The E-Class Cabriolet is expected to arrive in Singapore Q2 2010

By Andy Hum

MERCEDES-BENZ HAS CHOPPED the roof off its E-Class Coupe, replaced it with a folding canvas top, and have introduced the new car as the E-Class Cabriolet, making it the fourth E-Class variant after the saloon, coupe and estate models.

Four petrol-powered variants have been revealed, starting from the E 200, E 250 and E 350, while topping the range is the 388bhp E 500.

The new E-Class Cabriolet seats four and features a soft top which can be raised or folded away in 20 seconds at up to speeds of 40km/h. Apart from significantly insulating the cabin from noise, Mercedes also claims that the roof is designed to last 20,000 load cycles. In other words, you can open and close it once every day for a good 25 years.

It’s not its reliability that has been given lots of attention: the E-Class Cabriolet is also Mercedes’ first cabriolet with headbags, or airbags to protect occupants’ heads, since window-bags require fixed roofs.

“With the new Cabriolet, we are rounding off the introduction of the new E-Class with an extra dose of emotion. It displays the same brand values as all the other models in the series. They are elegant, comfortable, safe and of exceptional quality.” said Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars

No official announcement has been made yet about when or which variants of the E-Class Cabriolet will be launched in Singapore, but Daimler South East Asia estimates its arrival to be Q2 2010. Meanwhile in Europe, the car will go on sale early January 2010.