and 369 lb.-ft E450 3-liter straight-six delivers 13 extra horses to the default nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.
New E-class has adaptive dampers and multilink suspension at each corner, while a load-leveling function adapts the car to road surfaces. Air suspension replaces steel-springs in the optional Technology package, It also adds rear-wheel steering to make E-class nimbler at low speeds and reduce the turning circle by nearly three feet. E-class’ driver-assistance package can be upgraded to include active lane-centering and automatic lane change steering.
Expect new E-class in the US at the End of the Year
Further models, including the AMG 53 and 63 expected with a pair of hot new 3-litre super-hybrid straight six engines, will follow, while other markets will also get four and six-pot turbodiesels. Mercedes has not yet revealed US E-class pricing, or an on sale date, but buyers can expect the new sedan on dealership floors by the end of the year starting at a slight increase at around $60,000.
Photos: Mercedes-Benz