Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe revealed

The all-new 2017-model-year Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupe line-up will be crowned by an AMG engineered E50 4Matic model be unveiled during the latter half of 2017, Drive can reveal.
                                                              
To be launched as part of the extensive 50th anniversary celebrations planned for  Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance car division next year, the new two door is set to become among the first models to receive the German car maker's all-new M256 designated in-line six-cylinder direct injection petrol engine, which uses an integrated starter motor to provide it with mild hybrid properties .
 
Running a conventional exhaust gas turbocharger in combination with an electrically driven turbocharger powered by a 48-volt electric architecture, the 3.0-litre unit delivers 300kW in standard guise. 
 
However, a series of power enhancing tweaks are set to see an increase in reserves for the new engine in AMG guise in a move that promises to position the four-wheel drive E50 4Matic Coupe well above other new E-class Coupe models in terms of performance and pricing.
 
Set to make its world debut in standard guise at the upcoming 2017 Detroit motor show prior to a planned start to Australian deliveries during the second half of next year, the new E-class Coupe has been re-engineered from the ground up in a program aimed at providing it with a more up-market positioning than its predecessor. 
 
Pictured here in a series of official photographs released by Mercedes-Benz, the new two-door, which goes under the internal codename C238, introduces the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz's sensual purity design lineage with an almost total lack of feature lines throughout its aluminium and steel body. This is in direct contrast to the old E-class Coupe, which drew criticism for its heavily structured look and liberal use of feature lines.     
                                                                                                    
Distinguishing design elements featured on the new Mercedes-Benz's include a prominent twin blade grille, a more conventional bonnet that eschews the side fender clamshell style shut line of its predecessor, frameless doors, absence of a B-pillar, more defined hunches over the rear wheelhouses, shallow rear screen, sloping boot line and trapezoidal shape tailpipes integrated within the lower section of the rear bumper.   
 
With the adoption of Mercedes-Benz's latest MRA (modular rear architecture) platform, the new E-class Coupe has grown in a move that further distances it from the latest C-class Coupe both in size and positioning. Official figures reveal length is up by 123mm at 4826mm, width has extended by 74mm at 1860 and height is increased by 32mm at 1430mm.  
 
The wheelbase of the new E-class Coupe has also been extended by 113mm over that of its predecessor at 2873mm, while the front and rear tracks are up by 67mm and 68mm respectively at 1605mm and 1609mm. 
 
The larger footprint provides the basis for a roomier interior boasting an additional 18mm of headroom, 50mm of shoulder room and 38mm of elbow room up front.  The increase in interior space is also mirrored in the rear, which gets an added 74mm of knee room, 15mm of headroom, 34mm of shoulder room and 13mm of elbow room above the old E-class Coupe, which was effectively based on the same platform as the superceded C-class saloon.
 
The design of the four-seat cabin leans heavily on that of other new E-class models but receives a number of series of unique touches, including newly designed air vents, automatically operated feeder arms for the seat belts and exclusive trim panels. Key elements include two optional 12.3 inch high definition displays for the instruments and Comand infotainment system - the latter of which can be operated either via touch pads in the steering or alternatively a rotary control and touch pad in the centre console. 
 
Mercedes-Benz has confirmed there will be four E-class Coupe models from the start of UK sales, with the choice of a single diesel and three petrol engines ranging in power from 135kW to 245kW. 
 
Included is the E220d Coupe running Mercedes-Benz's latest turbocharged 2.0-litre aluminium block four-cylinder diesel engine with 143kW.
 
It will be joined from the outset of sales by the E200 Coupe with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 135kW well as the mid-range E300 Coupe, which runs the same powerplant as the E200 Coupe but in a higher state of tune delivering 180kW.
 
Crowing the regular line-up is the E400 4Matic Coupe. It receives the German car maker's twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with 245kW.
 
All models come as standard with Mercedes-Benz's in-house produced 9G-Tronic torque converter automatic gearbox. As their names suggest, the E220d Coupe, E200 Coupe and E300 Coupe all receive rear-wheel drive, while the E400 4Matic comes as standard with a four-wheel drive system providing a nominal 45:55 front-to-rear apportioning of drive.
 
Three different suspension set-ups will be offered on the new two-door: a base steel spring Direct Control system, a steel spring Dynamic Body Control system with adjustable 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 receives Mercedes-Benz's Dynamic Select system, which allows the driver to alter the characteristics of the car in four modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.

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