Mercedes-Benz has quietly launched a new low cost diesel variant of the E-Class. The E220 CDI was spotted by us a few months ago, undergoing fuel efficiency tests in Pune and is now on sale officially. Powered by a 2143 cc, in-line, turbo-charged diesel unit, the E220 CDI produces 170 hp of power at 3000 RPM and 400 Nm of torque between 1400-2800 RPM. The engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox. The Mercedes-Benz E220 CDI is priced at Rs. 44.50 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai) and the dealer is offering discounts as well as special offers on the car. The E220 CDI is available in only one trim level, Elegance. The E220 CDI and E250 CDI uses the same engine but the E250 is tuned for more power, producing 203 hp at 4200 RPM and 500 Nm of torque between 1600-1800 RPM.

Mercedes is using BlueEFFICIENCY technology on the entry level diesel E-Class to boost fuel economy and rival the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series. Both the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series are available with an entry level diesel engine which helps these German automakers to price their luxury saloons aggressively. Audi uses a 2.0-liter TDI unit, while BMW uses the 3-Series and X1′s 2-0-liter motor to power the entry level executive cars. With the introduction of the E250, the E-Class range is now available with 3 diesel engines and 2 petrol engines (the E250 petrol has been discontinued) – E220 CDI, E250 CDI, E350 CDI, E200 CGI and E350. We have extensively reviewed the E-Class before and you can read our review here.

This camouflaged Mercedes-Benz E-Class was spotted around the Mercedes-Benz factory near Chakan. The driver tried to run away when he saw us click pictures. The car had the badges completely covered. A sticker on the rear right window read “Do not fill fuel.” What could it possibly be? Is Mercedes testing alternative fuel technology vehicles? Could this be a hybrid? We are not sure, but the German automaker is definitely upto something as it looks to regain its lost market share in the Indian luxury car market. The Mercedes E-Class is the segment leader and there are nine variants on offer for the Indian market. The E200 makes the base variant of the E-Class in petrol but the base diesel is the E250. In order to offer buyers more options (specially those who buy the E-Class to usher in the comfort of the rear seat), Mercedes-Benz needs to offer a cheaper diesel E-Class. The cheapest diesel E-Class is the E250 CDI Classic, which is priced at Rs. 39.86 lakhs (ex-showroom, Mumbai).

If one closely observes the boot, the badge can be read as E220. Now Mercedes-Benz does not have the E220 on offer in the Indian car market. The company had recently announced its plans to offer lower displacement engines as it looks to counter its German rivals, which offer 2.0-liter motors of the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6 respectively. The company has the E220 on offer in the international markets.

The E220 uses the same 2143cc, four-cylinder diesel engine as the E250 but with reduced power out of 170 hp of power against 200 bhp of the E250 and 400 Nm of torque against 500 Nm of the E250. The decrease in power will not only help Mercedes-Benz price the car more aggressively but will also boost the mileage of the car. The less powerful engine might be 14 hp down on the BMW 520d, but will help Mercedes in offering the E-Class range at a cheaper price than its rivals. Just recently Audi has created tough competition by pricing the new A6 at Rs. 37 lakhs for the base variant. Could the E220 be offered at similar prices to woo buyers?

EDIT - We have confirmed from our sources that it was indeed the Mercedes E220 which was being tested by ARAI. The car said fill no fuel as ARAI is testing the fuel efficiency figures of the E220 CDI as part as their mileage certification. The E220 will also get a new entertainment system for the rear seat, which will help the E-Class maintain its market share in the segment.

Mercedes Benz India recently celebrated the 125th year of the automotive Innovation. To mark this special year, the company has launched a special edition of the E-Class which now features rear entertainment system, Vario bag The new Edition comes along with Vario bag, and illuminated door panels. Only 125 units of the E200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY and E250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY will be available. The special edition variants are priced at Rs. 39.7 lakhs and Rs. 41.55 lakhs respectively.

In India Mercedes-Benz has always been admired as a premium automobile manufacturer. The status symbol which a Mercedes car commands in India specially in the semi-urban areas is still something unmatched by any other car brand. Thus buying a Mercedes-Benz can change people’s perception about you. One of the greatest Mercedes of all times is undoubtedly the W124 E-Class. The car known for its tank like quality is a collectors favourite and can be yours for anything between Rs. 3-6 lakhs. Those in the know can tell how good the W124 really is and there are quite a few for sale. You can even get one from a Mercedes-Benz authorised dealer which saves you the headache of checking the car thoroughly as that is already taken care of. So are you a fan of old Mercedes cars? We surely are!

Mercedes-Benz India today announced the launch of the E200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY in elegance styling priced at Rs. 39.6 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). This marks the debut of the CGI technology in the E-Class range and the second Mercedes mode to features this powertrain. The CGI technology combined with BlueEFFICIENCY measures ensures optimized efficiency, performance as well as environmental compatibility. The company recently launched the E-Class Cabriolet (the most expensive E-Class in the country), whereas the E200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY marks the entry point of customers into the E-Class family.

“E-Class has been an all round success internationally, in India too it is the most popular luxury car in the country. The new E 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY is an irresistable combination of power, torque and luxury and further reinforces the broad range within the E-Class offerings,” Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India said.

Mercedes-Benz has announced the launch of the E-Class Cabriolet in India. The E-Class line up is complete with a retractable soft top roof and offers comfortable seating for four people. The E-Class Cabriolet adds to this multi-faceted E-Class line-up making a lifestyle statement par excellence promising an engaging driving experience with the top on or off. Thanks to its classic soft top, the four-seater convertible delivers that unadulterated cabriolet feeling. AIRCAP® is an automatic wind deflector that can be deployed at the touch of a button to significantly reduce turbulence in the vehicle’s interior. It also dispenses with the assembly required for conventional wind deflectors and leaves the side profile of the Cabriolet undisturbed. The E-Class Cabriolet is priced at Rs. 64.5 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).

“The E-Class Cabriolet heralds a new era of Open top motoring. With its launch, the versatility of the E-Class range is further reinforced; the E-Class now offers the Cabriolet in addition to already present the E-Class Saloon and the E-Class Coupe. The E-Class has seven offerings for the discerning customers who seek individuality, expression and dynamism through the cars they drive” commented Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz India said.

The production standard sound-dampening soft top comes with extremely high-quality insulation to deliver comfortable travel with the top up. Thus, the closed E-Class Cabriolet offers one of the quietest interiors in the segment of four-seater premium soft-top cabriolets. The top can be open or closed at the touch of a button in only 20 seconds – even while driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h. Like all E-Class models, the Cabriolet also offers an outstanding level of safety with standard equipment that include the ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system, PRE-SAFE® predictive occupant protection, the intelligent light system among others. The E-Class E 350 Cabriolet sports a 3.5 litre engine delivering a powerful output of 272 hp and a torque of 355 Nm celebrating the sheer driving pleasure.

Mercedes E-Coupe - Click above for high resolution picture gallery

Car tested: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe

Price OTR Mumbai: 60,00,000/-

MotorBeam rating:

“If looks could kill, we’d be dead”. Yes, we are talking about the stunning new Mercedes E 350 Coupe. This 2 door comes as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) from Germany and sets a new benchmark in luxury and delivers pure exhilarating  performance. The E Coupe replaces the Mercedes CLK series globally and there is some argument that the E Coupe is derived from the C Class. Whatever the case may be, the Mercedes E-Class Coupe is a head turner and inspires awe. It was recently launched amongst a string of launches by Mercedes Benz this year and we push this car to the limit and find out how it fares.

Exteriors – The E Coupe, as the name suggests is similar to the E Class sedan but there are a few differences. The obvious one is that its a two door and absence of the B pillar (the vertical support usually seen between the front and rear side windows) makes it look like a different, sportier car altogether. The Mercedes logo is a part of the front grille (as we see on the C Class) and the Coupe is shorter in length than the E Class sedan and is considerably lighter too.  The rear houses LED stop lamps in the center of the boot besides the regular tail light assembly. Our test car rode on 6 spoke sporty AMG alloys with low profile tires. Side turn indicators are integrated with the ORVM’s. The blackened out roof adds an exclusive look and is more curvy at the rear and subtly blends with the boot along a gradual slope, giving the Coupe an aerodynamic look. (The E 350 is supposedly the most aerodynamic production car). The shape of the windows clubbed with the absence of the B pillar looks stylish.

Interiors – Step in and the interiors are copy pasted from the E Class sedan. What is obviously noticed is the  two tone black and red leather upholstery that give it a distinct sporty feel. The front seats have active headrests, which are an added safety feature. 6 airbags are standard. Roll the windows down and the cars look is transformed. The windows highlight the E Coupe’s 2 door status, very well designed indeed. The rear bench has bucket seats for 2 and there are enough storage areas for odds and ends. Headroom is short at the rear bench and that is because the E Coupe’s roof slopes towards the rear. Dual ac at the front can be adjusted to different temperature settings and there is a vent for the rear passengers too. Black, panoramic sunroof looks stunning from the outside and opens up most of the roof. Audio system is the same as seen on the E350 sedan, other standard E class features like attention assist, adaptive headlamp assist etc remain the same too. The front seats have a hard plastic shell behind and its provided to prevent undue wear and tear the seats have to bear in order to accommodate the rear passengers. Seat adjustment is manual for easily and quickly sliding the seat to make room to get into the backseat. Larger doors look good but it also means that you have to stretch more in order to shut them from the inside.

Built Quality – As we have seen in the past, Mercedes built quality is top notch and the E Coupe does not give us a reason to differ. Normally we rough out a car by running it through patchy roads to extract the tinest of squeaks  but the E Coupe fails to fail on this one. No rattles or squeaks and the car is well damped from any sort of noise and vibration. Roll down the windows and at high speeds tyre noise can be a pain but thats nothing wrong with the car as such. Its worthy to note that though the E Coupe is imported from Germany, even the locally manufactured Mercs are at par with the same built quality.

On the Move – Open the door, step in and once the door is shut, a small arm would move the seatbelt across from the door for easy grasp and as soon as you are buckled up, the arm would go back and one would feel the seatbelt tightening up. Mercedes has always put safety on high priority while designing their cars and the E Coupe is loaded with revolutionary safety features such as Presafe. Presafe is a feature which kicks in when the car is out of control (just before a crash) and shuts all windows and the sunroof (leaving a bit open to neutralize the pressure difference in case airbags are deployed), tightens the seatbelt around the occupants. In case of an accident, the active headrests (front seats only) move forward to minimize injury due to whiplash. As we get ready to get started, something seems amiss, and that’s the Start/Stop button. Strangely its absent. Considering that the E coupe is marketed as a Sports Coupe, push button start/stop would be liked by most. Turning the key and the powerful V6 is bursting to get loose. Floor it and the car is immediately off the line. Handling is sharp and deserves a special mention here. As the car gets into 3 digit speeds the steering becomes considerably light and is surely much more fun but it becomes all the more easy to lose control at such speeds and could lead to a tricky situation. The E350 Coupe offers features standard on the E350 sedan such as cruise control, auto wipers, auto headlamps, parking guidance etc. We had to be a little careful over speed breakers as the car would tend to brush its bottom on them owing to low ground clearance.

Ride, Handling and Braking – The E Coupe is a drivers car and it is the best handling, yes, i say it again, the best handling Mercedes we have driven in India. The low profile 255/35/18 tires provide superb grip and coupled with the AMG alloys, play a major role in defining the handling characteristics of this Mercedes. The E Coupe stays on line even on the sharpest steering inputs and rides as if its riding on rails. Handling was never a strong point in the Mercedes camp, but after driving the E Coupe, we think otherwise and Mercedes are well within BMW territory in terms of handling. Ride quality is average and again, its the low profile tires which take away the soft ride of the E Class sedan. Even though ride is not as good as the E Class sedan, its decent and nothing to complain about as such. Braking is good and E Coupe stopped as expected on regular and hard braking. The E Coupe is lighter and ride height is lower when compared to the E sedan and this makes a huge difference in the dynamics of the car. The car is more fun to drive with the ESP off but annoyingly it turns on automatically, just when you are starting to have some fun.

Performance – The E Coupe is powered by a  3498cc V6 petrol engine which churns out 272bhp @ 6000rpm and  350Nm of torque @ 4500 rpm. Torque delivery is smooth and is more or less available throughout the mid range of the tacho. Floor it and its hits the triple digit mark in 7.88 seconds and does a quarter mile run in 15.56 seconds (in not very ideal test conditions). We hit a top speed of 200 without breaking into a sweat. The E Coupe weighs about 1730 kgs and having shed the extra kilos, it delivers superb performance. The 7Gtronic gearbox is responsive and the gear lever is similar to the one we see on the C Class. Sadly, paddles are missing and there is no valid explanation why? Lack of paddles somehow takes away all the sportiness this car has to offer. The E Sedan, with the identical engine comes with paddles and this omission of paddles is hard to digest. The gearbox offers comfort and sport setting and one can choose the required setting accordingly. Manual shifting can be done by flicking the gear lever left and right. While shifting gears from D, P or R, we found the lever pretty hard. Something we haven’t seen on other cars having the same gearbox. Possibly, this car is a victim of over enthusiastic driving.

Conclusion – The E Coupe, without any doubts, is a great car and is not a car one would pick readily since there is a difference of only about 5 – 6 lakhs between the Coupe and the E350 sedan. With most going for the sedan purely for 4 door comfort, the E Coupe is an ideal car for making a style statement or being different and unconventional from the rest. Mercedes has priced it superbly considering the duty it attracts by virtue of being a CBU. Some may argue that since its based on the C Class platform, you get less for more. I would go the other way, its not everyday you get the Coupe, which is sporty like the C Class and offer luxuries of the E Class and more importantly gives you the ‘E Class’ badge on your boot.

Whats Kool

• Handling
• Power packed performance
• Luxurious and sporty interiors
• Safety features
• Killer looks

Whats UnKool

• No memory seats
• Lack of paddle shifts
• Steering too light at high speeds

Summing it up : -

How does it Drive:

How does it Look:

How does it Ride:

How does it Handle:

How does it Go:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Specifications : -

• Engine: 3498cc, V6
• Power: 272bhp @ 6000rpm
• Torque: 355Nm @ 2400~5000rpm
• Transmission: 7 G-Tronic
• Drive Type: Rear Wheel Drive
• Top Speed: 250kmph
• 0-100kmph: 7.8 seconds
• Fuel Consumption: 06-07 kmpl (City), 08-09 kmpl (highway)
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Suspension: DIRECT CONTROL suspension with selective damping syste
• Tires: 235/45/17 Tubeless Radials
• Brakes: Mechanical-hydraulic, dual circuit with ABS
• Safety: ABS, ESP, Dual SRS front airbags, Side airbags, Immobilizer, Seat belt warning , Adaptive high beam assist, Parking guidance system, Drowsiness detection system, LED daytime lightning
• EURO NCAP Rating: (5 Star)

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Dimensions : -

• Overall length x width x height: 4698mm X 1786mm X 1393mm
• Wheelbase: 2760mm
• Front/Rear Track: 1538/1544 mm
• Turning Radius – 5.5m
• Ground clearance: 160mm
• Boot Volume: 450 liters
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres (8 reserve)
• Kerb Weight: 1645kgs
• Co-efficient of drag: 0.26

Official Website – Mercedes E-Class Coupe

Mercedes Benz has launched a stripped down variant of the E-Class in India. The new variant is the E250 CDI Classic and will be the base variant of the diesel E-Class. The Classic losses features like bi-Xenon headlamps, LED driving lights daytime running lights, sliding sunroof and paddle shifters. The grey interiors now feature Eucalyptus wood trim and traditional gear lever instead of gear selector stalk. The E250 CDI Classic is cheaper by Rs. 2.33 lakh than the E250 CDI Elegance and is priced at Rs. 46.18 lakh (on-road Mumbai). The Classic is powered by a in-line four, 2143cc engine producing 201 bhp of power and mind blowing torque of 51kgm. Mated to a 5-speed automatic, the E-Class Classic is a immediate reaction by Mercedes India on the onslaught by BMW from its new F10 5-Series.

Mercedes Benz continued its spree of launches by adding a another member to the Mercedes family and this time it happens to be the New Mercedes E-Class Coupé. The E-Class Coupé is the most aerodynamic series production car in the world with a drag coefficient of 0.24 only. The E-Coupé uses a 3.5 liter V6 engine which produces 272hp of power at 6000rpm. It is priced at Rs. 56.38 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). With its classic Coupé side aspect, reflected by no B-pillars and fully retractable side windows, the new two-door car is a particularly sporty interpretation of the E-Class’ dynamic design.

“The E-Class Coupé makes an unambiguous statement about a lifestyle characterized by beauty and sophistication. With its expressive styling, premium equipment, state-of-the-art technology and high safety standards, the New E- Coupé meets the needs of young individuals looking for a car that is athletic, striking and passionate. The vehicle rounds off the automotive product range and targets a clientele for whom style and individuality is of significant importance”. – Dr. Wilfried Aulber, CEO, Mercedes Benz India

The product features new trendsetting technologies – like ATTENTION ASSIST (drowsiness detection system), selective damper control, preventive occupant protection Adaptive Main Beam Assist, PRE-SAFE® technology and Intelligent Lighting System all of which together make the E- Coupé a “thinking” partner. These features can not only see, feel, and respond to dangers by means of its “reflexes,” but also act independently to prevent accidents or minimize their effects. With such advanced technical developments and E-Class Coupé specific features (like keyless go, panaromic sunroof to name a few), this car further consolidates the leading position of Mercedes-Benz in the luxury class.