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

[K-A]

The pre facelift face won't be going anywhere, it'll be an instant classic.

That's the only reason that I'm kind of happy they're doing away with it. IMO it'll differentiate the original models well into the future.

 

[montana]

The pre facelift face won't be going anywhere, it'll be an instant classic.

That's about the only good thing, lol... If the new headlights etc. look bad, we'll have a pre-facelift which is looking amazing IMO.

Can't say wether the FL is going to look better or worse at this point (exterior), but at least I hope the interior will be better. Not that it's bad, but there's definately room for improvement.

 

[K-A]

Agreed. The interior is cool in that staunch Mercedes way, but there is indeed some room to improve. Right now it's so German, literally, like it doesn't give a sh** about whether you find it cozy or not, it does exactly what it's supposed to do.... I'm sure for the facelift, they're gonna give it a bit of a warmer personality that will be more eager to impress you.

 

[mercpassion]

http://www.germancarforum.com/commu...enders-spyshots-etc.42918/page-25#post-590340

 

[mercpassion]

sorry page is http://www.autoevolution.com/news-g-image/spyshots-mercedes-e-class-facelift/80516.html

looking nice, loving new grill seen in previous spy pics, looks superb, very expensive and high grade looking, by the pics, it appears ponton arch going, which imo is maybe one of the best things for the cars own good, sorry ponton arch fans, but i think it is out of place in the 212 or any mdoern car for that case, just gives a way overdesigned look which is just not needed, they should leave these classic styling alone into the cars they have come from in this case the 'ponton' classics, and concentrate on modern interprettions like the f800 concept for example in which the rear crease is a superb modern version of the classic ponton arch, i dont like the idea of mercds simply bashing on the ponton arch almost unmodified from the original into these current cars, even the cls is an example, imo it is just out of place on modern cars, and looks bloated and ovedesigned, unless done nicely like the f800 concept,

 

[K-A]

sorry page is http://www.autoevolution.com/news-g-image/spyshots-mercedes-e-class-facelift/80516.html

looking nice, loving new grill seen in previous spy pics, looks superb, very expensive and high grade looking, by the pics, it appears ponton arch going, which imo is maybe one of the best things for the cars own good, sorry ponton arch fans, but i think it is out of place in the 212 or any mdoern car for that case, just gives a way overdesigned look which is just not needed, they should leave these classic styling alone into the cars they have come from in this case the 'ponton' classics, and concentrate on modern interprettions like the f800 concept for example in which the rear crease is a superb modern version of the classic ponton arch, i dont like the idea of mercds simply bashing on the ponton arch almost unmodified from the original into these current cars, even the cls is an example, imo it is just out of place on modern cars, and looks bloated and ovedesigned, unless done nicely like the f800 concept,

I understand what you're saying in a technical sense, but IMO on a theoretical sense I strongly disagree. Only because it's M-B's heritage and cues toward that heritage that keeps me interested in them. Anyone can do modern, and modern will look "past" in some time. I personally crave some tasteful/modern interpretations of classic/vintage cues. If classic cues weren't to be put on modern cars, we wouldn't have the SLS, the new Camaro, the W212, the recent Mustang, Challenger, 911, basically some of the nicest cars, IMO. Of course, how they pull it off is the key point here, I agree. You can't just slap on classic styling and think it'll look "right".

It wasn't until I noticed how close in character and "soul" the W212 looks and feels to the W126 that I got around to really loving it. The Ponton arch ads an even further classic homage and actually looks very modern and dynamic to me on what is a conservative natured design.

What the Ponton being eliminated WILL do for the design in a good way is let it appear more stretched out and less broken-apart/stubby, which is something that hampers the CLS much more than the E, as the CLS has even more wayward lines. However, for the E, IMO the tradeoff isn't worth it.

 

[Keyonte]

I hope that's not not the tri-point star hiding behind the circle clad cut out on the grille, i don't see how it can have the tri point star when its supposed to have new driver assistance features which are mainly controled by sensors and radars embedded in the grille mainly in the middle and in the rearview mirror

 

[941benz]

 

[Yaz]

It looks like the new S' bumper.

 

[K-A]

Man, I hope those cluttered up "Back to the 90's" front bumper vents aren't gonna be on production cars. At least the AMG Package cars won't get them.

Gonna be virtually impossible to top the current grille when judging its harmony with the cars core design I think, but I gotta give it to M-B designers, they've almost seemed to do the impossible, as this grille, as slightly different as it looks, looks really promising in its own way. I still think I prefer the actual shape of the current one, less happy, more menacing and stately, though at least the facelift one looks like it might pull off its own version of a good look.... hopefully.

M-B have always been the masters of a world class front end.

 

[mercpassion]

that looks remarkable already, as i regularly point out the grill is gonna be a beauty, combined with the lights, this would be a stunner, much more toned down than the current version from the front and more relaxed, that bumper lol....too futuristic, should be for 213 if i'm not right.

 

[Gianclaudio]

I desperately want to see the car without cammo; the grill and lighst are looking great at this point, but I hope they're not too "soft" while the rest of the car still is blocky and omnipotent

 

[fortuner]

That grill looks great.

 

[941benz]

Looks like E class sales starting to fade vs 5 series. In July E class (coupe, convertible, sedan and wagon) sold 5089 cars, 5 series (sedan and GT) 5700 cars. I don't think BMW GT selling more cars than E wagon, so it means F10 selling nearly double what w212 sell.

 

[MAJESTIC]

Looks like E class sales starting to fade vs 5 series. In July E class (coupe, convertible, sedan and wagon) sold 5089 cars, 5 series (sedan and GT) 5700 cars. I don't think BMW GT selling more cars than E wagon, so it means F10 selling nearly double what w212 sell.

E-Class vs F10 5-Series, I would get the 5er everytime, so Im not surprised. I was recently looking at E550's and 550i's and BMW gives you much, much more comfort content for the money (Rear side shades, rear heated seats, rear climate control, etc). The 5 feels like a complete car, and the interior has the look and feel of a superbly solid car. A few years ago (211 vs E60) and even (210 vs E39) I would have picked the Benz without doubt, but now the F10 has changed that. The fact that the 5 is handsome regardless of exterior package only makes it that much better. Hopefully MB can fully upgrade the LCI E-Class, because at this point I just can't see myself owning an E, despite it having that star on the hood.

 

[K-A]

The Lease rates for the 5-Series are DRAMATICALLY cheaper than the E-Class. You can Lease a 528i for much less than an E350, and even a 535i has a cheaper Lease than the E350. To boot, the RESIDUAL on the 528i and 535i are much less than the E350's.

The W212 miraculously outsold the F10 during the whole introduction year and then some, all with its less-efficient motor and all. BMW upped the incentives heavily and the sales show for that.

IMO, it's the E's styling that even keeps it in the game so closely, considering with the 5er you get more bang for your buck, and a cheaper Lease.

 

[Keyonte]

the F10 looks to bland for me in terms in design, the interior has a more surrounding feel to it to me than the E class but i can forgive the E class for that when i look at the front end

 

[K-A]

For comparisons sake. The E's Lease rates for the last couple of months were:

E350 Sport / Base P1
$599 per month
$4,674 down
33 Months (moved to 24 months recently)
$34K buyout after Lease (around $38K for 24 month Lease)

BMW 528i "Well Equipped" incentive (this month which carries over from previous months)
$509 a month
$3,234 down
36 Months
$29,026 buyout after Lease.

BMW 535i "Well Equipped"
$549 per month
$3,774 down
36 Months
$31,575 buyout after Lease.

As you can see, the F10 is MUCH CHEAPER to Lease than the W212. Of course it will outsell it. The E's comparable figures (and previous outselling) of the 5er, with a facelift coming next year, one year older body style, and not as impressive drivetrain, is a huge testament to the E's design.

 

[941benz]

I just replaced my wife's 2011 C300 with 2011 F10 528i M-sport. I love the interior , looks and feels like $50k+ car, but i still prefer w212 Sport exterior. Mercedes realy need to do something about w212 interior finishes, it has great design but C class feel. If you look at salles of w211 vs E60 they were about 3000-3500 cars per month each, now new 5 series selling on average 5000 cars, but E class didn't realy improve much, Mercedes just made E look better on paper by renaming CLK as E coupe. Best part about my 528i is a gas millage, so far 28mpg thanks to 8speed transmission.

 

[K-A]

I just replaced my wife's 2011 C300 with 2011 F10 528i M-sport. I love the interior , looks and feels like $50k+ car, but i still prefer w212 Sport exterior. Mercedes realy need to do something about w212 interior finishes, it has great design but C class feel. If you look at salles of w211 vs E60 they were about 3000-3500 cars per month each, now new 5 series selling on average 5000 cars, but E class didn't realy improve much, Mercedes just made E look better on paper by renaming CLK as E coupe. Best part about my 528i is a gas millage, so far 28mpg thanks to 8speed transmission.

I agree that the E's interior needs better finishes and isn't a match really for the 5's more elegant touches. However, I also agree that the exterior is the opposite, with the E having so much more character and presence.

The W211 actually got outsold heavily by the E60. Toward the end, it was brutal. The W212 actually came into the race as the underdog, and did a big reversal when it outsold the F10 so heavily during 2011 and the earlier part of 2012.