New E in town
E-Class now available in coupe form, saloon version now turbocharged instead
By Andy Hum
MERCEDES-BENZ HAS LAUNCHED their new E-Class in Singapore. Available through local distributors Cycle and Carriage, Mercedes’ most important model now comes in saloon and coupe forms.
A total of six models are now available in the saloon range, beginning with the E 200 and E 250 CGI BlueEfficiency, followed by the E 300, E 350, E 500 and the pièce de résistance, the E 63 AMG.
The new E 200 comes with a new turbocharged 1.8-litre in-line four engine. Compared to the outgoing model’s supercharged engine of similar displacement, Mercedes says the turbocharger system weighs four kilogrammes less and also has better efficiency. It also has one of the best aerodynamic drag coefficient in its segment - just 0.25 for the saloon and 0.24 for the coupe.
Power figures are slightly different, with the new block producing the same 184hp but at lower revs, while peak torque has increased by 20Nm to 270Nm, and also arrives earlier in the rev range. Accelerating from 0-100km/h takes 8.4 seconds and it has a top speed of 233km/h.
Against its competitor from BMW, the 520i produces 156hp, 200Nm of torque and takes 10.6 seconds to complete its century sprint. However, the Mercedes costs $186,888 with COE while the BMW is priced at $170,800 with COE.
BMW’s new 5 Series is rumoured to debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.
The mid-level E 300 and E 350 Saloons, however, have their engines from current models. The E 300 uses the 3.0-litre V6 found in the C 280, E 280 and S 300, while the faster E 350 has a 3.5-litre V6, which is shared with the C 350, CLS 350, S 350, but has been engineered to provide better fuel economy.
Also launched was the new E-Class Coupe, which is based on the current C-Class’ chassis. Three variants are available – the E 250 CGI BlueEfficiency, E 350 and the E 500.
The E 250 Coupe has the same engine found in the new E 250, and produces 204hp and 310Nm of torque. It takes just 7.6 seconds to accelerate from 0-100km/h and has a top speed of 248km/h. The more powerful E 350 makes 272hp from its 3.5-litre V6, and can get to 100km/h from standstill in 6.4 seconds.
