After launching a few cars at the Auto Expo recently, Mercedes Benz has launched the new E250 V6 and the E250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY which were unveiled in Mumbai by Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.  The E250 V6 will be priced at 41.13 lakhs (Ex – Showroom Mumbai) and will be available in the Elegance styling and will be powered by the 6 – cylinder 2497 cc engine which will deliver an output of 204 BHP with 245 Nm of torque and top speed of 250 kmph with the 7G – TRONIC transmission. On the other hand the E250 CDI blueEFFICEINCY is priced at 39.87 Lakhs (Ex – Showroom Mumbai) and is powered by a 4-in-line 2143 cc engine, which delivers a whooping 500Nm torque in as low as 1600 – 1800 rpm and offers an output of 201 BHP.

Car tested: 2009 Mercedes E350 BlueEFFICIENCY V6 Diesel

Price OTR Mumbai: 54,15,373/-

MotorBeam rating:

With great power comes great responsibility!

There are only two things we could be talking about. Spiderman or the new Mercedes E-Class BlueEFFICEINCY V6 Diesel. And frankly who cares about Spiderman if you have 228bhp of raw power under your belt. We had recently reviewed the Mercedes E350 Petrol but whats different in the Diesel is that it comes with a meaner V6 diesel which boasts of 540Nm of torque. Even though the engine is the only thing different between the petrol and the diesel versions, the driving dynamics are as different as chalk and cheese. So we took the BlueEFFICEINCY for a spin to find out.

Exteriors – A sense of Deja Vu prevails upon us as we look upon the Mercedes E350 BlueEFFICIENCY and that is mainly because we had recently reviewed the Mercedes E350 Avantgarde Petrol. Besides both cars being white in colour they also shared the same temporary number (thats because we were the first few to test the car and the car had not been registered till date).

The CDI on the right side of the boot and the BlueEFFICIENCY marking on the sides is the only thing which can tell between the petrol and diesel version. As mentioned before the Mercedes E350 looks rich and exudes status. The characteristic 3D front grill has been given a V shape to add to the appeal. The previously oval headlamps have been given a progressive slant and appear to be like gemstones carved out with precision. Like the headlamps the bumper blends into the body with utmost perfection, giving the impression that the design has been cast from a single mould.The sharp line on the sides give a muscular appearance as well as aid in aerodynamics. The boot looks sporty and the 17inch alloys give a hint of the E350’s agility.

Interiors – Again as mentioned before, the interiors are captivating and give a classic feel. The steering wheel has a lot of controls on it like audio, multi-information display and telephone controls. Paddles are provided behind the steering for manual shifting (sports mode). Other standard features like auto headlamps, wiper, auto door locking at 20kmph, headlamp washer, sunroof are standard features. Once inside the rev meter will distinguish between the petrol and diesel version.

Its worthy to note that all the controls are easily accessible from the driving position. The Air conditioning System is pretty impressive too. The Mercedes E Class has individual climate control for both the driver and the front passenger, which is unique and adds a sense of personalisation without compromising on the automatic climate control. The rear seats are also provided with vents on the B pillars on either doors and a centrally placed vent from which temperature can be controlled as per the requirement of the occupants. The “Thermotronic” system, as Mercedes calls it, has about 10 electric motors in total, whose job it is to control the cold and warm air flaps in the mixing zones as well as the air outlets, which means that practically every outlet can be precisely regulated as required.

Built Quality - Again, Mercedes has done a fantastic job with the quality of the car and everything feels just right and where it should be.

On the Move – The Mercedes E350 BlueEFFICIENCY is powered by a monster – a 228bhp, 540Nm torquey V6 diesel engine. Turn the key and the engine comes to life without much vibration or noise. At no point does the engine sound like a diesel engine. Slotting the car in D (Drive) the car accelerates with utmost urgency pushing you back into your seat with huge force. The acceleration is breathtaking thanks to the 540Nm torque which the engine churns out with ease. The cars driving dynamics are much different compared to the petrol version and that is because the Mercedes E350 BlueEFFICIENCY is slightly heavier than the petrol version. The extra weight of the diesel engine makes it front heavy, thereby changing the weight distribution. On flat out acceleration the Mercedes E350 BlueEFFICIENCY did not run out of steam and easily hit 220kmph. Its more fun to use the paddle shifting however, that is just a way to satisfy ourselves because at any given time the 7Gtronic gearbox is selecting the gears but its good fun anyways. Steering is slightly heavier than the petrol version but can still be classified as light and its pretty responsive too. Just like its petrol sibling, the car is equipped with advanced parking guide which enables the driver to park with the help of visual and audible steering support. This and many such features highlight Mercedes commitment to passenger safety.

Ride, Handling and Braking – The Mercedes E350 BlueEFFICIENCY rides amazingly well considering the amount of power it churns out. The adaptive shock absorbers automatically adapt to the current driving situation by reducing the damping forces when driving normally, enhancing the riding comfort. The ride quality is way better than its previous version. Unlike the petrol version the car is not really sharp around corners. It tends to step out of line under heavy braking mainly due to the altered weight distribution which is attributed to the heavier diesel motor. The Electronic Stability Program kicks in whenever there is any loss of traction. There is a button to turn off the ESP and once that is done the car becomes very tail happy. It easily drifts and that is PURE PURE FUN. The rear wheels cant take so much power (for dummies – its a rear wheel drive) and throw the car out of line enabling it to drift easily. Even after this the Mercedes E350 BlueEFFICIENCY’s drifts are easy to catch and the ride quality is exceptional. Braking is decent and not the sharpest in the segment. The Pirelli tyres do a decent enough job, but with so much power at your disposal, better braking would certainly be of good use.

Performance –The Mercedes E350 BlueEFFICIENCY V6 engine churns out 228bhp of power and the 7G-Tronic gearbox is absolutely mindblowing. There is almost no turbo lag whatsoever. The engine response is great and acceleration is exceptional. We touched 220kmph and then decided to back off, the car did not give any indication that it was running out of power. At all times the car remains glued to the road giving an indication its aerodynamics.

However we must add the car is overpowered. Yes, you read that right. It has way too much torque then it can handle. If you step on the gas, the wheels will spin in glee and you need to control your right foot to ensure you don’t go overboard. Maybe Mercedes can consider a AWD version of the car to ensure less tire noise and burnt rubber.

Conclusion – The E350 CGI got top ratings for its driving dynamics, features, comfort and luxury. But the BlueEFFICIENCY is not only more frugal than its petrol brother, it saves the environment too with lesser emissions. So if u had to pick one would you go for the Mercedes E350 Avantgarde petrol or Mercedes E350 blueEFFICIENCY diesel? Torture me and I would still choose the diesel for its sheer raw power and we are back to the with great power comes great responsibility thing.

Whats Kool

• Ride quality
• Over Torquey Motor
• Fuel Efficiency
• Manual shifting
• Cruising ability
• Stability
• Very well damped and lack of any kind of NVH

Whats UnKool

• Magnified left outside rear view mirror
• Grip levels when 540Nm of turning force hits the rear wheels
• Service costs
• Price

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 E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Specifications : -

• Engine: 2987cc, V6
• Power: 228bhp @ 3800rpm
• Torque: 540Nm @ 1600~2400rpm
• Transmission: 7 G-Tronic
• Drive Type: Rear Wheel Drive
• Top Speed: 250kmph
• 0-100kmph: 6.90 seconds
• Fuel Consumption: 09-10 kmpl (City), 11-12 kmpl (highway)
• Fuel Type: Diesel
  
• Suspension: Multi-link suspension, Integral support frame, Anti-drive control, Coil springs, Gas pressure shock absorber, Stabilizer (Front), MB Multi-link independent suspension, Anti-squat, Anti-lift, control, Coil springs, Gas pressure shock absorber, Stabilizer (Rear)
• Tires: 245/45/17 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 W212 Dimensions : -

• Overall length x width x height: 4868mm X 1854mm X 1471mm
• Wheelbase: 2874mm
• Front/Rear Track: 1585/1604 mm
• Turning Radius – 5.6m
• Ground clearance: 160mm
  
• Boot Volume: 540 liters
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres (8 reserve)
• Kerb Weight: 1825kgs
• Co-efficient of drag: 0.28

Official Website – Mercedes E-Class

Mercedes-Benz has launched BlueEFFICIENCY technology in India in the New E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY. BlueEFFICIENCY is a package of fuel saving technologies where innovative changes have been made throughout the design and engineering of the E-Class. These are integrated measures that reduce fuel consumption and emissions by using a complete package of efficiency-enhancing technologies. The E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY is priced at Rs. 48.08 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Powered by a robust OM642 V6 diesel engine with turbochargers, the New E-Class is impressive in its performance. This six-cylinder engine built with a direct-injection unit delivering a torque of 540 Nm, consuming up to 13% less fuel than before, creating new benchmarks in the segment. The New E-Class also has the distinction of being the world’s most aerodynamically efficient luxury saloon.

The New E-Class offers a host of new innovative technologies like drowsiness detection system – ATTENTION ASSIST, LED daytime lighting, Intelligent Lighting System, PRE-SAFE®, NECK-PRO®, PARKTRONICS with the new Advanced Parking Guidance which helps the driver to search for suitable parking space extending visual and audible steering support during parking.

Mercedes-Benz will be introducing the diesel line up of the E-Class with the launch of the E350 CDI V6 on the 12th of this month. The 2987cc engine in the E350 CDI has 225bhp of power on tap and a locomotive 540Nm of torque. The company will also introduce BlueEFFICIENCY technology in the diesel E-Class. This technology reduces CO2 emissions and increases fuel efficiency by upto 12%.

Car tested: 2009 Mercedes E350 Avantgarde V6 Petrol

Price OTR Mumbai: 51,96,485/-

MotorBeam rating:

The W212 Mercedes E-Class has been one of the most awaited cars in 2009 and besides being one of the best looking cars in the market it also offers an exceptional driving experience. The new Mercedes E class has been built right from the scratch and is more than different from its previous version. It is evident that Mercedes has spent a lot of time and money to bring out one of the best cars in the segment. We were fortunate to be among the first few to drive it and we impressed to no bounds.

Exteriors – A Mercedes is an attention catching machine and it does not go unnoticed. The E Class is no different and is a step up in design compared to its predecessor. The car looks thoroughly masculine and exudes status. The characteristic 3D front grill has been given a V shape to add to the appeal. The previously oval headlamps have been given a progressive slant and appear to be like gemstones carved out with precision.

Like the headlamps the bumper blends into the body with utmost perfection, giving the impression that the design has been cast from a single mould. The bonnet houses the Merc Logo and is designed with sharp lines which blend into the body, not only giving it a classic look but aiding in the aerodynamics of the car as well. The lines which run along the sides reflect light in such a way that the body appears to be longer than it is. The rear houses tail lamps which look pretty good too.

Interiors – Once inside the Mercedes E Class, the interiors are captivating and give a classic feel. The steering wheel has a lot of controls on it like audio, multi-information display and telephone controls. Paddles are provided behind the steering for manual shifting. Other standard features like auto headlamps, wiper, auto door locking at 20kmph, headlamp washer, sunroof are standard features.

Its worthy to note that all the controls are easily accessible from the driving position. Considering that the E Class has been designed to run on big powerplants which occupy a lot of bonnet space, the interiors are pretty spacious and leg room is comfortable.

The E class offers electrically adjustable seats with 4 way electrical lumbar support for the driver and front passenger as well as memory function for the seats, exterior mirrors and steering column. The car also comes with automatically dimming internal and external mirrors which is quite a boon but the left ORVM is disappointing. It seems to show a highly magnified image which leads to a larger blind spot area. This is typically seen is most Mercedes, whether it is a cost cutting measure or not, it is something we haven’t been able to comprehend.

Though the front seats are extremely comfortable, the rear seats seem to just lack that. We won’t call them uncomfortable but they could have been better. Legroom is adequate and overall comfort is good.

The Audio system is decent and is controlled from buttons on the steering wheel as well as a dial on the central console.

The Air conditioning System is pretty impressive too. The Mercedes E Class has individual climate control for both the driver and the front passenger, which is unique and adds a sense of personalisation without compromising on the automatic climate control. The rear seats are also provided with vents on the B pillars on either doors and a centrally placed vent from where temperature can be controlled as per the requirement of the occupants. The “Thermotronic” system, as Mercedes calls it, has about 10 electric motors in total, whose job it is to control the cold and warm air flaps in the mixing zones as well as the air outlets, which means that practically every outlet can be precisely regulated as required.

There are lights abound in the new E-Class. Two lights inside the central rear view mirror and two lights above it. Two lights for the rear passengers which can be controlled by the driver.

Built Quality - Superb is not the word, unfortunately we fall short on words to describe the built of this mean machine. We tried our best to hear the slightest squeak or the tiniest rattle from any part of the car but the Mercedes E350 did not give us a chance to complain.

On the Move – Powered by a robust V6 petrol engine, the all new E-Class is impressive in its performance. This 3.5 liter V6 engine churns an output of 268hp with a torque of 355 Nm. Slotting the car in D (Drive) the car moves very smoothly. Its more fun to use the paddle shifting and the sweet sound of the engine sends the adrenaline rushing making us push the car to the limit, the engine sound is breathtaking and one just does not want to lift off the accelerator.

Steering is light and responsive and varies according to speed. As the speed increases the audio system increases the volume, nice. Cruise Control is really cool, once the speed is set, the car stays at the same speed till you apply the brakes, once you leave the brakes the car accelerates to the set speed. But we don’t see this feature of much use in India.

Ride, Handling and Braking – The Mercedes E350 rides as if its flying at low altitude. The “adaptive shock absorbers” automatically adapt to the current driving situation by reducing the damping forces when driving normally, enhancing the riding comfort. The ride quality is way better than its previous version.

The car is very sharp around corners, the Electronic Stability Program kicks in whenever there is any loss of traction. There is a button to turn off the ESP but thats just there for show, even if the ESP is turned off, it automatically turns on, a safety feature apparently. Even after trying to push it beyond the limit, the E350 rode as if its riding on rails, AWESOME.

Braking is decent and not the sharpest in the segment. The 245/45 R17 tyres do a very good job, but with so much power on your hands, better braking would certainly be of good use.

Performance – Mercedes engineers have absolutely excelled in designing this beast. The V6 engine churns out about 268bhp and the 7G-Tronic gearbox of the E350 is absolutely mindblowing. In comfort mode there is a slight lag in response which is typically there with all auto transmission cars but once you shift to sports mode all hell breaks loose. You just need to push the right paddle to upshift and the left paddle to downshift. If you are in D6 and your speed comes down to 40kmph, on downshifting the car will come directly to D2 and not D5, so you won’t have to go through… D4….D3 to reach 2nd gear. We just loved the gearbox and loved red-lining the engine.

On pushing the car it effortlessly goes beyond 200kmph and just keeps on going. You can actually feel that the car is hugging the road with huge downforce. This is attributed to the superb aerodynamic design of the car. Mercedes engineers have spent a lot of time in the wind tunnel testing the aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle and all their efforts have paid off well. It will not be out of place to mention that the E class is the most aerodynamic standard production car in the market. We touched 230 and then decided to back off, the car did not give any indication that it was running out of punch.

Conclusion – The Mercedes E-Class is one of the best cars to drive, and even if it is chauffer driven it offers good comfort and is certainly shows off status and character. It is extremely safe as well and offers features such as adaptive highbeam assist, attention assist and 6 airbags which are standard on the worlds most loved business saloon. Excellent ride and handling are few other parameters on which it excels. It is even supposed to be more fuel efficient than its previous version, but again fuel consumption is never a criteria for someone who buys a Mercedes.

Whats Kool

• Ride quality
• Handling
• Manual shifting
• Cruising ability
• Engine sound
• Stability
• Very well damped and lack of any kind of NVH

Whats UnKool

• Magnified left outside rear view mirror
• Service costs
• Price

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 W212 Specifications : -

• Engine: 3498cc, V6
• Power: 268bhp @ 6000rpm
• Torque: 350Nm @ 2400~5000rpm
• Transmission: 7 G-Tronic
• Drive Type: Rear Wheel Drive
• Top Speed: 250kmph
• 0-100kmph: 8.00 seconds
• Fuel Consumption: 06-07 kmpl (City), 08-09 kmpl (highway)
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Suspension: Multi-link suspension, Integral support frame, Anti-drive control, Coil springs, Gas pressure shock absorber, Stabilizer (Front), MB Multi-link independent suspension, Anti-squat, Anti-lift, control, Coil springs, Gas pressure shock absorber, Stabilizer (Rear)
• Tires: 245/45/17 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 W212 Dimensions : -

• Overall length x width x height: 4868mm X 1854mm X 1471mm
• Wheelbase: 2874mm
• Front/Rear Track: 1585/1604 mm
• Turning Radius – 5.6m
• Ground clearance: 160mm
  
• Boot Volume: 540 liters
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres (8 reserve)
• Kerb Weight: 1735kgs
• Co-efficient of drag: 0.25

Official Website – Mercedes E-Class

Mercedes-Benz India has just launched the ninth generation E-Class. The new Mercedes E-Class sports a 3.5 liter V6 engine and has been introduced in the top-of-line Avantgarde styling. The engine will be locally assembled at Mercedes’ Pune plant.  With over 10,000 customers in India, the E-Class has been the most popular luxury sedan in India. The W212 E-Class is priced at Rs 46.98 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

“The all-new E-Class is the perfect embodiment of the brand’s core values rooted in timeless design, craftsmanship and innovation. This outstanding product- the ninth generation E-Class displays outstanding driving dynamics, and represents our cumulative experience garnered over 123 years of automotive leadership. The overriding theme behind the E-Class has been to create a vehicle that has a perceptive, sophisticated, intelligent and intuitive persona- much like the owners of this distinctive automobile,” Dr. Wilfried Aulbur said.

The 3.5 liter V6 engine churns out 272HP of power with a torque of 355NM. Engineers have also made the new E-Class much more efficient, with direct-injection technology enabling the range to be, on average, 6% more fuel-efficient as compared to its predecessor. The New E-Class also has the distinction of being the world’s most aerodynamically efficient luxury saloon.

The New E-Class has re-designed twin headlamp, an arrow shaped bonnet featuring three louvers and chrome surround, sporty rear bumper and 17” light alloy wheels. Marking its debut with this product are new trendsetting technologies –like drowsiness detection system – ATTENTION ASSIST, LED daytime lighting, Intelligent Lighting System, etc. ATTENTION ASSIST calculates individual driver profile during the first few minutes of every trip and includes 70 parameters such as vehicle speed, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, to alert the driver during signs of drowsiness raising the safety levels and prevents accidents. Activated from the speeds of 80 and 180kmph.

The New Adaptive Mainbeam Assist feature also introduced in the new E-Class further enhances the intuitive attributes of this vehicle. The main advantage being, that it helps the driver to comprehend the contours of the road faster and easier by automatically adapting the headlamp range and light distribution in tune with the prevailing conditions. Additionally, the new E-Class also offers as standard PARKTRONICS with the new Advanced Parking Guidance which helps the driver to search for suitable parking space extending visual and audible steering support during parking. Standard specifications also include the Audio 20 CD infotainment system with a twin receiver, CD-player, eight loudspeakers and a Bluetooth interface for a mobile phone.

The new Mercedes E-Class will be here sooner than we expected. Mercedes-Benz India will be launching the W212 E-Class on the 23rd of this month. The teaser is already up on the German automakers Indian site. We can’t wait and we are sure you can’t either.

Mercedes-Benz will launch the ninth generation Mercedes Benz E-Class in India on the 5th of October. The W212 E-Class will be initially launched in E350CGI and E320CDI variants. More variants will be launched next year.

The all new ninth generation Mercedes Benz E-Class (also known as the W212) will be launched very soon. The car has been undergoing homologation for quite some time now and is currently being tested at Mercedes-Benz India’s Pune plant. The new E-Class will be initially launched with a 3.5L, 24valve V6 petrol producing 292bhp mated to a 7-GTronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The diesel engine will join in later with the 320CDi.

The new E Class is touted as the most beautiful car in the world, we don’t quite agree, but we don’t deny that either. It has LED daytime running lights. If you observe the pictures closely you will notice the different set of wheels (maybe for testing purposes). Mercedes will follow up with less powerful engines next year for the value conscious buyers.

Pictures Coutesy – Hanmust@team-bhp

Mercedes-Benz India has launched a limited edition of the E-Class, priced at Rs 43.4 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Mercedes-Benz would produce only 192 units of this edition, and the car would come with a 3.0liter diesel engine. The other features in the limited edition would include dynamic changes in the grille & headlamp unit, additional chrome highlights, LED technology tail lights, 17 inch double-spoke light alloy wheels, new multi-function wood/leather steering wheel, Bird’s – eye Maple Trim and new instrument cluster design.

“Mercedes-Benz E-Class is clearly the most sought after luxury car and we have sold over 16,000 units of this car since its India launch in 1996,” Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Wilfried Aulbur said in a statement.

We feel this is Mercedes’ marketing stunt to get rid of current E-Class stock as the new E-Class is around the corner. The limited edition E-Class is availbale in six different colours – Carneol Red, Obsidian Black, Calcite White, Tenorite Grey, Iridium Silver and Cubanite Silver.