Mercedes-Benz South Africa has beefed up its E-Class lineup with the addition of three new models. actually it’s just two for the moment as the third was delayed due to logistical issues. These are the E200 CGI, E 250 CDI and the E350 CDI. It’s the mid one that was not available at launch, it is only expected in the country first quarter of 2010.
“The E-Class is by far the best-established and most successful business sedan, and is the "heart" of the Mercedes brand -- it is the typical Mercedes-Benz. No other model reflects the core values of the brand as precisely as the E-Class: safety, comfort, environmental compatibility, design, quality and individuality,” says Eckart Mayer, Divisional Manager, Mercedes-Benz Cars.
I got to drive both the baby E200 CGI (Charged Gasoline Injection) and the E 350 CDI in Gauteng conditions. The E200 CGI, as the name suggests, is powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine. The company is ditching the supercharger in favour of turbocharging, which is the method used in this car. Maximum power is 135kW and torque of 270Nm. These are very good numbers for the size of the engine. In fact you must remember that the Golf 4 GTI had a 1.8-litre with 132kW. A 5-speed automatic gearbox runs things. Mercedes-Benz says it will return average figures of 7.5l/100km and C02 emissions of between 177 and 184g/km.
The car feels smooth and controlled, and power is on tap quite early giving it as comfortable a ride as you’ll get from a Mercedes-Benz. Remember this is not a performance model but an entry-model into the E-Class range. Nevertheless you will not be left shy on the freeway or in suburban roads.
The E350 CDI is the turbo diesel car and its mechanicals are basically carried over from the previous-generation. It uses a 3.0-litre V6 motor to make its 170kW and 540Nm (between 1600rpm and 2400rpm) of torque. On the road these numbers translate to fluent agility both on a flat surface and on steep hills. A high-pressure fuel injection system with common rail technology and a new-generation set of piezo injectors ensures an optimal fuel flow at all times.
Its 7-speed automatic helps it get a claimed 0 – 100km/h time in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h. Mercedes-Benz says an average of 6.8 litres per 100km of fuel can be expected while C02 emissions fall between 179g/km and 186g/km.
Because the E250 CDI is not yet in the country there was no way to drive it. But in case you want to know, the car uses a 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with two turbos (one big, one smaller) to produce 150kW and a strong torque figure of 480Nm. It also comes with a 5-speed automatic and can apparently go from 0 – 100km/h in 7.8 seconds, average 5.3l/100km of fuel and emit C02 gases of between 154 and 159g/km.
All three vehicles carry the company’s new BlueEfficiency badge which means they are very fuel efficient as well as environmentally-conscious. Part of their development takes place inside a wind tunnel to improve their co-efficient of drag and improve fuel efficiency. Actually the E-Class has the lowest Cd rating (0.25) of any car in its class.
Handling is partly taken care of by a three-link front suspension and coil springs while the rear features a multi-link independent system also with coil springs, anti-squat and anti-dive systems. Standard safety items include ABS, Brake Assist and a current-generation ESP. Wheels and tyres are 245/45 R 17 and 8 J x 17 ET 48 respectively. Low-resistance tyres needed to further improve fuel consumption are not offered at this stage because suppliers cannot guarantee the tyre’s supplies.
Elegance is the standard trim for all models and includes electronic side mirrors, LED rear lights, chrome trim strips on front bumper, sides and rear bumper, the ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system, a CD player with eight speakers, automatic climate control, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity.
There are also packages like the Memory package, the Sun package and the Sun Protection package depending on what customers are interested in adding to their base cars.
Pricing
E200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY (R471 000)
E250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (R496 000)
E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (R617 000)
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