Mercedes-Benz E-Class released in Australia

By Matt Brogan | July 24th, 2009

The all-new, ninth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and coupe have arrived in Australia.

A key fixture in the Mercedes-Benz catalogue for more than 60 years now the new model’s arrival sees a variety of innovative technologies to the segment offering customers the latest in safety, comfort, and driving performance.

The sedan is joined by a two-door sibling under the German marque’s famous E-Class badge – previously known as the CLK-Class coupé – this stunning two-door model returns to the rank of E-Class after more than ten years.

The last Mercedes-Benz coupé to wear the coveted E-Class badge was the C 124 model.

The powerful and striking exterior design of the new E-Class coupé features classic coupé proportions (long bonnet, sleek side flanks, flat roof line with downward sweeping curves, crisp ear styling).

It naturally has hallmark Mercedes-Benz design characteristics: centrally positioned star in the radiator grille (not on top of the bonnet), no B-pillars, and fully lowering front and side windows.

The coupé’s image starts with the pronounced V-shaped front end, which reinterprets the model’s famous twin headlamp face by shaping the headlights with bold and aggressive contours.

This characteristic was introduced in the C 208 model-series CLK-Class (1997-2002) and was carried over to the outgoing model, which blended the lights together.

At the rear, the new model’s powerfully contoured rear guards emphasise its width and it features a diffuser-look rear bumper. This year, readers of AUTO BILD magazine voted the new E-Class coupé the best looking car in the award category “coupé and cabriolet”.

The first models available will be the V6-powered E 350 sedan and the E 500 sedan, boasting the marque’s powerful yet efficient 5.5-litre 285kW V8 engine.

The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupé has a sporty and stylish design. It has coupé-specific ergonomically designed seats with integral head restraints and has individual style full-size seats in the rear.

It has automatic belt feeders for the front occupants. As with the new E-Class sedan, the use of high grade materials and workmanship convey an impression of high quality, both in terms of look and feel.

The new E-Class sedan will be in authorised Mercedes-Benz passenger car showrooms from July 29. Pricing ranges from $97,500* for the E 250 BlueEfficiency (diesel) through to $174,500* for the E 500 V8 AMG Sports Package.

*Pricing is a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer.

The Realist

I heard the Coupe is based on a C-class platform – is that true??
Alex

I dont think I could by one of these, not when I could have an XF or an A5 for the same money. I think the exterior is boring and that’s not good enough when cars like the XF are out.
Jazrod

that sedan in white, with the 18″ wheels looks beautiful. this looks great!
Alex

By the looks of that interior, have they copied Jaguars gear selector knob thingy?
alex

Looks fantastic… specially interior… Wouldnt mind a E63 AMG
alex

OTHER ALEX haha no its mercedes version of idrive. Their gear selecter is column mounted.
Alan

Love the interior, i like how MB is making an understated E class that’s elegant and comfortable, not chasing BMW for handling or XF for style, MB is doing what they know best. Not a fan of the engines though, that 3.5L V6 and 5.5L V8 is not as good as the turbo straight 6 and V8 in BMW.
gearboxdawg

Getting a headstart on the new BMW 5 series due in Sept. I like the new exterior design.
http://Caradvice.com.au Baddass

Pretty nice. I had the opportunity of sitting in the old E63 AMG. It was other worldly.
Bazza

Is the new BMW 5 due in sept in Aus? I thought it was end of 2010 as an 2011 model? Anybody enlighten me please?
Kim

It used to look good but after seeing them all over the place in germany i’ve started to grow tired of the look. Now it just looks outdated already, to me anyway! There’s soemthing wrong with the rear, like with their C class.

The shape is also too ‘wedge’ like for me, the front is too narrow, in person at least.

Anyway, they’ve been taxis here for a while already and its not really anything special.
Mark

What are you on about that the XF is the same money as the E? The XF starts at $110k, while the E starts at $80k – that’s a $30k difference. The E also offers wagon, coupe, and convertible versions – the XF is just a sedan. And Bazza – the new 5 series is due out next year, I believe.
Rym

That’s call drawing a long bow, no one said that the XF is the same money as the E.

The previous E 200 with a 1.8l engine starts at 95k, that can hardly be said to be comparable to a 3.0l twin turbo V6. So, you really need to start at the 6 cylinder range of the E class, now isn’t that the price point and or size?

Yes, the E has many styles. But for a 4 door sedan. They are indeed competitors in the 6 cylinder and 8 cylinder range.
Camski

I don’t like that whopping big hood that’s towering over COMAND.

Interior looks okay I guess, hopefully materials are up to scratch, the old E55 crew was enticed by the C63′s performance but sooked over the “poor quality interior”.

If the difference in driving performance is equal to the upgrade from the W203-W204 C-Class then Merc have a nice card up their sleeve.
Jake02

I’m sorry, but that car is awful. The front is demented (why don’t they join the headlights on each side together???) and the rear handsome, but abit boring. The interior isn’t rounded off – it looks kinda like an X-trail interior with all the sharp edges etc. The Coupe is just as awful except it looks a tiny bit better with the pillarless doors.

Why have this when you can get the wonderful XF, the good-looking (still) 5-series, or slightly-boring but still nice A6. AND the lower-priced rivals such as S80 (around the same size but much better quality), Superb (for size, space and quality) and Satesman/Caprice or Calais V/G6E (not for quality but for size and performance).
Kim

Sorry, but the Superb is definitely not the same quality as the 5, A6 or E. Totally different league and its not like the Superb is some new hit on the block, its been in Germany for ages and its hardly popular.

IMO the 5 series is already dated with its boat-like appearance, partly due to its straight waist line. The A6 still looks great though, especially its interior which has held up very well indeed.
Jake02

Kim:
“Sorry, but the Superb is definitely not the same quality as the 5, A6 or E. Totally different league and its not like the Superb is some new hit on the block, its been in Germany for ages and its hardly popular.”

And you know how? Ever been in one? DIDNT THINK SO!!! And, we don’t live in Germany FYI!
Kim

I’m living in Germany at the moment so yes, sorry, i think i have been in one. Have you been in one?
Babken

BMW 5 SERIES IS MUCH MUCH BETTER.
BMW 5 SERIES IS THE KING!
LONG LIVE THE KING!