think the inline 6 mild hybrid will be E450 in '20
 

So the 2020 GLE was on display at the Paris Auto show this week. I'll be available in Spring and, will have the inline 6 mild hybrid as the AMG E53 does. It would be awesome (for me) if the 2020 E had this as the 450's engine. Any guesses if it will? John

Certainly could be. Guess we'll know when Mercedes announces the 2020's. It is highly likely the 2020 will get a face lift - ala mid cycle refresh, so the I6 would be as good a choice for the E at that time.

The facelift, going by Mercedes almost always 4-7 year cycle, will be after the 4th model year, meaning the 2021 model year.

M

to answer my own question (maybe)... https://www.motor1.com/news/270107/2...e-class-spied/

Just an opinion - not based on fact:

I originally ordered the "new" 2019 E350 which was a new V4 with the 48 volt lithium ion battery, producing over 300 HP and similar torque. I though it was the perfect combination: good gas economy and plenty of power.

Really disappointed when that engine for the 2019 E was eliminated. I then ordered the 2019 E450 biturbo V6. (cannot wait as the lease on my 2016 E350 ends in December, 2018)

For 2020 I expect the present E300 will be replaced by the E350 as described above and the present V6 E450 to be replaced by the new I6 48 volt lithium battery.

If not, Audi will have a big head start on Mercedes, which frankly I do not see happening.

Again, only my opinion, not fact and you everyone knows what they say about opinions!

If MB offers the new mild hybrid E450 in MY20, as well as the acoustic comfort package for My20 here in Canada, I'm buying a MY19 S class.

I abhor driving new tech cars.

You do know that the engine won't be new tech by 2020. It will be out in mass numbers in the soon to be in dealers GLE and the CLS. It will have had a year of real world use before it possibly makes it into the E Class. It will also likely come with MBUX, which will be out in the new A Class, the GLE and CLS as well, so again, not really new tech when it makes into the E.

+!

With modern technology, a one year period in other cars, should work out any and all bugs in both the new engine MBUX.

As I look back at the balance shaft debacle in the 272 and how long it took to address it, a year or two is not sufficient from a risk mitigation standpoint for me.

I don't have any knowledge of that. How long after the engine was released did these balance shaft issues become known?

http://www.mercedesmedic.com/check-m...y-vin-m272273/

Affected engines were from 2004 to 2008. It wasn't until a class action lawsuit occurred until things became widely known.

A lot has changed in terms of quality testing in the last 14 years. I'm not suggesting you should get the new engine. But I'm not sure something from more than 10 years ago would influence me that much.

You bring up a fair point. That said there are a few things worth pointing out here.

In the last 2-3 years, all three of the major German automakers have stated (BMW/Merc/Audi) that they are undergoing billions of $ worth of cost cutting. I would suggest that perhaps some of that cost cutting has taken a hit on reliability testing. They've all done this ahead of the EV push. That is concerning (maybe warranted, or maybe not).

On a balance of probabilities, a M276 engine that has been running for close to 7 years in series production is more likely to be more reliable than the M156 engine that was borne at a time of cost cutting with 1 year, 2 years most of series usage.

It's just a personal test for folks. One engine may be more reliable than the other, or it may not, it just depends if one is a betting man, that's all. :-)

At the end of the day, you need to buy whatever gives you the most confidence in.

The M276 in both variants, 3.5L N/A & 3.0L TT have both been proven to be reliable power plants. I am excited for the return to inline sixes, though with the 48 volt hybrid system I am also a bit nervous. The Germans do amazing things with electronic systems, but they tend to not always be the most reliable. Time will tell.

The 48v system is out in the EU as the E350, a 4 banger with about 300 hp. It should be in North America for the 2020 model year.

Oh, I thought the same 48v systems was applied to all new inline sixes as well, I'll have to check.

This is what I was thinking of, just not currently in the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M256_engine

The other thing to note is that Audi contracted out this 48V MHEV system to Continental. I believe MB built theirs in house as there is no reference anywhere that I found indicating otherwise.

I don't know if there will be a difference but interesting to note how the two carmakers have decided to do this differently.