SPIED! Mercedes W212 E-Class Facelift: Renders, Spyshots, Etc

It's still there in those pictures...

Just like how you KNEW you wouldn't want the W212?

LOL. True that. I never truly know. Though, I HATED the W212, and with me, there's a thin line between love and hate. Cars that I'm "okay" with, I'll never fall truly for. I certainly won't hate M-B taking out some bolder elements like the quad lights and straight line, in a polarizing sense I mean, but I have doubts that I'll like it. Even when I expressed distaste for the 212, the Ponton crease and quad lights were two things that made it interesting to me, especially within its class.

I think the chamo signifies that what the render show, is gonna happen. All we see is the upper crease (the horizontal part of the bulge), yet they're clearly chamo'ing out the lower vertical part, which seems to mean that as the renders show, what is now the "Ponton crease" will simply become a crease running parallel to the upper crease for a short time before disappearing into the door.

According to jesmb.de the facelifted E should get 3 variants of a 2,0 R4 turbo engine - 184PS, 211PS and 252PS. 3,5 V6 turbo should be called E400 and have 340PS and 450NM. E500 should receive increase to 435PS as in the S class. And what is really very interesting, the article also says that the star should be integrated into the grill like in the C class avandgarde version. When you look on the spy pictures it is quite clear to see that the star in the grill is masked. When you compare the spyshots of the facelifted E and the spyshots of the 2015 C class there is some resemblance about the grill and the headlights so I believe they want really to differentiate the new S class from its smaller siblings. The S should be the last and only one having the star on the hood.

I was paying close attention to the grill and the star in previous spyshots. If this is true, I will be so sad.

WOW. I would be very upset at M-B if they put the stupid and now-generic Star on the E's grille.... I mean, I love the Star, WHEN appropriate, but it's not for an E. I want the E to stay as a "baby S", stately first, everything else second, rather than a "bigger C", with the Star grille trying to convey some misplaced sense of "Sport".

First I've heard about this, and I hope it's not true.

^ Now that I agree with, but you know what K/A I can see Mercedes splitting the line just like they've done the C-Class. Luxury and Sport. It may look pretty good depending on how they do it. The C has been wildly successful since they made the decision to offer 2 distinct lines/appearance packages in the U.S. Saw a luxury C250 today, it has the proper Mercedes look that you like.

M

Oh yeah, they nailed it with the C. I'm of the belief that they can't make it look good with both, i.e it has to be one or the other, due to how the grille opening proportions have to either be carved to look proper with a more vertically thin but wide Star grille, or a more vertically wide Luxo grille. IMO, the W204 looks a bit "funny" with the Luxo grille (opening is too small), and looks like it was designed right from the get go with the more well fit Star grille.

The W212 is a pretty aggressive and sporty design, but it's still mainly a stately Sedan vibe, and I think the Luxo grille gives it such a good balance with that classic and evil-smile "Boss Face". IMO the Sport grille would just spoil the W212's stately vibe. But yeah, if they do it, it'll be a split thing, Luxo VS Sport. The Star grille is more "flash for your cash", so naturally people love its showiness, but the Luxo grille is so powerful, and I'd hate to see M-B eliminate it as the sole character intention for the E-Class.

In due time, I feel that the "Luxo Grille" will be more popular due to its uniqueness, a reversal of how the Star grille became to sought after. Now the Star grille is available on FWD Benzes, while the Luxo Grille and Standup Hood Star are exclusive to the E and S.... i.e I think it gives both more cachet.... if they give the E the Star Grille option, then the S is the sole bearer of that.

What if the joke is on all of us and the new C is going to go the luxo route?

lol...you say they nailed it with the C, yet in the next sentence you say they can't make both look good.

Interestingly the C-class was actually designed with the traditional grill in mind, and it was a marketing stroke of genius by Zetsche much later on into the development that they actually decided to offer the avantgarde version.

I think they can execute both well on the E, and it should increase it's appeal to a younger buyer.

Lol. I meant that they nailed the Star interpretation with the C, but it just seems like the Luxo grille doesn't look as "natural".

I've seen lots of Star grille's on the W212 (aftermarket), and they always look really ill-fit and unnatural, and take the sharp aggressiveness away from the front, IMO.

lol..those after market grills look cheap and ghetto.

I think the C-Class looks good with the traditional grill.

Yeah, the afternarket ones are SUPER tacky and ghetto indeed.

Thenasi, that looks GREAT, even better than the Star grille, IMO actually. Interesting. It looks like a baby E there.

To me, M-B is truly about the Luxo grille and stand up Star, such a cool sight especially from behind the wheel.

Precisely K-A, Mercedes-Benz is known for their traditional star ornament grill. It exudes class, unmistakable style, and luxury. Quite simply, it defines the brand! Looking upon the star from behind the wheel makes the driver, and passengers, feel a sense of strong prestige and security. It really is an amazing feeling!

Agreed. I love seeing it from the wheel. Cars feel "naked" when I just see flat hoods in front of my face now.

Some people here enjoy the sports grille and the stand up star...at the same time.

Relax guys, it's just a an opening for the Distronic radar cover. MB won't dare do that to an E or the S.