tla20392

What are these packages: classic, elegance, avangarde? Will they be offered in the US, how are they different, and what category is the E500 in? Also if anyone knows when will the E classes be available in the US and MSRP for for E500?

awiner

The "Option Levels" you mentioned are not used in the U.S. market. Basically, the Avangrade is what we have here in the U.S. This is a model with most options and other options can be added on.

The Elegance is a step below as far as options are concerned.

The Classic is a stripped down version. Usually taxi's, police vehicles, etc. in Europe use the "Classic" series. Classics come with cloth interior as oppsed to Leather (Which the other two option levels get).

Hope this answers a bit about this topic.

Richard

Actually, the Avantgarde version is the "sporty" version with (in the CLK/E) the black wood and things like sport suspension, and the "Elegance" is the luxury version with softer ride and the brown wood.

The classic is the basic version, and some models arent avaialble in classic [depending on country etc]

AMG vehicles are built from the Avantgarde package. (In fact European CLK55's have "Avantgarde" badges on the sides, All US cars dont have the Avantgarde/Elegance/Classic badges on the sides)

Looking at the MB Australia site [because its in English and the MB UK site doesnt have the info] the current E class elegance/avantgarde packages give you :-

Optional "Elegance" package
16 inch alloy wheels (17 inch on E430/18 inch on E 55 AMG) - 11 hole design
Anti-dazzle rear view mirror
Burl walnut interior trim
CD changer in the boot
Comfort-fit seat belts on front seats (slight release of seat belt after it is fastened removes pull on belt)
Coutesy lights in doors (ground illumination), footwells, door openers and rear view mirror (centre console illumination)
"Elegance" interior and exterior trimmings
Illuminated vanity mirrors in sunvisors
Leather-bound steering wheel and gear shift lever
Leather Upholstery (E 240 sedan & E 270 CDI only)
Map pockets on back of front seats

Optional "Avantgarde" package
16 inch alloy wheels (17 inch on E430/18 inch on E 55 AMG) - 5 hole design
Anti-dazzle rear view mirror
"Avantgarde: interior and exterior trimmings
Black birds-eye maple interior trim
CD Changer in the boot
Comfort-fit seat belts on front seats (slight release of seat belt after it is fastened removes pull on belt)
Courtesy lights in doors (ground illumination), footwells, door openers and rear view mirror (centre console illumination)
Illuminated vanity mirrors in sunvisors
Leather-bound steering wheel and gear shift lever
Light grey faced instrumentation
Leather Upholstery (E 240 sedan only)
Map pockets on back of front seats
Sports suspension

vinmanc32

at Sharper image and the model they sell is the Avantgarde. I did some research since I had never heard of this, and found that, as mentioned, they are not sold in US. The difference between the Avantgarde and the Elegance is very minor. The missing items seemed insignificant but the trim was different. One had wood, the other had aluminum.

hmrdwn

I think in the US, we get the elegance trim in the E320 Standard, and the Avantgarde trim is standard in the E500. The AMG versions get the Avantgarde plus some other custom trim and most options are made standard...at least this is the way it has been and probably will in the future.

Beltfed

So where do you think the Sport package will fit in (opinions are fine)......excluding the new E55, will it just be a separate option like it is now for $4,500 or so dollars. I'm a bit optimistic since they show it on an E320 (which I mentioned in the AMG thread).