The highly appealing and emotionally charged Cabriolet is the latest addition to the successful Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up. The open-top two-door model, features a classic fabric soft top, making for a stylistically pure cabriolet feeling. Viewed from the side, the new model is an intriguing proposition – with its clear proportions and a flawless cabriolet silhouette.
“In keeping with the motto "four seasons, four passengers", all-year-round suitability was right at the top of the developers' list of priorities. With the new E-Class Cabriolet, the cabriolet season lasts the whole year. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet provides pleasurable driving and comfort whether the roof is open or closed,” says Eckart Mayer, Divisional Manager, Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds – even when driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The cabriolet roof is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft top compartment from the boot area; this cover must be closed in order to close the soft top. If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the boot capacity is increased by 90 litres to 390 litres. A through-loading feature is included as standard for the new Cabriolet, as is EASY-ENTRY – a manually operated entry and exit aid for the rear passengers.
The powerplants are the E350 V6 and the E500 V8. The Cabriolet's cd figure of 0.28 is the best in its class, marking a continuation of the E-Class success story in the field of aerodynamics.
The E 350 Cabriolet is powered by the proven V6 engine, this six-cylinder powerplant develops 200kW and provides a peak torque of 350Nm from 3000rpm. The E500 with its V8 engine develops 285kW and reaches a peak torque of 530Nm. The 7-speed automatic transmission comes as standard on both models. The V6 engine takes 6.9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, whilst the V8 engine takes 5.3 seconds. CO2 emissions are kept to a 229 g/km for the E350 and 257 g/km for the E500.
In 1989, Mercedes-Benz introduced a world premiere in the shape of a draught-stop for the SL model series, followed in 2004 by the AIRSCARF neck-level heating system to further enhance comfort in open-top models. Now comes another world-first: the AIRCAP automatic draught-stop, which can be activated at the push of a button, greatly reduces turbulence in the interior of the new Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, creating a sea of warm air. It is also much easier to implement and use than conventional draught-stops: there is no tricky installation, the two individual rear seats are easily accessible and the Cabriolet's flowing side lines remain uninterrupted.
AIRCAP consists of two components: a wind deflector that can be extended by around six centimetres with a net in the windscreen frame and a draught-stop between the rear seats.
As well as enhancing occupant comfort and wellbeing, the reduction in draught when AIRCAP is activated (it can be activated at speeds of up to 160 km/h and can remain in use right up to the car's top speed) reduces the interior noise level – so passengers in all seats find it much easier to communicate.
For instance, it is possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode even when travelling at a speed of over 200km/h.
The soft top is of course waterproof and windproof. Plus it can be put through an automatic carwash without any hesitation. With a total thickness of 23.5 mm, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the E-Class Cabriolet is also ideal for use in winter.
The new Cabriolet offers the wealth of safety innovations one would expect from a Mercedes model. Highlights of the open-top two-door model include roll-over protection, the A-pillars reinforced by two additional tubes and the plug-in B-pillars. This new model is also the first Mercedes cabriolet to feature head bags. The roll-over protection consists of two robust bars, each with a diameter of 35 mm, which are housed in the rear head restraints in modules behind the rear seat backrests. If the sensors housed in the airbag control unit detect imminent danger to the occupants, pre-tensioned pressure springs are activated by pyrotechnic means, i.e. extremely quickly.
Further exemplary safety equipment available for the E-Class Cabriolet includes ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, PRE -SAFE ® anticipatory occupant protection, the sophisticated Intelligent Light System, and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet Pricing
E 350 Cabriolet (R770 000)
E 500 Cabriolet (R900 000)
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