By Moses Akaigwe
A new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon endowed with a comprehensive upgrade from its 10th generation predecessors, has been ushered into showrooms by Weststar Associates Limited, the Aauthorised General Distributor of the three-pointed star brand in the Nigerian market.
Besides exciting the intelligence, the new 2021 E-Class Saloon comes with a host of innovations in design and technology – a model upgrade which has enabled the car to continue to live up to its reputation as the “heart of the Mercedes-Benz brand.”
Commenting on the arrival of the car, the Managing Director of Weststar Associates Limited, Mr. Mirko Plath, described it as a masterpiece in innovation, which is expected to follow the trail of success blazed by its predecessor geberations.
Plath further remarked, “With this current generation selling over 1.2 million units globally, the E-Class remains the most popular Mercedes-Benz vehicle even in this market. We are proud to be able to introduce this new model and we are excited for our customers to experience this new chapter in innovation and technology.”
He drew attention to the exterior design of the new E-Class that comes with a more dynamic design, showing a clear upgrade, while the front-end comes with increased chrome content, with the headlamps and radiator grille being totally redesigned.
The bonnet features distinctive looking powerdomes, while the headlamps come in a flatter design, featuring all-LED technology. On the rear end, the all-new E-Class features a new rear bumper & a new boot lid. The tail lights also get a redesign with new inner components. Another highlight from the exterior is the new aero wheels, which contribute to more sustainable driving.
The interior design of the new E-Class comes with a sensual aura, high-quality materials and technical innovations. It is equipped with an entirely redesigned, intelligent steering wheel as part of the facelift. The Touch Control buttons on the steering wheel spokes are now also capacitive, reducing the need for mechanical control panels.
The design of the front seats accentuates the sporty aura of the interior, by offering strong lateral support without compromising on comfort. There are also new appointment colours and materials added in the interior; these include the new colour combinations magma grey/neva grey, black/nut brown and magma grey/macchiato beige, and trims in silver open-pore ash wood, fondant burr walnut wood, brushed aluminium and aluminium with a carbon grain.
The new E-Class is equipped with the latest generation of the MBUX multimedia system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). As standard, it includes two large 10.25-inch/26 cm screens, which for a widescreen look are arranged side by side. Two 12.3-inch/31.2 cm screens are optionally available. The information in the instrument cluster and on the media display is easily legible on the large, high-resolution screens. An emotive presentation with brilliant graphics underlines the comprehensibility of the intuitive control structure.
For the first time the E-Class comes with electrified powertrains, the four-cylinder petrol (M 254) engines will feature a second-generation integrated starter-generator (ISG) producing up to 15 kW of additional output and 200 Nm more torque. This technology is also standard equipment for the six-cylinder petrol (M 256) engines available for the first time in the E-Class. The line-up of high-efficiency, low-emission and powerful petrol engines will cover an output range from 115 to 270 kW. Also, included is the 9G-TRONIC transmission which has been further developed to accommodate the second-generation ISG.
When it comes to safety, the new E-Class has the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems providing cooperative support to drivers. These include; the new steering wheel generation with capacitive hands-off detection, Active Brake Assist; in the Driving Assistance Package now also with turning maneuver function, Active Blind Spot Assist – now also with exit warning and Parking Package in conjunction with 360° camera, with newly expanded side view and for the first-time automatic parking not only in parallel and end-on parking spaces, but also on marked areas.URBAN GUARD Vehicle Protection is also available for the new E-Class. URBAN GUARD comprises an anti-theft alarm system, tow-away protection with visual and audible warning in case of a detected change in position, an alarm siren, interior monitoring and preinstallation for theft and parking collision detection