Over the last six months, Mercedes-Benz has launched a raft of new models and the carmaker is in no mood to slow down. The convertible is based on the current E-class that received a comprehensive mid-cycle facelift in mid-2013. So, like the E-class sedan, the cabriolet gets a redesigned front section with single piece headlamps and a single-louvre grille.
The E-class cabriolet will be brought in through the CBU route and will serve more as a halo product (than a volume seller) in the carmaker’s line-up. Additionally, Mercedes will bring only the range-topping, powerful E400 cabriolet to India. The 3.0-litre, six-cylinder (V6) turbo-petrol motor produces 328bhp and a good 48.9kgm of torque that’s routed via a 9-speed automatic gearbox. All of which, Mercedes claims, is good for a 0-100kph stint in just 5.3 seconds.
The fully-electric soft-top can be opened or closed at speeds upto 40kph. The E400 cabriolet will be packed with features including Mercedes’s latest COMAND interface, and feature the same high-quality cabin of the E-class. Apart from this, Mercedes has also fitted the cabriolet with features such as AIRCAP, a retractable deflector on the top edge of the windscreen. The carmaker says this forces the airflow upwards at higher speeds, significantly reducing the in-cabin noise when the roof is down.
Like with the earlier E-class cabriolet, space in the rear seats isn’t as generous as its fixed-roof sister. So, you can expect the kind of legroom you get on a Mercedes A-class here; just about adequate for two adults. That is because, a fair bit of space is used for storing the folding roof and the extended central console and narrower cabin at the rear makes it strictly a four seater.
With an estimated price of Rs 90 lakh, the E400 cabriolet won’t be cheap, but then for people looking for a luxurious and stylish convertible, the E400 cabriolet has few rivals. We expect Mercedes-Benz India to launch the E400 cabriolet in our market in first-half of 2015.
Aditya Bengali
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
