Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive cars manufactured by German automaker Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. Produced since September 1953, the E-Class falls as a midrange in the Mercedes line-up, and has been marketed worldwide across five generations.

Before 1993, the E suffix in Mercedes-Benz model names referred to Einspritzmotor (German for fuel injection engine) when in the early 1970s fuel injection began to proliferate beyond its upper-tier luxury and sporting models. By the launch of the facelifted W124 in 1993 fuel injection was ubiquitous in Mercedes engines, and the E was adopted as a prefix (i.e., E 220). The model line is referred to officially as the E-Class (or E-Klasse). All generations of the E-Class have offered either rear-wheel drive or Mercedes' 4Matic four-wheel drive system.

The E-Class is Mercedes-Benz' best-selling model, with more than 16 million sold by 2023[1]. The first E-Class series was originally available as four-door sedan, five-door estate, two-door coupe and two-door convertible. From 1997 to 2009, the equivalent coupe and convertible were sold under the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class nameplate; which was based on the mechanical underpinnings of the smaller C-Class while borrowing the styling and some powertrains from the E-Class, a trend continued with the C207 E-Class coupe/convertible which was sold parallel to the W212 E-Class sedan/wagon. With the latest incarnation of the E-Class released for the 2017 model year, all body styles share the same W213 platform.[2]

Due to the E-Class's size and durability, it has filled many market segments, from personal cars to frequently serving as taxis in European countries, as well special-purpose vehicles (e.g., police or ambulance modifications) from the factory.[3] In November 2020, the W213 E-Class was awarded the 2021 Motor Trend Car of the Year award, a first for Mercedes-Benz.[4]

History

Although the E-Class nomenclature was adopted in July 1993 for the second facelift of the Mercedes-Benz W124 as part of the company's wider rebranding programme that allocated all of its products into Classes, the product line of the mid-range cars traces decades before. Officially Mercedes-Benz recognising[5] the importance of pre-WWII cars such as the W15 170, the W21 200 and in particular the Diesel powered W138 260D, retroactively applies the E-Class to 1946 [6] when post WWII production was restarted on the W136 170V model, with passenger cars deliveries commencing July of 1947. Whilst many publications support this position [7][8] others choose one of the more contemporary pre-1993 models among the predecessors [9][10][11].

The reason for this debate is that from as early as 1949 and until the early 1980s Mercedes-Benz production was centred on two distinct product lines of passenger cars based on their prestige. Differing primarily in the wheelbase, interior furnishing, external finish and the engines, the E-Class predecessors being represented by four cylinder engines, whilst the S-Class predecessors would be of eight cylinder motors. Six cylinder engines would often be shared.

De jure this separation took place in 1972, when the premium range was officially branded as the Sonderklasse and this was continued up until July 1993. The lower tier did not have its own brand, but was commonly referred to as the mid-range[12] and the medium class (Mittlere klasse[13]). What complicates the matter is that before 1972 and up until 1985 cars in both classes shared the same chassis, body shell, platform and much of the underpinnings. Whilst the 1972 separation coincided with the launch of the W116 S-Class, it was amid production of the W114/W115 'Stroke-8' which has been in production for four years since 1968, making it, in view of some [14] the first true E-Class predecessor.

The preceding Ponton and Fintail generations are even more difficult to differentiate, as the top end six-cylinder models and the entry four cylinder diesels were literally built on the same body. Adding to this complication were the 'inter-class' models such as the lineup of the W105 219, W111 220 and W110 230 which replaced each other from 1956 until 1968, and the W111 230S which was produced in parallel with the new generation W108/W109 from 1965 until 1968. Both six cylinder models would eventually become a permanent fixture in the /8 (230.6 and 250, later 230.6 and 280) W123 (250 and 280) and W124 (260 and 300, later 280 and 320).

First generation (W124; 1993)

The "E-Class" name first appeared with the facelifted W124 in August 1993 for Europe and in September for 1994 model year for export into the United States. The W124 was introduced in 1984 but continued with the older naming convention until 1993 when all Mercedes-Benz models switched to a new system, e.g. E 320 instead of 320 E. Sedan (W124), Coupé (C124), Convertible (A124), and Estate (S124) body configurations were offered. Sedans were built through 1995, estates and coupes through 1996 and cabriolets finished in 1997.

Second generation (W210; 1995)

The W210 E-Class launched in January 1995.

The W210 made major changes compared to the earlier version of the E-class, including four large oval headlights, which gave Mercedes an updated image intended to attract more younger buyers and women. The new E-Class was 1.6 in longer and 2.3 in wider and offered significantly more interior room but was still considered mid-size.[15][16]

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 March 2003 when the S211 wagon returned the S210 wagon.

Third generation (W211; 2001)

Launched in 2002, the W211 E-Class was another evolution of the previous model.

The W211-based C219 CLS-Class 4-door coupe 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, which had its engine size increased from 5 liters to 5.5 liters in 2006 along with the facelift. There are also AMG models badged E55 and E63, AMG as well as other tuning house installations.

Fourth generation (W212; 2009)

Fifth generation (W213; 2016)

The fifth generation E-Class was unveiled at the 2016 North American International Auto Show.[28] This generation E-Class has design cues from the larger W222 S-Class and the smaller W205 C-Class.[29] While the W212 E-Class has tighter surface and harder edges, the new model is curvier and more flowing.[30]

Engine options for the W213 E-Class saw a major update, switching back to inline six-cylinder engines from the previous V6 engines,[31] along with a new generation of four-cylinder diesel engines, codenamed OM654, while retaining existing four-cylinder petrol engines.[32]

The W213 E-Class is the second-most technologically advanced Mercedes after the new S-Class. The E-Class received the latest in autonomous driving technology for use at highway speeds, capable of piloting itself up to speeds of 130 mph for up to 2 minutes. The system uses a complex array of motion sensors, radars, and cameras to scan the road ahead, and requires the driver's hands to be placed on the wheel at all times.[33][34] This feature was also available on the fourth-generation Mercedes-AMG E 63 model.

In 2020, Mercedes-Benz introduced a facelift to the W213.

Sixth generation (W214; 2023)

The sixth generation E-Class debuted on April 25, 2023. Body styles include the saloon and estate (wagon), while coupés and convertibles were discontinued. As part of a consolidation of model ranges, executive coupés and convertibles will slot between the E-Class and C-Class in size under the new CLE nameplate.[35]

Production and sales

Explanatory notes

External links

• Official website (United Kingdom)