Guess this is the best place for a thread on the Cabriolet. Of note is the AirScarf feature will be available, which someone was asking about on another thread, but I couldn't track that thread down. I found some info on it and AirCap as follows:

Modified AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system option.

The AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop: always on board and easily controllable at the push of a button, it reduces turbulence substantially for all four seat occupants.

 

It will be interesting to see if this is a true E, or just an update to the CLK. From the articles out on the internet, it looks like it will have all the options available on the new E sedan - even some that are not currently available on the coupe, so that's encouraging.

The E550 Cabriolet should be quite a performer with 382hp on board. Now, if we could just get an AMG E Cabrio......

 

Some details from last week's press release.

 

It's just the E-Coupe with it's roof chopped off. In other words, it's more C-Class/CLK than E.

 

Was at an MB dealer yesterday and the salesman said this car would be available in CONUS in the March timeframe. Can anyone confirm or deny?

The old whine that it's a CLK/C class-based auto and not an "E-class" is really quite silly. As is the comment that the engineering involved in making it simply involves chopping off the top. Is every vert version of every coupe simply chopping the top too?

The car is what it is. Models morph are the time and the entire MB line (as most others) share lots of parts and design traits. One thing that appears to be the case is the interior dimensions are closer to the old E-class vert than the current CLK vert.
The placard on the back-end means ZERO. Judge the: looks, build quality, features and performance; if the sticker price seems balanced against them-- buy it.

 

Thats true, but Mercedes really should have just called this the CLK because it isn't a true E-Class variant. It is still in the same spirit and technical makeup as the CLKs have been. That said it probably gains more prestige and therefore sales by being an E instead of a CLK, just sounds more prestigious. The last true E Coupe/Convertible was in 1995.


M

 

Good to know it arrives so soon.

They don't call it a CLK anymore because the opposite frequently occurs and it's deemed a C-class car. MB got too cute in their naming strategy and basically just confused some buyers. I've heard people say "why is the CL550 so much more expensive than the C-300 when they're both "C-class" cars?"
Now I'll just let it go because I'm not into internet spats. What's "true" is in the eye of the beholder and what it's labeled means little compared to what it IS. By the way, I owned a CLK430 (99) for awhile and never felt embarrassed.

 

What I find interesting is that they are putting all the E-class options - even those that are not available on the E-coupe - on the cabriolet: attention assist, distronic plus, etc.

 

Came across this on IMDB's front page, apperently it will be featured in Sex and the City 2

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2589429248/tt1261945

Also according to Benz Insider the cabrio will actually be a bit longer than the E coupe

 

According to the MB press release, it is the same length as the E Coupe - 185"

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/d...***-cabriolet/

 

Sorry, i read it wrong, it is longer than the 'CLK' Cabrio by 10CM

 

The Cabrio is based off the w204 C class, same as the Coupe. But, instead of using the old CLK formula, this time around they specifically designed the structure for a Cabrio from the start. Many of MB's models use the same frame that has been modified for a specific model, so this shouldn't be shocking to anyone. You have to credit Benz for listening to its customers though, with the outgoing CLK you could clearly see its C class roots in the interior, the new Cabrio looks pure E class inside.

As for the naming...some of you must be new to the Mercedes fold, the others may recall that it was a E Coupe before it was ever a CLK. Mercedes is trying to simplify the lineup for less confusion, so the CL is now a S Coupe, the CLK is now a E Coupe and for 2011 (late 2010) there will be a true C Coupe (no hatch). What's some what befuddling is there are rumors of bring the CLK name back as a C Cabrio...now that should confuse the heck out of people, but as of the latest press release that option is dead for now.

 

You're right that did happen. I agree, CLK could have been confusing to some. But as you know just because things are left up to eye of the beholder, doesn't mean it is accurate or true. The facts are that "E-Class Coupe" is still based on the C-Class chassis with E-Class hardware. More E-Class hardware than before true, but still not based on the W212 chassis.


M

 

Thats true in the sense that the middleweight coupe was an E before it was a CLK, but it was called an E before because it was a true E-Class coupe, unlike the CLK. The 1998 CLK320 Coupe was like 20K less than the 1995 E320 Coupe. For the price of a 1995 E320 Cabriolet, you could get a CLK55 AMG Cabriolet in 2002. That is only possible with a platform change. Any true E-Class Coupe would cost more than the sedan, not less as this new "E" coupe does.


M

 

Chilled, per the 2004 press kit, the W209 CLK was originally designed as a cab. I believe the W208 cab may have been an afterthought. I don’t see anything in the 2002 W208 kit that says a cab was part of the original intent.

 

I'm glad to finally see postings starting on the 2010 E cabrio. I'm on my third CLK convertible - started with a 2002 CLK320, then a 2005 CLK500 and now have a 2008 CLK550. I've loved them all, so will most certainly be getting an E550 later this year.

However, I am _not_ liking the antenna stump on the rear deck. Upon first glance, it looks like a Chrysler Sebring convertible with that thing sticking up. What I don't understand is why my current and prior CLK's got by just fine without an antenna sticking up anywhere, and now they need one. My current CLK even has nav and still no antenna showing. Kind of a bummer, but ultimately not enough to keep me from getting the car anyway.

 

Never really noticed the antenna until you pointed it out. It does look a bit out of place, but only since you pointed it out lol. Here are some more pictures.

 

As for options, the coupe has the same options as the cabriolet. Attention assist and distronic plus are certainly available on the coupe and have been since launch. The only things missing that I know of on the coupe/cabriolet when compared to the sedan were nightview, blind spot assist and lane departure warning. All other things were similar if not exactly the same. As for the naming, this one has been beaten to death...

 

Just got an email from my local dealer (MB of Coral Gables) that the order guide for the E cabrios should be out tomorrow and you can build your own from the MBUSA website.

 

Website build capability still unavailable so I went to the dealer today and ordered:

MY 2011

E550A

Color: 230 (Quartz Blue)

Upholstery: 208 (Ash/Dark Grey)

Accessories: 104 (rear deck spoiler), 359 (mbrace), 744 (blue soft top)

Packages: 318 (wwod trim), P02 (Premium II), 321 Appearance), 997 (Distronic Plus)

No clue on pricing

 

I ordered my E-Cab on Tuesday(well I order my new cab each time when I pick up my current one and the dealer switched out my order for CLK to E Cab so I have a standing order for new Cab every 36 months). I got a copy of the confirmation the dealer got on Wednesday from MB in Germany even from the dealer, my confirmation order number on the print out he gave me is XXXXXXX000001(this was the order # I gave MBUSA to extend my lease for 6 months on a month to month basis) according to the dealer I have the first E550 Cab been built for the USA market but I have a felling more than likely it is the first one be allotted to their dealership and not first order in the USA.

My order break down from my confirmation is the following:

E550A 2011

Packages:
P02 P2 Premium II Package
318 318 Wood Trim Package
321 321 Appearance Package
Paint 040 Black
Upholstery : 801 Black Premium Leather

Options/Wood Trims
104 Rear Deck Spoiler
293 Rear Side Airbags
359 mbrace
428 Steering Wheel Gearshift Paddles
740 Black Soft Top

On the confirmation order I got it shows an Order Cycle date of 3/29. Dealer claimed my car should arrive some time in the end of April being of May. I am in West Coast if that makes a difference on delivery time.

The Wood Trim Package on my order is for the special order black ash wood as standard is burly walnut. I was told the Appearance Package has upgraded wheels, stainless steal pedals and a sport steering wheel. Unfortunately I was told you can not get wood gear shift or wood steering wheel option if you order the Appearance package and the sports steering wheel is all leather.

Dealer said no official price has been given yet but he expect the car to be around the same price as a comparable equipped 550 CLK which should put my car around $71k +/- $2K.

 

My dealer tells the option "428 Steering Wheel Gearshift Paddles" is only applicable to the E350A and is standard on the E550A.

 

Well I have an order number and a printout from Navstar system already with first 6 number of my vin number and I called my dealer after reading your post to confirm and he said next week on monday more options are going into the system like the choice for wood colors and a few other options. Just so you know the 104 Rear Deck Spoiler is standard on the 550A also yet order system showed it as an option just like 428 Steering Wheel Gearshift Paddles which he thinks he had to re-add because he also added the 318 Wood Trim Package which is the wood steering wheel and that is when option 428 showed up. Also currently the only way on 350/550 coups to get another wood color beside the Burl Walnut wood ie Black Ash wood is by ordering the wood steering wheel and selecting a Black Ash wood steering wheel. Otherwise you are not able to switch the wood trim currently.

My Dealer said the current Navstar order system is still buggy and not 100% accurate either but he prefers to add options which he knows are standard just to make sure when the car arrives it arrives with the options I wanted. As the VPC is not retarded enough to print invoices and with charges for standard options that are included in the car.

P.S. My dealer verified if you select 321 Appearance Package which replaces the standard steering wheel then can also add 428 option back to the build so he is thinking it is very possible if you change the steering wheel that unless you select that option again your car might be built without as that option even tho it is standard option because you switched out the steering wheel. My car is going into production with 2 weeks as I have already been assigned my first 6 number of the VIN and changes will no longer be allowed 4-5 days after it goes into production. He also said I have a cycle date of 3/18 on my car and he was told by his rep that all the dealership are going to be getting 2 cars some time between the middle of April and beginning of May 1 which will be a launch edition 550A and 350A launch edition which they can switch to a customer order special build car which the dealers can build anyway they choose. After those 2 cars the next batch will be 4-6 weeks later and will be based on dealer's sales number so some dealers might get 1 car in the 2nd batch while other dealers might get 3-4 cars but MB is not going to flood the market with E Cabs and will keep supply super tight till 2011. The dealer can elect to get that 2nd 350A launch edition car if they choose too and not take orders for that build slot. My dealer assures me that he switched that 2nd launch edition car to 550A customer order build.

That is according to my dealer, So for all I know he could be a big liar. He also is not charging me anything over sticker and said he will gives me a $500 discount over MSRP sticker on the car as I have had a standing order on a Cab to replace my current cab from 1995 till now with the same salesman. So I see no reason for him to talk up the car to me considering I am sure he could sell the car to someone else for more than likely over sticker etc and add tons of dealer installed options to jack up the price of the car which he is not doing to me either.

 

Well I just got a call from the dealer right now, saying their was a conflict in my build order which needed to be corrected asap.

You are 100% correct about 428 Steering Wheel Gearshift Paddles being standard the system made him drop that option but in order to get the Black Ash Wood he had to switch my Upholstery from 801 Black Premium Leather to 211 Black Premium Leather which claims is much softer and only $250 upgrade. And the Black Ash wood itself does not cost more than standard Burly wood either.He said 211 is the soft leather that S Class uses over the standard leather the C/E classes uses. He also had to drop 318 Wood Trim Package as steering wheel is not offered in black ash wood on E class at all. So he said I could either get black ash wood or burly wood package and a wood steering wheel.

Honestly it makes no sense to me considering if you goto to UK web page they offer the steering wheel with black ash wood in the UK and I do not think the steering wheel is any different on the US models but I guess I could be wrong who knows.

 

Here's the update I got from my dealer today: