Audi has the E-tron and BMW has just announced their new i line-up, but what about Mercedes? British magazine, CAR, suggests that Mercedes is considering a new E Superlight saloon for the 2015 model year. This new model will bethe same size as the CLS and will have the S-Class’ price, but will combine design elements from concepts like the F800 and the F125.
The new E Superlight sedan will be based on the platform of the next generation E-Class and will feature short rear pantograph panels that swing out and back. It will come with a stiff and strong carbon fiber structure that will help it reduce its weight considerably - down by about 350 kg/772 lbs, thanks in large part to the carbon fiber’s 1300 kg/2,866 lbs weight - as well as its cost and complexity.
Mercedes will opt for a load-based confectioning scheme that will allow the suspension and the drivetrain to be integrated into the monocoque. The car’s hybrid system will combine a 150 HP fuel-cell which drives the rear wheels in sync with a 50 HP electric motor.
The Mercedes E Superlight will go on sale as a limited edition in 2015, but by 2017, Mercedes hopes to sell about 20,000 units.
With the 2012 Detroit Auto Show getting closer, more and more automakers are announcing their line-up for the show. Now Mercedes has announced two new E-Class Hybrid models, the first being the E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid, available as a Saloon and Estate, and the second the E400 Hybrid. Both models will go on sale later in 2012.
The E300 BlueTEC Hybrid combines a 204 HP four-cylinder engine with an electric motor producing 27 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque. The system makes the E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid the most economical luxury-class vehicle in the world: it delivers a fuel economy of 55.9 mpg.
The E400 Hybrid combines a 306 HP V6-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor producing 27 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque. The consumption figures based on the American CAFE standard are: City 24 mpg, Highway 31 mpg, Combined 27 mpg.
"With these two E-Class models we are now continuing our comprehensive hybrid offensive. The modular technology opens up a quick way for us to complement other model series with hybrid models", explains Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler Board Member for Group Research and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.
The Mercedes E-Class L certainly doesn’t lack in luxury. But when you look at it, you have to admit that it still needs a little sprucing up to really deliver home the point that it’s a luxury limousine that shouldn’t be messed with.
The boys at Prior Design pretty much think the same way, so they did something that we couldn’t do from the comforts of our couch: they actually developed an aerodynamic kit to give the E-Class L a little more attitude.
Among the modifications Prior Design gave to the E-Class L include a new front bumper, a pair of new side skirts, a new rear bumper, a new set of 20" alloy wheels, and a new suspension set-up that improves the luxury saloon’s handling and characteristics.
Meanwhile, performance numbers were left untouched, which is a little disappointing. Then again, the E-Class L still has a plethora of power train options you can choose from, highlighted by a 4.7-liter V8 engine that produces just a shade under 400 horsepower.
British magazine, EVO, has gone out and pitted a few more competitors against each other to determine which is the better ride. Starting with the very cool BMW M5, EVO gathered up its competitors - the Porsche Panamera S, Mercedes E63 AMG, and Jaguar XFR - for a little one on three action.
Let’s break it down with some numbers. The M5’s 560 HP went up against the 550 HP from the Panamera, the 525 HP from the E63 AMG, and the 510 HP from the XF-R. Basically, the test served up 2,145 HP of phenomenal power, but which sports car landed on top of the heap?
Before watching the video, try to take a stab at who crossed the finish-line first. You may be surprised. We’ll give you a one hint: the Panamera turned out to be the laziest from them all.
If reports are indeed accurate, then we might be living in a future that includes a lightweight Mercedes E-Class.
The news was first reported by German car magazine, Auto Bild, saying that Mercedes is in the process of building a new variant of the E-Class that will carry a sturdy yet lightweight structure comprising mostly of carbon fiber.
The use of carbon fiber on this lightweight E-Class will cut down the car’s weight by around 350 kg/772 lbs, thanks in large part to the carbon fiber’s 1300 kg/2,866 lbs weight.
On top of its drastic weight savings, the new E-Class will also carry a new styling language that will be strongly influenced by the new CLS-Class and on top of that, the expected use of carbon fiber on the mid-size luxury car will open the doors - literally speaking - to the possibility of the new car losing its B-pillars, or better yet, carrying gullwing doors.
As far as the engine of the car, Mercedes is looking at using either a hybrid or a hydrogen-fuel cell powertrain as it attempts to lower its fuel economy and emission levels across the board.
