Mercedes-Benz has restyled the Coupe and Cabriolet members of the E-Class family for the 2014 model year. The bold new styling is combined with sophisticated new assistance systems which are part of Mercedes-Benz "intelligent drive." These new systems include technology that can help prevent accidents with crossing vehicles or pedestrians as well as an enhanced version of Active Lane Keeping Assist. Visually, Coupe and Cabriolet have been brought in line with the new Mercedes-Benz design idiom. These models also feature exclusive, luxurious appointments for refined driving, which are hallmarks of the entire E-Class family. The 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet go on sale in the U.S. in Summer 2013.
The classic Coupe and the four-seat Cabriolet versions of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class are among the most coveted vehicles in the premium medium-size segment. With intelligent and efficient technology as well as luxurious and comfortable appointments, both are uncompromisingly designed for passionate driving enjoyment. They are therefore regarded as emotionally appealing highlights of the successful E-Class family. Both on the outside and inside the design is fresh, sharpened and so ideally reflects the many new technical features.
Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes- Benz Cars: "Three words suffice to very briefly characterize the Coupe and the four-seater Cabriolet: stunning, athletic, passionate. Especially gratifying is that both cars also offer the most intelligent engineering that currently can be had. This makes both of them genuine dream cars."
Design: E-motional appeal in top form
The new look of the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet is accentuated by the redesigned front end with new headlamps which contain all functional elements within a single lens. The headlamps are fitted with partial LED lights as standard, while full LED technology is available as an option for the first time in this segment. Flowing light elements within the headlamps ensure that the "four-eye" look typical of the E-Class is retained.
The new, more V-shaped front bumpers with large air intakes clearly accentuate the athletic character. The bold front end puts a distinctive, sporty face forward, but at the same time emphasizes the close relationship of the Coupe and Cabriolet with the redesigned E-Class Sedan.
The rear fenders, whose powerfully muscular shape has been retained, lend visual emphasis to the rear-wheel drive of the sporty cars. New tail lights and a wide rear bumper with a chrome trim element additionally underscore the aggressive appearance of these models.
The proportions, with a long hood, extended side line, flat roof and powerful rear end, are those of a classic coupe. Traditional styling features that make the Mercedes-Benz Coupes unmistakable – for instance the layout of the fully retractable side windows, which is unbroken by B-pillars – lend emphasis to the distinctive lines of the two-door car.
Fully retractable side windows are characteristic also of the four-seater Cabriolet and give emphasis to the clear proportions with a gently rising shoulder line from the front to the trunk lid.
Elegant interior
Mercedes-Benz also has restyled the interior of the 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet and tastefully matched it to the expressive exterior. Fine materials, two-piece trim stretching across the entire dashboard, and clean surfaces dominate in the interior.
All models in the entire 2014 E-Class family feature an analog clock between the redesigned air vents and console switches are now finished in chrome.
The interior is further characterized by a redesigned center console without a gear selector lever as well as a new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with DIRECT SELECT shift lever and shift paddles. This makes room for additional storage space and larger cup holders.
A special highlight of the new E-Class Cabriolet is its acoustic soft top with high-grade insulation, giving it the lowest noise level in its class. The unique acoustic cabriolet soft top ensures that little wind noise penetrates the interior even at high speeds.
With the top down, the standard AIRCAP, which reduces interior turbulence and wind noise, ensures exceptional convertible driving comfort, especially in the rear seat. Now at speeds over 25 mph the AIRCAP system deploys automatically, and at speeds less than 10 mph the wind deflector in the windshield frame is automatically retracted again to present the E-Class Cabriolet in its purest and most beautiful form during slow driving and at a stop. The wind deflector between the rear head restraints responds to the number of occupants, which it automatically recognizes by the buckled rear seat belts, and adjusts the position of the extendible wind deflector in the front and rear accordingly.
The available AIRSCARF neck-level heating extends the convertible season by making comfortable top-down driving possible even at low exterior temperatures.
Limitless individual appointments
E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet offer virtually unlimited possibilities for individual configuration. New interior colors and color combinations, such as blue with contrasting beige boldly brings a breath of fresh air to the exclusive ambience of the two E-Class athletes.
"Intelligent drive" with new assistance systems from the future
As in the Sedan and Wagon, new assistance systems that combine comfort and safety also are being introduced in the 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet. Mercedes-Benz refers to all this as "intelligent drive."
The basis for this is formed by state-of-the-art sensors – for instance a Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera in the vicinity of the rearview mirror that produces a three-dimensional view of the area up to 165 feet in front of the vehicle, and is able to monitor the overall situation ahead up to a range of 1,640 feet. Part of the Driver Assistance Package, intelligent algorithms combine the data of the stereo camera with that of the installed radar sensors. They perform an evaluation of this three-dimensional visual information in order to detect vehicles that are driving ahead, oncoming or crossing, as well as pedestrians and road markings within a large field of vision, and to carry out a spatial classification of moving objects.
The 2014 Coupe and Cabriolet are fitted with standard COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, a radar-based collision warning system with adaptive brake assist systems, which helps to significantly reduce the risk of a collision. Also part of the standard equipment is ATTENTION ASSIST, which is now able to warn of inattentiveness and drowsiness across a wider speed range, and also inform the driver about his level of fatigue and the amount of driving time which has elapsed since the last break. It also offers an adjustable sensitivity level.
Optionally available on all 2014 E-Class Models are a number of assistance systems which are either new or now feature enhanced functions. The following is an overview of the innovations:
- DISTRONIC PLUS® with Steering Assist can help the driver keep the vehicle centered in its lane and can semi-autonomously track lines of traffic.
- For the first time, the Brake Assist system BAS PLUS® with Intersection Assist is able to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians too, and boost the braking power applied by the driver accordingly.
- The PRE-SAFE® Brake can detect pedestrians and initiate autonomous braking to avoid a collision at speeds up to 30 mph
- PRE-SAFE® PLUS can recognize an imminent rear-end collision, then prompts the PRE-SAFE® system to trigger occupant protection measures to reduce the forces to which occupants are subjected. It can also firmly apply the stationary vehicle's brakes in the event of a rearend collision to prevent secondary accidents.
- The Active Lane Keeping Assist now can detect when the adjacent lane is not clear, including when it is occupied by oncoming traffic. If a collision threatens, even if the lane marking is not a solid line the system can prevent the vehicle from leaving its lane unintentionally by applying the brakes on one side. It thus optimally supplements the Active Blind Spot Assist.
- Active Parking Assist enables automated parking with active steering and brake control in both parallel and perpendicular spaces
- The 360-degree camera covers all four sides of the vehicle and enables a seamless all-around view including a virtual bird's-eye perspective – with a top view of the vehicle and its direct surroundings. Dynamic guide lines are a help when entering and leaving parking spaces and maneuvering.
Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development: "The new E-Class makes a big step forward in every respect. With an emotionally appealing design it provides for fresh highlights in its segment. And in technical respect it offers unique things. They include new assistance systems from the future S-Class which, for example, relieve driver stress with steering assist, DISTRONIC PLUS® and for the first time also can prevent accidents with crossing vehicles or pedestrians. In addition, the EClass achieves best ratings in the area of efficiency, offers an internet-capable cloud-based infotainment system and improves night-time driving safety with state-of-the-art LED headlamps. So the E-Class is a veritable high-tech package – a very attractively packaged one at that."
Drive system: high-performing and a model of efficiency
All the available engines for the 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet now feature an ECO start/stop system and are highly efficient. The E350 features a directinjection V6 gasoline engine with 302 hp and 273 lb ft of torque. The E550 is powered by a twin-turbo direct-injection V8 producing 402 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.
The E350 Coupe is also available in the U.S. with 4MATIC All-Wheel-Drive. The electronically-controlled system displays an impressive level of traction on all manner of terrain, raises active safety and offers an outstanding degree of driveline refinement.
Mercedes-Benz offers a 7-speed automatic transmission with DIRECT SELECT lever and shift paddles. This latest version of this transmission provides significant advantages in terms of efficiency and ease of maintenance. A new feature is the short-term ‘M’ mode. If the driver has shifted up or down manually, after a set period of time the transmission independently switches back to the fuel-efficient automatic shift mode.
The suspension – the basis for superior handling
The 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet feature the AGILITY CONTROL suspension with selective damping system. Its shock absorbers adapt to the condition of the road surface and ensure sporty handling and long-distance comfort typical of Mercedes-Benz.
Alternatively available are the AGILITY CONTROL sports suspension with selective damping system and more tautly tuned dampers as well as the ADVANCED AGILITY package, which offers electronic damping control along with a program for selecting sportier accelerator characteristics and transmission shift points. With this, at the push of a button the driver can adjust the damping to his requirements depending on whether he wants to drive in a comfortable or sporty style.
Like the Sedan and Wagon, the Coupe and Cabriolet are equipped with an electromechanical Direct-Steer system as standard. It combines the speeddependent power assistance of speed-sensitive steering with a variable ratio across the steering angle range. The electromechanical Direct-Steer system ensures more direct steering response, comfortable handling, and high levels of steering comfort across all speed ranges. It also provides considerable Page 7 savings potential, since energy is only required during steering action, and makes innovative assistance systems such as Active Parking Assist possible.
High-quality appointments
The 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet feature a comprehensive selection of premium equipment as standard. It includes a modern range of infotainment systems that allow the driver to keep up to date on what is happening around the world, or in the office, while on the road.
Standard equipment includes the COMAND system featuring a 7-inch highresolution color display, sound system w/ AM/FM/WB radio, in-dash DVD/CD player, in-dash memory card slot, auxiliary input jack and Bluetooth interface for hands-free calling.
Additionally, Mercedes-Benz offers the mbrace2 system as standard equipment. mbrace2 provides drivers top-of-the-line features related to safety, infotainment, personal assistance and vehicle care. mbrace2 creates a truly networked vehicle offering open Internet access and custom versions of popular apps, including Facebook, Yelp and Google Local Search designed specifically for in-vehicle use - called Mercedes-Benz Apps. It also includes a solution to remotely update software via cloud networks ensuring that mbrace2 users always have the latest app versions in their vehicles and at their fingertips. Sensible user design and limited functionality of these Internetbased apps ensures that they provide maximum utility without unnecessary distraction when the vehicle is in motion; certain features are not available for use when the vehicle is in motion.
Models/Performance:
- E350 Coupe and Cabriolet: direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 (302 hp, 273 lb.-ft.)
- E350 4MATIC Coupe: all-wheel-drive, direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 (302 hp, 273 lb.-ft.)
- E550 Coupe and Cabriolet: 4.6-liter direct-injection biturbo V8 (402 hp, 443 lb.-ft.)
New Standard Feature Highlights:
- COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
- ECO Start/Stop
- ATTENTION ASSIST 2.0
- DIRECT SELECT Shifter
New Optional Feature Highlights:
- DISTRONIC PLUS® with Steering Assist
- PRE-SAFE BRAKE with Pedestrian Detection
- PRE-SAFE PLUS
- Active Lane Keeping Assist (enhanced)
- BAS PLUS® with Intersection Assist
- Active Parking Assist
- 360-degree camera
