The current Mercedes E-Class is one of the oldest models in the firm's range, and is starting to get left behind by increasingly competitive rivals. But that is all about to change as an all-new executive saloon is nearly here and the first official pictures of the car have leaked on German website Auto-Presse.
Mercedes will introduce the seventh generation of its most successful model ever this month as it looks to build on the 13 million sales the E-Class has already achieved globally. We'll have full details next week but for now, take a look at the leaked images of the car with its styling clearly derived from the latest Mercedes S-Class and C-Class models.
Prominent at the front end are the E-Class' new multibeam LED headlamps, while the latest Mercedes grille design completes the striking nose treatment. There's a softer, curvier feel to the lines around rear end where the saloon's boot lip rises into a subtle spoiler.
At January’s Detroit Motor Show the wraps will come off the company’s all-new BMW 5 Series rival – the most technologically advanced model it’s ever produced. It’ll be a four-strong range, and first up will be the saloon – previewed by our exclusive images – which will go on sale in the summer, while an Estate will follow later in 2016. After that, a sleek two-door Coupe will arrive in 2017, before the Convertible completes the line-up towards the end of that year.
E-Class chassis and design
First on Mercedes’ to-do list is to bring the E-Class in line with the smaller C-Class and larger S-Class, with a more homogeneous look. The boxy design and numerous joints, folds and creases as seen on the current car will be long gone, and in their place will be the flagship S-Class’s more fluid and softer panels. The new headlamps will also take on a familiar shape, and come fitted with 84 individual high-performance LEDs rather than the 24 used in the current E-Class.
There’s a fresh platform, too – the same MRA architecture as is used on the S-Class. That means the next E-Class will be longer and wider than it is today, but also around 100kg lighter. We can expect the car to retain its class-leading passenger and luggage space.
2016 Mercedes E-Class: interior design
Merc has pulled the wraps off the E-Class's interior before we see the outside, and it's pretty much as we'd expected. It's a watered-down version of the S-Class cabin, with a large high-def digital readout that's over 24-inches across.
The screens are configurable and can display things such as nav instructions and vehicle settings, while you can choose between three separate instrument cluster designs – Classic, Sport and Progressive.
It'll be fitted as standard on all except base models, while the rest of the cabin features similarly premium details. The four central air vents are straight from the firm's most expensive models, as is the wraparound dash, while the flowing centre console houses the COMAND controller for the infotainment.
Mercedes E-Class 2016: engines
There’ll be significant changes under the bonnet as well. The new running gear will allow Mercedes to offer ultra-efficient plug-in hybrid versions of the E-Class for the first time if it chooses to, but an official announcement has yet to be made. It’s not all about economy, though, as the E63 AMG range-topper will still be offered, featuring the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.
Power could rise to as much as 600bhp – trumping the 552bhp BMW M5 – but we’ll probably have to wait until 2017 before Mercedes pulls the wraps off that model. The brand has also more closely aligned the E-Class and ML-Class, by renaming the SUV as the GLE when the facelifted version went on sale soon. And Mercedes’ rival to the BMW X6 is now badged GLE Coupe.