Restyled and re-teched: Mercedes-Benz E-Class, P5.39M
WITH 14 MILLION units sold globally since the release of its perceived first ancestor in 1946, there is much expectation in the market for the latest iteration of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class — the Stuttgart premium car maker’s best-selling model series. By all accounts, the E-Class has been warmly received a moneyed automobile set in the Philippines, so the brand’s local importer and distributor, the Auto Nation Group (ANG), recently enthusiastically presented the 10th generation’s significantly refreshed version via a digital launch.
This “new take on an automotive icon,” according to ANG President Felix Ang, comes, for now, in a lone E 200 AMG Line guise (sourced straight from Sindelfingen, Germany) with a price tag of P5.39 million. Locally, “almost 2,000” units of the E-Class have been sold in the country since the model was first offered here in 2005, revealed ANG Chief Operating Officer Francis Jonathan “Frankie” Ang, who added that he expects the newest version to be “competitive” here. “You can talk to it, and it makes every drive safer, smoother, and more satisfying,” he added.
Even if it is still part of the 10th-generation E-Class set first launched in 2016, the newest iteration is said to boast significant, sweeping changes inside and out. Perhaps this particularly rings true in the E 200 AMG Line here, which earns its “AMG” appendage through sporty, stylistic touches and such.
It starts with 19-inch AMG five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in Tantalite Gray with a high-sheen finish. The front end gets a reworking with a more muscular stance — through so-called power domes on the hood, and an attractive grille set off by diamond-shaped pins in chrome. The updated version of the brand’s high-performance LED lamps make their appearance in the E-Class as well.
The rear of the latest E-Class features two-piece LED taillamps which “wrap horizontally around the body to make the E-Class appear wider and stronger.” The previous “crystalline optic” of the previous version are supplanted with geometrically designed LEDs. The Philippine-spec E-Class also receives an AMG-specific apron at the back. Its boot can swallow 540 liters of cargo.
In the cabin, the luxurious accoutrements and touches help to underpin a heightened experience. Mercedes-Benz points to the use of “fine materials and class-leading innovation,” such as huge 12.3-inch digital screens positioned together for a wider appearance and enhanced visibility. Complementing this is the latest version of the MBUX multimedia system which accommodates voice commands and infotainment functions such as destination input, phone call, music selection, climate control, and ambient lighting. The E-Class boasts a multifunction steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather, while the infotainment system has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
In the area of safety, the new E-Class, reported Mercedes-Benz, is “loaded with safety features and driver assistance technologies that keep both driver and passengers safe while on the road.” The suite that comprises a shell of safety includes the company’s proprietary Pre-Safe system, along with Attention Assist and Active Brake Assist. Meanwhile, Urban Guard is comprised of an anti-theft alarm system plus tow-away protection that enables the owner to remotely detect changes in the location of the vehicle. It is also equipped with Active Parking Assist with an advance reversing camera to provide support to the driver.
Powering the E-Class is a 2.0-liter, inline, four-cylinder petrol engine, mated with a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission. The system submits an output of 197hp and 320Nm, and is said to be able to change gears even at low engine revs — leading to fuel efficiency and manageable noise levels.
Mercedes-Benz Philippines Senior Product Manager Benjie Bautista described the model’s Filipino buyers as “loyal,” saying that “80% of E-Class buyers would buy another E-Class,” according to the company’s survey. He added that additional highlights of the new E-Class are definitely its premium Burmester surround sound system with 13 speakers, 64-hue ambient color capability, and wireless mobile device charger.
When asked by “Velocity” if there’s a chance Filipino buyers could get a crack at owning the more powerful Mercedes-AMG E53 — powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that makes 429 horsepower — Mr. Bautista replied, “We’d like to have this here, so we’re hoping for allocation.” He spoke briefly on what he called a “bottleneck issue” in the production of Mercedes-Benz units brought about by the challenges of the pandemic, and the well-known global semiconductor shortage. Meanwhile, ANG AVP for Sales and Marketing Rhomel Franco said that E-Class buyers get two years limited mileage warranty — stretchable to three years.
“This is one of the best cars you’ll get to drive in your life,” declared Mr. Bautista. “There’s safety, performance, and comfort.” — Kap Maceda Aguila
