Three weeks before its official introduction at the Geneva auto show, Mercedes released Mercedes Benz Latest Model 2010 pictures and information on the 2010 E-class coupe, which will replace the snazzy but none-too-macho CLK coupe in June of this year.
The new E coupe is not really a two-door version of the E-class sedan, but rather a blend of C- and E-class mechanical components. It hews to the styling of the Mercedes Benz Latest Model 2010 E-class sedan—which also makes its official debut in Geneva but was previewed at an off-site event during media days at the Detroit show last month—closely enough that no one will question the relationship.
Unlike the Sedan, Elegance Prevails
Indeed, pretty much every styling element found on the new E-class sedan is present and accounted for on the coupe, including the quad polygonal headlamps, LED taillamps, forward-canted rear deck, and thick bodysides with rising character lines and swollen rear fenders. Somehow, the overall look is far more elegant than that of the sedan. The E coupe mimics the latest CL-class in its arching, B-pillar-less roofline, although a small, fixed quarter window is needed to allow the rear windows to fully retract. A split, full-length moonroof will be standard. Want an even more alfresco motoring experience? The E-class convertible (which replaces the CLK convertible, natch) is scheduled to appear about a year from now, according to Mercedes.
Inside, the E-class coupe adheres to Mercedes’ current interior design ethos, which to some of us appears slightly retro in spite of featuring gazillions of modern luxury features. These include the COMAND infotainment system with console-mounted controller, sport seats with integrated headrests, and dual-zone digital climate control. The rear seats are individual buckets, also with integrated headrests, replacing the flip-down rear headrest arrangement found on most Mercedes-Benz cars these days. Options include adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and heated/ventilated front seats.
Carryover Powertrains
The new coupe will also follow a similar powertrain program as the current CLK, with the familiar 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 as the base motor and the 382-hp, 5.5-liter V-8 as the upgrade, each mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Standard on all coupes is a variable-damping “Agility Control” suspension that we haven’t yet been fully briefed on, but definitely sounds like something only the Germans would think up. There are no immediate plans for an all-wheel-drive model to square off with the Audi A5/S5.
Unconfirmed thus far is an AMG version powered by the firm’s spectacular 6.2-liter V-8, although we all know that such a hot rod is inevitable. We believe it will match whatever the next E63 AMG sedan serves up—the current E63 makes 507 hp—versus “just” 475 hp for the present-day convertible-only CLK63 AMG. A source did hint at a successor to the CLK63 AMG Black Series coupe, too. Of course, it is possible that Mercedes-Benz could follow the same strategy it has with the current CLK in offering a regular AMG version of the E-class convertible and a whacked-out, beaucoup-bucks Black Series version of the coupe.
Stellar Safety
As with the 2010 E-class sedan, lots of current Benz safety features will find their way into the E coupe, including all of the expected airbags and stability controls, as well as the PRE-SAFE system (which attempts to reduce the severity of crashes by slamming on the brakes and cinching the seat belts when a collision is imminent) and a new monitoring system, called Attention Assist, that aims to detect if the car’s driver is sleepy.
U.S. Debut in New York
Stay tuned for more specific details and pricing in the coming weeks and months. The E-class coupe will make its North American debut at this April’s 2009 New York auto show.
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