NEW E CLASS ON SHOW

Brussels – After a development time of 48 months and an investment totalling more than two billion euros, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is celebrating its world premiere at the Motor Show in Brussels. With numerous technical innovations the new saloon sets new standards in the areas of vehicle safety, comfort and handling dynamics.

The new E-Class will be in the showrooms of Mercedes-Benz dealerships and company-owned sales and service outlets throughout Europe from mid-March 2002.

As with its successful predecessor, Mercedes-Benz continues to demonstrate its worldwide technological leadership with the new E-Class. This saloon redefines the standards in the automotive luxury class and assumes an exemplary position in all major engineering disciplines.

Trailblazing innovations offered by no other automobile brand are entering series production with the new E-Class, or are available in this vehicle class for the first time. One example of the technological exclusivity at the highest level is the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBCÔ ), developed specially by Mercedes-Benz, which is standard equipment in the new E-Class. An innovative multicontour seat which automatically adapts to the current driving situation and the enhanced AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) air suspension system for outstanding ride comfort are also celebrating their automotive premiere.

New, dynamic reinterpretation of typical design characteristics

The design of the new E-Class continues the elegant lines of the preceding series and emphasises the dynamic character of the saloon more than ever. The striking twin headlamps, with which the E-Class first made its mark in 1995 to initiate a design trend, have been redesigned and slightly angled back, characterising the progressive, dynamic appearance of the front-end. The same message is conveyed by the side view: typical E-Class, but with a new, unmistakable sportiness and elegance.

Newly developed air suspension combines comfort with sportiness

The new E-Class shows its dynamic character with outstanding agility, sportscar-like handling and superb cornering. A newly developed four-link front suspension and a multi-link independent rear suspension mainly of aluminium create the technical conditions for this. At the same time the standard-fitted electrohydraulically controlled braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBCÔ ) and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) ensure maximum handling safety and help the driver to cope better with emergency situations. SBC celebrated its world premiere in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class a few months ago, and is now entering large-scale production for the first time in the new E-Class.

Mercedes-Benz has also increased ride comfort with the equally innovative AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) air suspension system, which uses state-of-the-art microelectronics to control both springing and damping. Sensors monitor the road condition, driving style and loading of the saloon, ensuring that AIRMATIC DC always selects the best possible shock absorber and spring settings. In this way the new system resolves the previous conflict of aims between near-perfect suspension comfort and excellent handling dynamics, thereby meeting very varied customer requirements. This air suspension is standard equipment in the top-of-the-range E 500 V8 model, and is available for all other models in the new E-Class as an optional extra.

Premiere for two-stage belt force limiters and new crash sensors

Mercedes-Benz has further optimised occupant safety with newly developed, intelligent restraint systems which adapt to the current occupant and accident situation. In addition to adaptive front airbags the new E-Class is for the first time equipped with two-stage belt force limiters and automatic weight classification for the front passenger. In combination with additional crash sensors these systems provide occupant protection which is even more precise and adapted to the specific accident situation. Sidebags for the front seat occupants, large windowbags, high-performance belt tensioners, automatic child seat recognition and a rollover sensor are further components of the standard safety features.

Compared to the preceding model the body structure of the new E-.Class has even larger deformation zones at the front end. They ensure an even better energy absorption during an accident, allowing the passenger cell to remain substantially undamaged even during a severe impact. The new Mercedes saloon has passed the most stringent worldwide safety tests. The proportion of high-strength alloys, which provide maximum safety with minimum weight, has been virtually doubled in the new Mercedes saloon. The bonnet, front wings, boot lid and front-end/rear-end modules are made of aluminium.

Second-generation CDI engines with twin balancer shafts for the first time

Five different engines will initially be available for the new E-Class saloons – three petrol engines with six and eight cylinders and an output range from 130 kW/177 hp to 225 kW/306 hp, and two CDI engines with four and five cylinders, respectively, and an output of 110 kW/150 hp to 130 kW/177 hp. The fuel consumption of the new E-Class has been reduced by up to 0.9 litres per 100 kilometres compared with the preceding model.

The maximum torque of the diesel engines has been increased by up to eight percent, reaching a new peak of 425 Newton metres in the E 270 CDI. The direct-injection diesel units are second-generation CDI engines which feature a number of trailblazing technical innovations. For the first time Mercedes-Benz has equipped the four-cylinder engine of the E 220 CDI with twin balancer shafts, achieving a significant improvement in noise and vibration comfort. At a later date the range of engines for the E-Class will be extended by a new, supercharged four-cylinder petrol unit and further CDI engines with four, six and eight cylinders.

Superlative climatic comfort with the new four-zone THERMOTRONIC

With enormous attention to detail and the utmost precision, Mercedes designers have developed a comfortable interior for the new E-Class whose choice of high-quality materials ensures typical Mercedes quality and value impression. Outstanding long-distance comfort is assured by the standard automatic climate control, newly developed seats and state-of-the-art driver support systems. As an optional extra, Mercedes-Benz will install the efficient four-zone air THERMOTRONIC climate control, whose microprocessor individually determines and controls the temperature for the driver and front passenger, as well as the passengers on the outer rear seats.

For owners requiring even more individuality in terms of seating comfort Mercedes-Benz has developed the dynamic multicontour seat as a world first. This is equipped with several air chambers which automatically inflate and deflate according to the driving situation to offer the driver and front passenger the best possible lateral support.

Three lines with individual characteristics and a full range of standard equipment

Individuality has always been a major characteristic of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Three distinctive design and equipment lines meet different customer requirements: CLASSIC, ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE. Even the basic model, CLASSIC, comes complete with a radio, automatic climate control, Sensotronic Brake Control, light-alloy wheels and a host of other safety-related and comfort features. The AVANTGARDE line distinguishes itself with its own dynamically designed bumpers and side skirts, as well as fabric/leather upholstery and cockpit instruments with white dials. Powerful bi-xenon lights are also standard equipment in this model.

The latest technical innovations from the entertainment electronics and telecommunications sectors are available in the new E-Class. The Audio 50 APS radio and the innovative control and display system COMAND APS (available from the fourth quarter of 2002) – both with an integral navigation computer – feature a graphics-capable colour display which also enables SMS messages, emails and the online services of the Mercedes-Benz Portal to be displayed in conjunction with a fixed-installation car phone. For the first time the navigation system in the new E-Class can also be controlled using the LINGUATRONIC voice control system.

Average worldwide market share of 24 percent

The new E-Class replaces a preceding model whose average sales of more than 200,000 units per year made it the world's the most successful luxury class saloon. The proportion of this market segment accounted for by the E-Class is an average of 24 percent, and in some countries even above 40 percent. DaimlerChrysler has produced approx. 1.4 million E-Class saloons since 1995.