The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé
The new E-Class Coupé is a very special combination of emotion and performance. The classic coupé profile with fully retractable side windows and no B-pillars provides a particularly sporty interpretation of the dynamic design of the new E-Class. The E-Class Coupé comes to Canada with two variants – the E350 Coupé powered by a 3.5 litre V6 with 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and the E550 Coupé, which has a 5.5 litre V8 generating 382 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. The standard AGILITY CONTROL suspension with Dynamic Handling Package is equipped with a shock absorber system that adjusts automatically to suit the prevailing driving conditions. It combines driving pleasure and agile handling with the best in body roll comfort.
The new E-Class Coupé offers outstanding aerodynamics and the full spectrum of technical innovations typical of a luxury sport tourer. These include adaptive shock absorbers, ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness monitor and PRE-SAFE® preventative occupant protection. Standard Adaptive High Beam Assist and an automatic emergency braking system are further examples of how the new model range is setting benchmarks for this vehicle segment.
Design – expression of a refined, passionate character
The distinctive line of the new coupé emphasizes styling characteristics that make Mercedes-Benz coupés unmistakable: the side window with fully retractable glass uninterrupted by a B-pillar, automatic seatbelt presenters and the hallmark grille featuring the large three-pointed star at its centre.
At the same time, the coupé displays its close relationship to the new E-Class sedan. This can be seen in the twin-headlamp look, with its lights also adopting a rhomboid form, albeit with more sporty, sharper styling to give it an even more dynamic and aggressive presence. The coupé also shares its powerful rear fender design with the sedan – a styling feature that gave the S 220 “Ponton” Coupé such an athletic stance back in 1955.
Despite the family resemblance to the sedan, the new coupé displays its own independent and refined, yet more passionate, character. With the sweeping arrowhead line flowing through the entire front end, from the front bumper over the radiator grille to the hood, the more extreme interpretation of the twin-headlamp look conveys an aggressive, intense impression.
All-new seats with a sporty design
The seats of the E-Class Coupé are all-new, and they reflect the sporty character of the two-door in both their design and technology, including 10-way electric adjustment and leather upholstery as standard. The high backrests typical of sports cars are equipped with a practical EASY-ENTRY Function to facilitate entry and exit to and from the rear seats. The front seats are also equipped with NECK-PRO® Active Head Restraints, a 3-stage memory function and electro-pneumatically adjustable 4-way lumbar support that enables ergonomic support at the base of the spine and thus further improves seating comfort.
An upgrade to Nappa leather is available as an option. Available options also include Active Ventilated front seats and Multi-Contour front seats (standard on E550 Coupé)with inflatable chambers at the front of the seat cushions and in the centre and side panels of the backrests. Rear seat passengers are provided with two comfortable individual seats, and backrests that fold forward individually or together (1-third / 2-third split) to increase the load space available in the trunk.
Two powerful engine options
The 2010 E-Class Coupé comes to Canada with a choice of two popular and sporty powerplants. The E350 Coupé is powered by the well-proven Mercedes-Benz 3.5 litre V6 gasoline engine with 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.
At the top of the range, the E550 Coupé comes with a powerful V8 engine with 382 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque, delivering classic sports car performance. The eight-cylinder has been further developed by Mercedes-Benz engineers to improve fuel mileage over its predecessor.
For both models, drive is transferred to the rear wheels via the 7G-TRONIC 7-speed Driver Adaptive Automatic Transmission with Touch Shift.
An intelligent partner – sensors, radars and cameras for safe driving
The all-new safety systems developed for the E-Class are based on knowledge gathered over many years of accident research; they make an important contribution to safe, accident-free driving, improve occupant protection and also help to increase general road safety for all. These innovative systems operate on the basis of highly sensitive sensors, cameras and radars, and turn the two-door into an “intelligent” partner that can see, feel, and react reflexively to danger and function independently when faced with the immediate threat of an accident.
Drowsiness is one of the most frequent causes of highway accidents, which is why Mercedes-Benz experts have developed the ATTENTION ASSIST system that comes as standard on every new E-Class Coupé. When driving, ATTENTION ASSIST continually monitors and evaluates more than 70 different parameters in order to recognize driver drowsiness and to provide warning in advance of critical moments of micro-sleep. Steering behaviour has proven to be one especially good indicator. Several years of practical research carried out by Mercedes-Benz shows that drowsy drivers make tiny steering errors that they frequently correct very quickly and in a characteristic manner. This steering behaviour is recognized by a special steering wheel angle sensor.
Another standard feature is the PRE-SAFE® preventative occupant protection system – a highly acclaimed Mercedes-Benz development offered by no other vehicle maker worldwide. In advance of an imminent accident, the system activates pre-emptive protection measures for the driver and front seat passenger in order to maximize the protective effect of the seatbelts and air bags. PRE-SAFE® is able to recognize an impending accident through the sensors used for the brake assistant and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which can identify potential critical dynamic conditions.
Intelligent lighting technology
The E-Class Coupé comes standard with the world’s most state-of-the-art intelligent lighting technology, Adaptive High Beam Assist. Headlamps adjust continuously to suit prevailing traffic conditions and react automatically in order to provide the driver with the best possible illumination of the road. Using a camera mounted on the inside of the windshield, the system recognizes oncoming and leading traffic and adjusts the headlamps to avoid blinding other drivers. The range of the low beams can thus be extended from 64 metres (213 ft) to nearly 300 metres (984 ft). If the road ahead is clear, the system performs a gentle transition to high beam. Adaptive High Beam Assist is combined with Active Bi-Xenon headlamps and a headlamp washing system.
Automatic emergency braking under the immediate threat of an accident
The assistance systems familiar from the S-Class and developed for the avoidance of rear end collisions are now also available for the E-Class Coupé. Long and short-range radar sensors monitor traffic ahead of the vehicle to warn the driver in the event of an imminent accident. Mercedes-Benz has grouped these technologies into the optional DISTRONIC PLUS Package, incorporating adaptive cruise control that automatically maintains a pre-selected distance from the vehicle in front and can bring the vehicle to a complete stop, depending on traffic conditions. It also includes Brake Assist PLUS and PRE-SAFE® Brake.
Brake Assist PLUS is activated when the distance to the vehicle in front is reduced very rapidly. In this situation, the system warns the driver and calculates in fractions of a second the braking pressure necessary to avoid a collision. This braking power is applied as soon as the brake pedal is activated and, depending on speed and distance, enables targeted, controlled braking or – if required – an emergency stop.
When working in conjunction with the DISTRONIC PLUS package, the PRE-SAFE® Brake system on the E-Class Coupé takes this principle one step further and applies the brakes automatically when an accident is imminent and the driver has not reacted to the warning signals. This function can significantly reduce the severity of a collision.
The most comprehensive safety equipment in this vehicle class
With nine air bags fitted as standard, seatbelt tensioners and seatbelt force limiters on all seats, as well as NECK-PRO Active Front Head Restraints, the new E-Class Coupé offers the most comprehensive safety equipment in this vehicle class. The air bags, which deploy in milliseconds in the event of an accident, include front, side and pelvic air bags for driver and front seat passenger, a knee air bag for the driver and head protection curtains for all occupants.
The frontal crumple zone consists of four independent impact planes, so that the forces are spread across a large area and are deflected around the passenger cell. Furthermore, the increased use of high-strength steel alloys also contributes to the ability of the bodyshell to withstand high impact loads. Around two thirds of all panels constituting the body-in-white of the E-Class Coupé are made from such high-strength steels.
Comfort – the best technology for a new driving experience
Alongside its extensive safety equipment, comfort has always been one of the most outstanding features of the E-Class. In this respect, too, the coupé matches the high standards of Mercedes-Benz and offers further notable developments, particularly with regards to body roll, seating and climate control. One contributory factor is the generous interior space that Mercedes-Benz engineers realized as a result of a bodyshell that is longer and wider by 45.7 mm (1.8 in).
Improved body roll comfort through adaptive control of the shock absorbers
The standard AGILITY CONTROL suspension offers a shock absorber system that automatically adjusts to the prevailing driving conditions. In order to achieve the best possible body roll comfort along with agile handling, the system reduces the damping force under normal driving conditions, but immediately applies the maximum damping force during dynamic driving through a curve or in the event of rapid evasive maneuvering, thus ensuring the best possible levels of stability for the coupé. In addition to the standard AGILITY CONTROL, both models are equipped with the Dynamic Handling package that allows vehicle characteristics to vary between a comfortable and sporty-set-up at the touch of a button. Variables include: continuously variable damping, speed-sensitive power steering with variable centering, ESP/ASR (traction control), accelerator response, and speed of automatic gear changes.
Individual climate control at the touch of a button
The redesigned automatic climate control that comes as standard in the E350 Coupé adjusts temperature, air volume and air distribution, taking into account the preferences of the driver and front seat passenger. The E550 Coupé comes standard with 3-zone climate control, allowing the rear passengers to independently select their own preferences.
Infotainment system with colour display in the instrument panel
The highly acclaimed operating system from the S-Class, with a multifunction steering wheel, COMAND controller mounted on the centre console, 17.7 cm (7 in) colour display in the instrument cluster, and direct selection keys, also offers the very best in operating comfort to passengers in the new E-Class Coupé.
The driver and front seat passenger can manage all the functions of the infotainment system via the COMAND controller including the radio, CD/DVD changer and telephone. In addition to these features, the COMAND APS system also has a North American wide hard-drive based navigation with voice control that is standard equipment on the E550 Coupé and available as an option on the E350 Coupé.
Model program – individuality through variety
With two engines, a range of colour choices, a selection of wheel-tire combinations and many optional extras, the new E-Class Coupé offers plenty of opportunity to create a personal dream car.
On the inside, genuine leather upholstery comes as standard, with an optional upgrade available to Nappa leather. Other options are a wood/leather steering wheel and shift knob and the TeleAid emergency assistance system.
The optional E350 Coupé Premium Package adds a navigation system to the standard COMAND system, LINGUATRONIC voice control with whole word recognition and a 4GB music register system that can store over 1,000 songs. For even greater music pleasure, the Premium Package also comes with a 450 watt harman/kardon premium sound system with surround sound. PARKTRONIC with Parking Guidance, rear window sunshade and KEYLESS-GO are also part of the Premium Package, and a Media Interface that connects an external MP3 player is also available as an additional option.
The E550 Coupé Premium Package offers PARKTRONIC with Parking Guidance, rear window sunshade, KEYLESS GO and Climate Comfort front seats.
DISTRONIC PLUS features Brake Assist PLUS and the PRE-SAFE® Brake and is available on both models.
The E350 and E550 Coupés are available with an optional AMG Sport Package. The package includes 18-inch AMG alloys featuring a twin 6-spoke design with performance all-season 235/40 R18 tires at the front and 255/35 R18 at the rear, brushed aluminium rubber-studded foot pedals and an AMG sports steering wheel. The E350 Coupé AMG Sport Package is further enhanced with perforated brake discs at the front, upgraded calipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering, AMG styling package, and Multi-Contour front seats. These features are all standard on the E550 Coupé.
About Mercedes-Benz Canada
Mercedes-Benz Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of the four brands within the Mercedes Car Group in Canada; Mercedes-Benz, smart, AMG and Maybach. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada employs approximately 1,050 people in 19 locations across Canada. Through a nationwide network of 14 Mercedes-Benz owned retail operations and 38 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 24,117 vehicles in 2008, the best year ever reported for Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.
For more information, please contact:
JoAnne Caza 416-847-7550 joanne.caza@mercedes-benz.ca
Michael Minielly 416-847-7509 michael.minielly@mercedes-benz.ca
Further information from Mercedes-Benz is available on the internet at: www.media.mercedes-benz.ca
