Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe,priced below sedan,sits on older,cheaper C-Class platform

1SICKLEX · 02-16-09, 10:17 PM

One of the hottest cars set to grace the stands at next month’s Geneva Motor Show has been revealed today in the form of the all-new 2010 Mercedes Benz E-Class Coupe. The svelte two-door is the hotly anticipated replacement for the aging CLK Coupe, which has been falling behind against newer competition such as the Audi A5 and E92 BMW 3-series Coupe, and on initial inspection it looks like the latest E-Class Coupe has the competition nailed in the styling department.

The Coupe’s styling is based heavily on the new 2010 E-Class Sedan, unveiled at last month’s Detroit Auto Show, and it shares most of its engines and its interior with the four-door as well. Thankfully, the new E-Class Coupe also retains the pillar-less glasshouse design and fully retractable side windows of the previous generation CLK.

Coupe interior has been lifted straight out of the recently revealed E-Class Sedan
At the same time the most aerodynamic variant of these achieves an impressive drag coefficient of just 0.24Cd – a figure that is comparable with cars like the Toyota Prius and upcoming Chevrolet Volt.

The range of engines available for the new E-Class Coupe comprises four, six and eight-cylinder units with outputs from 100 kW/136 hp to 285kW/382hp - the top end model being the E500/550. Expect to see an AMG version, however, debut with at least 500hp (373kW) later in the year. The four-cylinder engines are newly developed direct-injection units, which develop a higher output and torque than the comparable V6-engines of the preceding series despite a smaller displacement.

The new E-Class Coupe will first hit European showrooms this May and should be on sale in the U.S. by the third-quarter of the year. Expect pricing and availability details to be revealed following the car’s debut at the upcoming Geneva event.

http://www.motorauthority.com/....html

Faymester · 02-16-09, 10:21 PM

I like it.

1SICKLEX · 02-16-09, 10:23 PM

I am shocked b/c Benz had IMO the best looking luxury lineup and they are quickly headed down the BMW/Acura path of "huh". Its so busy front end, chrome strip at the side, random lines, bland tailights. WHY do you have to have an AMG kit or sport kit to look have a good looking Benz? Stock they are just bad

That car is beyond busy. I cannot believe the designers designed the rear windows so long, they had to cut the glass!!! What mess. The CL does not have the problem b/c its a huge car.

Interior looks like its from the 1980s.

felixsc300 · 02-16-09, 10:23 PM

The front looks like the result of an R-Class and E-Class ramming into each other head-on. The rear reminds me something like this:

The interior is top-notch though, I really like the caramel/black combo.

ndk83 · 02-16-09, 10:27 PM

Like all Mercedes Models, this will look 100000 X times better in AMG trim. just for the E coupe (ELK??) 63. That will be a hot ride

knihc2008 · 02-16-09, 10:33 PM

This car will look much better in person and absolutely wicked with larger wheels. I am saddened they had to cut the rear window... that really kills the look of the car.

The other thing that amazes me is that this car has the same coefficient of a Prius. Priuses and Insights are shaped ugly because of the coefficient they have to reach... or are they? Guess not.

ndk83 · 02-16-09, 10:34 PM

HAHAHA i love how they jacked of the ES350

Faymester · 02-16-09, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knihc2008

The other thing that amazes me is that this car has the same coefficient of a Prius. Priuses and Insights are shaped ugly because of the coefficient they have to reach... or are they? Guess not.

Haha, there is no longer any reason for their uglyness

rominl · 02-16-09, 10:55 PM

don't like it, nothing like when i first saw the cls. specially the rear it looks pretty weak for a luxury car. not to mention the headlights, i don't know what to make out of them