The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz has improved the already exemplary long-distance comfort of the E-Class even further in the new saloon, including intelligent bodyshell technology with up to 30 per cent greater rigidity, further improved seats and a newly developed suspension whose shock absorbers automatically adjust to the current driving situation. The optional airmatic suspension now works together with an electronic damping system.

The outstanding safety and comfort of the E-Class are matched by its environmental compatibility and economy: the nine available engines are direct-injection units, and consume up to 23 per cent less fuel than before. The combined consumption of the new four-cylinder diesel engines is 53.3 mpg, which corresponds to 139 grams of CO₂ per kilometre. All the engines for the new E-Class meet the EU5 emission standard.

Apart from the engines, the BlueEFFICIENCY (standard on all UK cars except the V8s) package for the E-Class is largely responsible for an average fuel consumption improvement of 3 mpg. Engineers from every development department have worked together to optimise numerous assemblies and components, to save fuel by means of reduced weight, a new shape, improved functioning or efficient energy management.

The work done in the wind tunnel was particularly successful, resulting in a drag coefficient of only 0.25, making the new E-Class the world’s most aerodynamically efficient luxury saloon. It betters the already good Cd figure of the preceding model by another four percent.

Other BlueEFFICIENCY measures include newly developed tyres with up to 17 per cent lower rolling resistance, need-related and therefore energy-saving control of the alternator, fuel pump, air conditioning compressor and power steering, and the ECO start/stop function (from late summer 2009) which switches the engine of the new E 200 CGI off when idling. Displays in the speedometer inform the driver how much fuel is being consumed (mpg), and when they should shift to the next higher gear in the interests of an economical and environmentally conscious driving style.

Engines: new CDI-four-cylinder units with a fuel consumption of 53.3 mpg and 139 grams of CO₂ per kilometer.  These engines feature latest-generation common-rail direct injection, fast piezo-electric injectors, improved exhaust gas recirculation and an innovative twin turbocharger, making for improved responsiveness and good performance characteristics. To express this in figures, the E 250 CDI with 204 hp and 500 Nm sees an improvement of 60 Nm of torque over the previous E 280 CDI V6 diesel engine, but uses around 23 per cent less fuel returning 53.3 mpg (combined NEDC consumption). This corresponds to 139 grams of CO₂ per kilometer.

The new four-cylinder diesel engine also powers the E 220 CDI with 170 hp and the E 200 CDI with 136 hp which also have combined fuel consumption figures of 53.3 mpg (available late summer 2009).

Petrol engines: 20 per cent fuel saving thanks to direct injection.  The E 200 CGI and E 250 CGI are equipped with the newly developed four-cylinder direct-injection engine with a displacement of 1.8 litres, turbocharging and variable intake and exhaust camshafts. The E 200 CGI (184 hp) is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and the ECO start/stop function as standard, and returns 41.5 mpg of petrol (combined NEDC consumption, provisional figure). This equates to 159 grams of CO₂ per kilometer.

In the E 250 CGI (204 hp), which has a five-speed automatic transmission as standard, maximum torque is now 310 Nm, which represents an increase of more than 26 per cent over the previous V6-engine.   At the same time the NEDC fuel consumption is reduced by over 20 per cent to 38.1 mpg, equating to 175 grams of CO₂ per kilometer (provisional figures).