The 2017 Mercedes E-Class gets features like lane-change assist and vehicle-to-object (V2X) communications that enables mobile phone-supported exchange of information with other cars.
It was always evident that the E-Class is core to Mercedes’ brand, yet it is the last one to receive the company’s new design language which seems to be similar to Audi’s philosophy. That’s because like how one finds it difficult to differentiate the A4, A6 and A8, the same can now be said about the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class as all cars look quite similar with the size being the big differentiator between them.
The German auto giant has showcased the 2017 Mercedes E-Class at the ongoing Detroit Auto Show, and will enter the hotly contested segment once again, which has products like the Jaguar XF, BMW 5-Series and the Audi A6. The automaker has also showcased a new engine lineup now, including a four-cylinder petrol engine for the first time ever. Really bigger but lighter than the outgoing E-Class, the newly showcased tenth generation E-Class will be available in the USA and Canada later this year with an India launch in the next fiscal.
At the launch, the 2017 Mercedes E-Class will be offered with a single engine option. A 9-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive are standard. Under the hood, the mid-size luxury saloon is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor capable of churning out 241 HP and 370 Nm of torque for the E300. Mercedes-Benz has not yet shared information about the performance numbers and the weight savings achieved and all this will be revealed during the course of the year. The automaker has tried to make the model feature rich while also improving the ride quality.
The new Mercedes E-Class gets some cool features on board as it includes swipe controls on the steering wheel that respond in a similar way to swiping on your cellphone. The dashboard sees a pair of horizontal 12.3-inch LCD displays, one serves as the instrument cluster and the other as the infotainment system. The unit controls also see the use of a touchpad located on the centre console. The system can recognise handwriting and has a voice control system, accessible at the push of a button. The standard safety features includes automatic braking and an adjustable driver-alert system.
The 2017 Mercedes E-Class also has an optional package with features like lane-change assist and vehicle-to-object (V2X) communications that enables mobile phone-supported exchange of information with other vehicles further ahead on the road. Jaguar and Audi have already updated the XF and A6 respectively while BMW will soon unveil the all new 5-Series and the new Volvo S90 definitely makes for a highly competitive rival.
