2008 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS BOASTS NEW AMG SPORT PACKAGE

E320 BLUETEC Shares Spotlight with High-Performance E63 AMG

TORONTO, ON – The highly successful E-Class line of full-size sedans and wagons features an impressively broad and versatile range of models for 2008. Spanning from the thrifty, super-clean E320 BLUETEC diesel to the 507-hp E63 AMG, the E-Class offers the perfect car for an equally diverse range of consumer needs. The E320 BLUETEC luxury sedan delivers up to 6.1 l/100kms on the highway, while at the other end of the product spectrum, the high-performance E63 AMG can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in an eye-popping 4.5 seconds.

New AMG Sport Package Offered

To complement its popular sport package (comprised of lowered sport suspension, 18-inch wheels, a sport rear bumper with dual chrome exhaust pipes, blue-tinted glass and white gauges), the E550 4MATIC is now available with an optional AMG Sport package that includes deeper front and rear aprons with dual exhausts, 18-inch AMG wheels and an AMG steering wheel that's complete with manual shift "paddles."

PRE-SAFE Gives the E-Class Fast Reflexes

Among its industry-leading safety features, the E-Class line is now offered with PRE-SAFE as standard – the world's first system that can sense and take protective measures before a crash. The innovative PRE-SAFE system first tensions the seatbelts if the car senses an impending collision.

PRE-SAFE uses resettable electric tensioners in addition to the existing pyrotechnic belt tensioners. What's more, if the front passenger seat is overly reclined or forward, PRE-SAFE moves it to a more favourable crash position. If the seat cushion angle of the front passenger seat is too shallow, it is also re-adjusted to help prevent submarining. Finally, if the vehicle skids (often a precursor to rollover), the system can automatically close the sunroof and side windows. If a crash is averted, the electric belt tensioners automatically relax and are ready to deploy again.

If necessary, PRE-SAFE reacts to fishtailing (or oversteer) as well as "plowing" (or understeer) by using existing sensors for the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to measure steering angle, vehicle yaw and lateral acceleration. Emergency braking can also trigger PRE-SAFE, which monitors sensors for the Brake Assist system as well.

Four Versatile Engines For The E-Class

The E350 uses the latest four-valve-per-cylinder V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, and the E550 model is powered by a 32-valve 5.5-litre V8 delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. The high-performance E63 AMG is powered by the first engine developed entirely by AMG – a 6.2-litre V8 that produces 507 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. One of the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8s ever, the new engine boasts a wealth of exciting features derived from AMG's highly successful racing efforts.

The cylinder bores feature a twin-wire-arc-sprayed (TWAS) coating, a new process that results in impressively low friction and running surfaces that are twice as hard as conventional cast-iron cylinders. Built almost completely from a high-strength silicon-aluminium alloy, the new 6.2-litre features four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, bucket tappets (rather than rocker arms) and a variable intake manifold.

The E63 AMG can be ordered with the performance package option that allows a 300 km/h top speed instead of the usual 250 km/h speed limiter. Other features in the package include AMG modified Airmatic sport suspension, 19-inch 2-piece alloy wheels, larger front discs (391 mm (15.4- inch) diameter), a limited-slip differential and a leather and alcantaner-wrapped AMG sport steering wheel.

BLUETEC – A Blueprint For The World's Cleanest Diesels

Combining several technologies to minimize diesel exhaust emissions, The E320 BLUETEC starts with a purpose-built 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that includes four valves per cylinder, centrally located piezo-electric injectors, third-generation CDI direct injection, a turbocharger with variable nozzle turbine and exhaust gas recirculation.

Building on this foundation of advanced engine design, the E320 BLUETEC incorporates four after-treatment units in the exhaust stream – an oxidizing catalytic converter, a particulate filter, a SCR catalytic converter and a "denox" storage converter that absorbs nitrogen oxides temporarily. During brief regeneration pulses of a richer fuel-air mixture, nitrogen oxides are released, reacting with other exhaust gas to form harmless nitrogen. These regeneration pulses also raise temperatures in the particulate filter, which burns off the accumulated deposits. The result – BLUETEC can make a diesel as clean as a modern gasoline engine.

BLUETEC depends on the use of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel (less than 15 parts per million) that became available in Canada just last year. Sulfur is a natural element in most mineral oils that increases particulate emissions and has a corrosive effect on engine parts as well. The availability of very low-sulfur fuel enables the use of reliable particulate filters and efficient nitrogen-oxide after-treatment.

About Mercedes-BenzCanada

Mercedes-Benz Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of the three brands within the Mercedes Car Group in Canada; Mercedes-Benz, smart, and Maybach. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada employs approximately 990 people in 19 locations across Canada. Through a nationwide network of 18 Mercedes-Benz owned retail operations and 39 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 17,567 vehicles in 2006, the best year ever reported for Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.

Contact:

JoAnne Caza 416-847-7550 caza@mercedes-benz.ca

Arden Nerling 416-847-7556 nerling@mercedes-benz.ca

Further information from Mercedes-Benz is available on the internet at: www.media.mercedes-benz.ca