2017 Mercedes E-class Coupe debuts in Detroit

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe has made its public debut at the Detroit motor show. The car on show is an E 400 4Matic, but it will hand over the range-topping spot to an AMG-engineered E50 4Matic mild hybrid model that will be unveiled later this year.

The launch of the coupé will be part of this year's extensive 50th-anniversary celebrations planned for Mercedes’ AMG performance arm and will be one of the first models to receive the German carmaker’s all-new M256 in-line six-cylinder petrol engine set to make its debut in the S-class.

Running a conventional turbocharger in combination with an electrically driven compressor and a 48V electrical system, the 3.0-litre unit delivers 408hp in standard guise. However, a series of tweaks, including higher boost pressure and internal modifications, are set to yield around 456hp for the powertrain’s application in the E50 Coupe.

Chassis

The new E-Class Coupe has been engineered from the ground up for a more upmarket positioning than that of its predecessor.

With the adoption of Mercedes’ latest MRA platform, the E-Class Coupe has grown both in size and positioning. Its length is up by 123mm to 4,826mm, width has extended by 74mm to 1,860mm and height has increased by 32mm to 1,430mm.

The wheelbase has also been extended by 113mm over that of its predecessor to 2873mm, while the front and rear tracks are up by 67mm and 68mm respectively, to 1,605mm and 1,609mm.

The larger footprint provides the basis for a roomier cabin with an additional 18mm of head room, 50mm more shoulder room and 38mm more elbow room up front. The increase in interior space is mirrored in the rear, which gets an extra 74mm of knee room, 15mm of head room, 34mm of shoulder room and 13mm of elbow room over the old model which used the same platform as the superseded C-class sedan.

Technology

The design of the four-seat cabin leans heavily on that of other new E-class models, but it has a number of bespoke touches, including newly designed air vents, automatically extending feeder arms for the front seatbelts and exclusive trim panels.

Key elements include two optional 12.3-inch displays for the instruments and infotainment system, with the latter being operable either via touchpads on the steering wheel or a rotary control and touchpad on the centre console.

Outside, unique design features include a twin-blade grille and frameless doors.

Engines

Three E-class Coupes are offered with the choice of one diesel and two petrol engines, ranging in power from 193hp to 333hp.

The line-up starts with the E 220 d Coupe, running Mercedes’ latest aluminium block 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that makes 193hp. It is joined by the mid-range E 300 Coupe, which is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 245hp. Crowning the regular line-up is the E 400 4Matic Coupe powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine producing 333hp.

All models come fitted with Mercedes’ in-house-produced nine-speed automatic gearbox as standard. The E 220 d Coupe and E 300 Coupe are rear-wheel drives, while the E400 4Matic, as its name suggests, gets Mercedes’ four-wheel-drive system as standard.

Three different suspension setups are offered on the new two-door: a base steel-sprung Direct Control system, a steel-sprung Dynamic Body Control system with adaptive damping and an Air Body Control system with multi-chamber air springs.

In combination with the Dynamic Body Control and Air Body Control suspension, the E-class Coupe also gets Mercedes’ Dynamic Select system, which allows the driver to alter the characteristics of the car between four modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.

Mercedes is set to launch the all-new E-class sedan in its long-wheelbase body style in India in the coming months. The E-class is expected to be offered in the E 300 trim powered by a 245hp 2.0-litre turbocharged motor and in E 350d form powered by the automaker’s 258hp 3.0-litre V6 diesel unit. The 2.1-litre diesel from the current model won’t be carried over.