Mercedes-Benz E-Class

E-Class redirects here. For Chrysler's rebadged version of the Dodge 600 sold from 1983–1984, see Chrysler E-Class. For the Maersk container ship see Mærsk E-class container ship.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz Magna Steyr (1996-2009, 4MATIC only)
Production	predecessors date to mid-1930s E-class nomenclature adopted in 1993
Class	Executive car
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive/Four-wheel drive
Related	Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. The E initially stood for Einspritzmotor (German for fuel injection engine); a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the engine nomenclature (e.g. 230E) in the 1950s. It was not until the launch of the facelifted W124 that the E was used as a prefix (i.e., E220) and the model referred to officially as the E-Class (or E-Klasse). At this time all Mercedes cars used fuel injection and the company felt it was not necessary to add this as a distinguishing feature. Due to the E-Class's size and durability, the cars also frequently serve as taxis in European countries. Older models like the W123 and W124 are used in Malaysia as inter-state taxis, and the W211 is used in Singapore as a taxi. Mercedes-Benz also offers special-purpose vehicles (e.g., police or ambulance modifications) from the factory.

History

W120 'Ponton'

Main article: Mercedes-Benz W120

The first modern mid size Mercedes was the W120 'Ponton' 180 of 1953. Sharing its engineering with the R121 190 SL of 1955, the Ponton was a stylish sedan with four-cylinder power. A larger-engined W121 190 appeared in 1958.

W110 'Fintail'

Main article: Mercedes-Benz W110

Mercedes added tailfins to both the big S-Class and the new W110 'Fintail' 190 of 1962. Straight-6 power appeared for the first time in the 1965 230 model, and the fours grew in displacement that year as well.

W114/W115 'Stroke-8'

Main article: Mercedes-Benz W114

The mid size Mercedes was redesigned in 1968 as the W114/W115 'Stroke-8'. This time, the 6-cylinder models (The W114s) were most prevalent, with the W115 line making up the bottom of the company's offerings with four – and five-cylinder power. Diesel engines joined the line-up, as did a coupé body.

W123

Main article: Mercedes-Benz W123

The popular W123 quickly became a best-seller on its launch in 1976. Especially in Diesel 240D (and later 300D) guises, the cars enhanced the company's reputation for product quality. Over 2.6 million were produced until the end of production in 1986.

Saloon/Sedan, Coupé and Estate body configurations were offered.

W124

Main article: Mercedes-Benz W124

W124

Production	1984–1996
Model years	1985 – 1995
Assembly	Sindelfingen, Germany Bremen, Germany Rastatt, Germany (for the US-market) Zuffenhausen, Germany, Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico Pune, India Toluca, Mexico
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupe 2-door convertible
Platform	Mercedes-Benz W124
Wheelbase	Sedan & Wagon: 110.2 in (2,799 mm) Coupe: 106.9 in (2,715 mm)
Length	Wagon: 188.2 in (4,780 mm) Sedan: 187.2 in (4,755 mm) Coupe: 183.9 in (4,671 mm)
Width	68.5 in (1,740 mm) E500 Sedan: 70.7 in (1,796 mm)
Height	Wagon: 59.8 in (1,519 mm) Sedan: 56.3 in (1,430 mm) Coupe: 55.5 in (1,410 mm) Convertible: 54.8 in (1,392 mm) E500 Sedan: 55.4 in (1,407 mm)
Curb weight	3927 lb (500E) 3826 lb (400E)

The 'E-Class' name first appeared in the USA with the face-lifted W124 for the model year 1994 (the w124 was introduced in the US in 1986 but continued with the older models' naming convention until 1993, when all Mercedes-Benz models switched to a new system, e.g., E320 instead of 300E). The 300D continued to be the fuel economy option over the 4 and 6 cylinder gasoline engines, and the gasoline V8 engines (available after 1992) increased gasoline power outputs further. The V8 powered sedans/saloons were named 400E/500E from 1992–1993, and E420/E500 after 1993. Likewise, the 3-liter cars (e.g., 'E300') where also re-badged to 'E320' with the new 3.2 litre engines and naming rationalization of 1994.

Saloon/Sedan, Coupé, Convertible and Estate body configurations were offered.

From 1992 to 1994 Mercedes offered a limited production sport version of the W124 sedan, created and assembled with help from Porsche. This was called the 500E (E500 for 1994).

W210

Main article: Mercedes-Benz W210

W210

Production	1995–2003
Model years	1996–2003
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon

The W210 E-Class, launched in 1995, brought the mid-size Mercedes firmly into the upper end of the luxury market. Though six-cylinder models were still offered, the four-light front end and high prices moved the car upmarket. In September 1999 the W210 E-class was facelifted. This included visual, mechanical and quality improvements over the earlier versions.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1996.

While the W210 sedan was replaced by the W211 in 2002, the wagon version continued to be sold until 2003 until the W211 wagon was available.

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  Pre-facelift E 240 sedan

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  Pre-facelift E 240 wagon

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  Facelift E 270 CDI sedan

W211

Main article: Mercedes-Benz W211

W211

Production	2002–2009
Model years	2003–2009
Assembly	Sindelfingen, Germany Bremen, Germany Zuffenhausen, Germany Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico Toluca, Mexico Graz, Austria Pune, India Beijing, China Cairo, Egypt Pekan, Malaysia Tehran, Iran Samut Prakan, Thailand Bogor, Indonesia
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Platform	Mercedes-Benz W211
Transmission	5-speed automatic 7-speed automatic 6-speed manual
Related	Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Launched in 2002, the W211 E-Class was another evolution of the previous model and was considered by the motoring media as an even more competitive offering to the long term rival BMW 5-Series (which previously was the preferred choice of the motoring media). Before North American sales began, the car was shown in the 2002 movie Men in Black II.

The W211-based W219 CLS-Class 4-door coupé was introduced as a niche model in 2005, primarily to attract a younger demographic.

The W211 E-Class was facelifted in June 2006 for the 2007 model year to address quality and technical issues raised by earlier models, Sensotronic was dropped, while Pre-Safe (w/o brake support) was made standard. The largest factory built engine in the E-class range is the E500 (badged E550 in the U.S.) which had its engine size increased from 5 litres to 5.5 litres in 2006 along with the facelift. There is also an AMG model badged E63 AMG and other tuning house installations.

In 2007 the diesel version of the E-Class was rebadged from CDI (Common rail Direct Injection) to Bluetec. While in some of the other Mercedes-Benz diesels urea injection was added, in the W211 E-Class the Bluetec name was only adopted to prevent confusion in the diesel lineup.

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  2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 (W211; US)

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  Facelift E-Class W211

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  Facelift E-Class W211

W212

Mercedes-Benz W212

Production	2009–present
Model years	2010–present
Assembly	Sindelfingen, Germany Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico Pune, India Toluca, Mexico Cairo, Egypt Beijing, China (Beijing Benz) (Long-wheelbase V212)
Class	Executive car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupé 2-door convertible
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive

Main article: Mercedes-Benz W212

The W212 replaced the W211 in 2009. Official photos of the W 212 were leaked on the internet on 9 December 2008 ahead of its 2009 Geneva Motor Show unveiling. Scans of a leaked brochure were posted onto the internet in January 2009, detailing the whole E-Class range including the new E 200 CGI and E 230 CGI with direct injected forced inducted engines. New features include a blind spot monitor, Lane Keeping Assist, Pre-safe with Attention Assist and Night View Assist Plus. In the United States the E-class will be priced nearly US$4,600 less than the previous model. The E-class coupe is built in Bremen using the W204 C-class platform. The W212 estate was also announced and goes on sale from November 2009. The W212 cabriolet was announced January 11, 2010 at the North American International Auto Show, for sale March 27, 2010 in Europe and in May 2010 in the United States.

Features on the 2010 version include folding mirrors when locked. Locking can be done on the touch sensors on every door handle and the lock button of the power closing trunk. The colors available for sedan are: Calcite White, Black, Cuprit Brown Metallic, Diamond White BRIGHT Metallic, Indium Grey Metallic, Iridium Silver Metallic, Obsidian Black, Palladium Silver Metallic, Pearl Beige Metallic, Tanzanite Blue Metallic and Tenorite Grey Metallic.

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  Mercedes-Benz E 350 coupe (Australia)

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  Mercedes-Benz E 350 4Matic sedan (US)

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  Mercedes-Benz E 250 CDI 4MATIC Avantgarde wagon (Germany)

E63 AMG

The performance version of the E-Class, the E63 AMG is the first sedan built entirely by AMG. With a 518 hp (386 kW) engine, the E63 can achieve a top speed of around 200 mph (320 km/h) (electronic limiter off), and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.3 seconds.^{[citation needed]}

The styling has been altered for both aesthetic and practical purposes: AMG side skirts and rear apron give the E63 more aggressive styling, and the larger air apertures on the front of the car allow for more air intake to the naturally aspirated 6.2 litre V8. Another styling change on the E63 is the wider, flared front wheel arches which accommodate the AMG front axle with a 2.2-inch-wider (56 mm) track.

For 2012, Mercedes-Benz started offering a bi-turbo V8 version. It has a W157, 5.5L twin-turbo V8, that is rated at 518 hp (386 kW), which is mated to a 7-speed AMG Speedshift MCT transmission

Portland Speed Industries, a performance shop in Hillsboro, OR, have tested a 2012 E63 AMG biturbo on their Dynojet dynamometer and it produced 479 whp and 561 lb·ft (761 N·m) of torque.

Erebus Racing have announced that they will race three E63's in the V8 Supercars from 2013, buying out Stone Brothers Racing.

Production and sales

German market share, E-Class vs. rivals

Calendar year	Production (sedan/estate/coupe/convertible)	US sales	China sales
2001		44,445
2002		42,598
2003		55,683
2004		58,954
2005		50,383
2006		50,195
2007		48,950
2008		38,576
2009		43,072	8,200
2010	323,200 (208,400 / 44,400 / 49,600 / 20,800)	60,922	40,760
2011	338,386	62,736
2012	310,408	65,171

External links

• USA Mercedes-Benz E-Class Official Website
• UK Mercedes-Benz E-Class Information Website