Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a mid-sized luxury automobile sold by the Mercedes-Benz branch of DaimlerChrysler. The model line is available with various six and eight-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. The E stood for Einspritzung, which is German for fuel injection, which was a very new feature at the time the "E" first appeared in the 1950s. The E-Class is the bestselling Mercedes-Benz model worldwide. It is famous both as luxury or executive transport, and as taxis in countries like Germany and Singapore. In Germany the E-Class is also commonly used as a police interceptor vehicle.

General information

The 400E and 500E went into production on August 6, 1991 as 1992 models.

The 1994 E500 production ended on June 24, 1994.

Production of the 1995 E-Class W124 ended on May 23, 1995.

Production of the 1996 E-Class began on July 17, 1995.

Production of the 2002 E-Class ended on February 20, 2002.

Production of the 2003 E-Class began on May 13, 2002.

The 300/E-Classes were built in:

RWD: Sindelfingen, Germany
1986-1995 Wagons: Bremen, Germany
500E/E500/E55 AMG: Zuffenhausen, Germany
1998-present 4Matic: Graz, Austria (by Magna Steyr)
2006-present: Beijing, China (by Beijing-Benz DaimlerChrysler Automotive for the Chinese market)
2006-present: Iran (by Top Khodro, a joint venture with Iran Khodro Diesel, for the Iranian market)
2003-present: Pimpri, India (for the Indian market)
1990-????: Malaysia
2006-present: Pekan, Malaysia (by Malaysia Truck and Bus Sdn Bhd (MTB) of DRB-HICOM)
1993: Mexico
1993-????, 2005-present: Thailand (by Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Co., Ltd.)
1993: Philippines
1996: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ^*

History

Ponton

See Mercedes-Benz W120 for details

The first modern midsize Mercedes was the W120 "Ponton" 180 of 1953. Sharing its engineering with the R121 190SL of 1955, the Ponton was a stylish sedan with four-cylinder power. A larger-engined W121 190 appeared in 1958.

Fintail

See Mercedes-Benz W110 for details

Mercedes added tailfins to both the big S-Class and the new W110 "Fintail" 190 of 1962. Straight-6 power appeared for the first time in the 1965 230 model, and the fours grew in displacement that year as well.

Stroke-8

See Mercedes-Benz W114 for details

The midsize Mercedes was redesigned in 1968 as the W114/W115 "Stroke-8". This time, the 6-cylinder models (The W114s) were most prevalent, with the W115 line making up the bottom of the company's offerings with four- and five-cylinder power. Diesel engines joined the lineup, as did a coupe body.

W123

See Mercedes-Benz W123 for details

The popular W123 quickly became a best-seller on its launch in 1977. Especially in Diesel 240D (and later 300D) guises, the cars enhanced the company's reputation as a purveyor of rugged and reliable cars. Over 2.3 million examples were produced through 1985.

W124

See Mercedes-Benz W124 for details

The "E-Class" name first appeared with the W124, launched in 1986. Though earlier gasoline models bore the "E" designator, the entire line was officially "the E-Class" now. The 300D continued to be the high-mileage option, but V8 engines (available after 1992) brought newfound power to the line. The cars were renamed from "300E" to "E320" with the new 3.2 litre engines and naming rationalization of 1994. Mercedes also included a limited production sport version of the W124, created in close cooperation with Porsche. This was called the 500E, and set the standard for modern sports sedans.

W210

See Mercedes-Benz W210 for details

The W210 E-Class, launched in 1996, brought the midsize Mercedes firmly into the upper end of the luxury market. Though six-cylinder models were still offered for a time, the four-light front end and high prices moved the car upmarket.

W211

See Mercedes-Benz W211 for details

Launched in 2003, the W211 E-Class continues the line's push upmarket. The W211-based W219 CLS-Class was new for 2005. In 2002 Mercedes made a facelift for the W210 which begun the launch of the W211. The W211 E-Class will be facelifted for 2007, although a new model is less than two years off.

Mercedes-Benz introduced their Bluetec Diesel system to the E-Class at the 2006 North American International Auto Show as the E320 Bluetec. This system uses urea to clean Diesel emissions, making the E320 50-state legal in the United States. Sales begin in autumn 2006 as a 2007 model.

W212

See Mercedes-Benz W212 for details

The W212 will replace the W211 in 2008 as a 2009 model.

US 2005 E-Class models

E-Class sedans

All prices are MSRP for the US market in US Dollars

2005 E320 Sedan
- $49,220
- 3.2 L 18-valve V6
- 165 kW (224 hp DIN, 221 hp SAE) @ 5600 rpm

2005 E320 CDI
- $51,770
- 3.2 L 24-valve I6 turbocharged diesel
- 150 kW (204 hp DIN, 201 hp SAE) @ 4200 rpm

2006 E350 Sedan (replaces gasoline E320 sedan starting early 2005)
- $50,770
- 3.5 L 24-valve V6
- 200 kW (272 hp DIN, 268 hp SAE) @ 6000 rpm

2005 E500 Sedan
- US$58,520
- 5.0 L 24-valve V8
- 225 kW (306 hp DIN, 302 hp SAE) @ 5600 rpm

2005 E55 AMG
- $81,520
- AMG-built intercooled supercharged SOHC 5.4 L 24-valve V8
- 350 kW (476 hp DIN, 469 hp SAE) @ 6100 rpm

E-Class wagons

2005 E320 Wagon
- $51,470
- 3.2 L 18-valve V6
- 165 kW (224 hp DIN, 221 hp SAE) @ 5600 rpm

2006 E350 Wagon (replaces the E320 wagon from early 2005-on)
- $53,020
- 3.5 L 24-valve V6
- 200 kW (272 hp DIN, 268 hp SAE) @ 6000 rpm

2005 E500 4MATIC Wagon
- $62,120
- 5.0 L 24-valve V8
- 225 kW (306 hp DIN, 302 hp SAE) @ 5600 rpm

The E55 AMG wagon, previously only available in Europe, is being imported into the United States on an extremely limited basis beginning in the 2005 model year. Built per customer for the U.S. to gauge initial demand, it is expected that 20-80 will be brought to the United States for 2005

Competitors

The E-Class' market competitors include:

Awards

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1996.

The Brabus E V12

German automotive tuner Brabus makes a modified E-Class sedan with a modified version of the S600's V12 engine powering it. Sold as the Brabus E V12, it is the fastest four-door sedan in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records, ahead of the Audi RS6 Plus, which is considered the world's fastest production sedan. The 640 hp E V12 has a top speed of 211 mph and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 4.1 seconds.

External links

Mercedes-Benz vehicles | Luxury vehicles

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