Clever and Class-E

Does the new E-Class evoke an emotional response? The question is, does it need to? In a car this luxurious and clever, it doesn’t need to look like a BMW i8. Put the new E-Class next to a C-Class and it’s almost impossible to tell it apart. Put them both next to an S-Class and play spot the differences. But most of the impressive stuff can be found under the altered panels and inside the swanky and grandiose cabin of the new E-Class.

Brainy Benz

Mercedes-Benz calls the E-Class ‘the most intelligent car in the world’. When it steers on its own and parks itself, of course it’s clever. But how new is this ‘new’ technology? Back in 2011, I experienced it for the first time in the accomplished Honda Accord Tourer, which sadly, has been discontinued (the Tourer, not the Accord). I was amazed by how it followed the road for several seconds, without my hands on the steering wheel. I also remember driving the Volkswagen CC after its launch, and took great delight in it parallel-parking for me in a narrow Tamboerskloof street in the Cape Town City Bowl. Nowadays, a car like the Opel Adam can park itself and we all know how safe and advanced Volvos are. So all this tech is not that new, but Mercedes-Benz have bettered it in some ways.

Lectures & Demonstrations

After journalists arrived in KZN for the local launch, we were split into different groups where we would attend various technical sessions on the new E-Class - such is the calibre of technology that is to be found inside. There was a session for the new MULTIBEAM LED headlamp technology, a session for the in-car infotainment tech, and also a session on the very latest version of Parking Pilot (standard), where we witnessed first hand how the new E-Class is 100% capable of parking itself without any help from you. That’s correct. You don’t even have to indicate or brake. It actually does a three-point turn as if it knows how expensive panelbeating is these days.

Complex, but not complete rocket-science

The interior story is mostly a romantic and futuristic one, with large, elongated screens and a flowing design with top-notch finishes. The two 31.2 cm displays that seem to flow into one form part of the optional COMAND online system, forming a digital widescreen cockpit. The E-Class is also the first car to integrate trackpad technology on the multifunction steering wheel: You can use your fingertips to swipe vertically or horizontally to scroll through or page back to specific functions, and then click to select. Just like the C-Class, the touchpad on the centre console can be used for the ‘written’ input of letters as well. In short, there are many ways to many menus. And if you don’t want to use any of the above, you can always use the LINGUATRONIC voice activation, but it’s not as versatile as the other methods. Connect your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S7 phone to the system, and use assistance system such as Siri or have your favourite iBooks read to you. And when your battery is low, you will even be able to charge your phone wirelessly.

As awe-inspiring as it is to step inside this marvel of modern motoring, it is almost equally overwhelming. Sales staff at dealerships will have their work cut out, explaining the tech to customers. As intricate as it all is, once you know how everything works, you shouldn’t have much trouble navigating your way through.

Positively more power

The new E-Class is now available in a choice of three engines: The E 200 four-cylinder petrol, the E 350d six-cylinder diesel, and the brand new kid on the engine block,  the E 220d. Mercedes-Benz have spent millions of Euros on the new diesel powertrains, making them a fair bit greener and especially quieter than before. Our first car of the day happened to be a Polar White E 220d, and what a lovely engine it is. It feels plenty more powerful than the outgoing one, and Mercedes-Benz have succeeded in making it sound more refined. Our combined consumption showed a fabulous 5.1 litres per 100 km. Of course the ultra-low and record braking Cd value (the drag co-efficient) of only 0.23 is another reason for the fantastic fuel consumption.

Why DIY?

Being an avid fan of autonomous steering, the first thing I wanted to do was try out  DRIVE PILOT which forms part of the optional Driving Assistance package. Mercedes-Benz says the E-Class will steer itself for up to a minute and follow the cars in front of it up to speeds of 210 km (hello Autobahn). It will even go around gentle bends for you and push you back into your lane if you start veering from it. And so it did. It steered itself for 30 seconds until too sharp a curve was up ahead, and then I took over again. Another highlight is its 30 second stop-and-go capability in heavy traffic. As long as you haven’t been stationary for longer than that, the E-Class will start moving as soon as the car in front does. In 2017, you’ll even be able to park your E-Class via an app on your smartphone. What I am really waiting for is for the E-Class to steer itself into other lanes after I’ve indicated where it is I want to go - this will also be possible next year. For now I will be content with features like PRE-SAFE impulse side, which moves the driver or front passenger away from the place where a side impact will take place. Another new safety feature is Evasive Steering Assist, which will help you to avoid a pedestrian. Be sure to check out www.mercedes-benz.co.za for all these intelligent safety specifications and explanations of how they work.

According to Mercedes-Benz South Africa, it’s due to strict legislation that the E-Class is only allowed to steer itself for up to a minute, even though it’s fully capable of doing so for entire journeys. According to international law, the car has to continuously monitor the driver to make sure that he/she is still alive. But if you go to Nevada, you will encounter multiple E-Class Mercs (with red number plates) that actually have licenses for autonomous driving. They are still being tested, so there is a person in the car to oversee things. (The E-Class was the first car to be awarded with an autonomous driver’s license.)

So much more than skin deep

So am I bowled over enough to buy an E-Class if I had the money for it? Call me superficial, but as much of a fan I am of the new styling direction Mercedes-Benz have taken recently, I have to admit that I wish they’d done something more to differentiate the E-Class from its stablemates. But maybe the average E-Class buyer is too grown-up and enlightened to worry about looks. The good news is that if you just wait a while, all of this technology will eventually filter through to some of the more striking and individualistic model ranges, such as the sumptuous C-Class Coupe.

So here are some of the highlights in the new E-Class:

• New, intelligent graphic design with high-resolution visualisations and animations, together with a simplified logic
• Comprehensive smartphone integration: digital vehicle key, wireless charging, capacitive aerial coupling, support of smartphone-based infotainment systems (Apple's CarPlay® and Google's Android Auto™)
• Extended Driving Assistance package with DRIVE PILOT, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC with extended restart function in stop & go traffic, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist and PRE-SAFE® PLUS
• New Parking Pilot functions (including Remote Parking Pilot for SA 2017)
• Improved PRE-SAFE® protection concept with new PRE-SAFE® triggering       scenarios
• PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side in optional Driving Assistance Package Plus
• PRE-SAFE® Sound emission, to lessen the impact of a crash on the ears
• Belt-bag for passengers in the outer rear seats
• New four-cylinder diesel engine
• Standard 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission across the range
• Optional AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension
• Best of bench for drag-coefficient (Cd as low as 0.23)
• Quietest vehicle in its segment
• Best of bench for interior sizes and entry/exit.
• Ambience lighting with 64 colours
• MULTIBEAM LED headlamps each with 84 individually controlled high-performance LEDs and adaptive Highbeam Assist PLUS
• Tail-lights with stardust effect and multi-level functionality

Pricing:

E 200 (135 kW / 300 Nm)	: R 707 100
E 220 d (143 kW / 400 Nm)	: R 759 100
E 350 d (190 kW / 620 Nm)	: R 958 300

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