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

[tennmb]

Funny to see how MB is now taking control of the information, and leaking official "spy" photos, and now even formal test-drives and reviews.

Would still have liked to see something "special" about the hood on the AMG. Power domes, cowl, or something to add visual interest.

 

[Merc1]

Ooooh, look at the pics. I like it. Can't wait to get to Detroit.

We must first discuss how AMG used to do it, and still does it for the time being. The current E63 comes with a 518 hp 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 that produces 516 lb-ft of torque. However, you can opt for the Performance Package, which nets you 550 hp and a ridiculous 590 lb-ft of twisting force. I can't get into the specifics (AMG made me promise to keep a bunch of stuff secret -- sorry) but you can forget about this two-pronged approach. Starting with this car, the M157 engine will produce 575 horsepower and an unspecified for now (though with AMG you can always assume more) amount of torque. That's right, the horsepower wars are dead like Frankenstein. The familiar seven-speed, wet-clutch planetary transmission remains.

Good, never saw the point if having to pay more to get more power. Its a Mercedes, give all or nothing. 575hp!!! YES.

M

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[Pagani]

This MotorTrend writeup was a sight for sore eyes for one reason: 4matic AWD. Long dismissed as a No-No by AMG, but I guess then so the M-Division said about never using turbochargers.

I am also glad the horsepower wars aren't dead - it seemed they never were. It is just that they come in more efficient packages. That is amazing!

If only in a fan-boy manner, I am geeking to imagine what the next S63/65 is going to be like. (I would at most be a buyer of a regular 550 4-matic hybrid, sport-packaged, of course).

 

[Merc1]

This MotorTrend writeup was a sight for sore eyes for one reason: 4matic AWD. Long dismissed as a No-No by AMG, but I guess then so the M-Division said about never using turbochargers.

I am also glad the horsepower wars aren't dead - it seemed they never were. It is just that they come in more efficient packages. That is amazing!

If only in a fan-boy manner, I am geeking to imagine what the next S63/65 is going to be like. (I would at most be a buyer of a regular 550 4-matic hybrid, sport-packaged, of course).

Yep you were right all along! I can hardly believe it. They say the CLS63 is going 4Matic too....wow!

M

 

[Pagani]

Yep you were right all along! I can hardly believe it. They say the CLS63 is going 4Matic too....wow!

M

There was one more thing I remain to be proven right: a brand new v12 from AMG (new generation, 48-valve). Here's to hoping.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Tobias Moers has said both AWD and RWD variants will be offered on most AMG products. While the AWD models will ultimately be faster around the track, they do not want to abandon their RWD fans.

 

[Merc1]

There was one more thing I remain to be proven right: a brand new v12 from AMG (new generation, 48-valve). Here's to hoping.

I hope so, but I doubt it. If so then the brand new SL65 AMG's V12 will be short lived.

M

 

[Merc1]

Tobias Moers has said both AWD and RWD variants will be offered on most AMG products. While the AWD models will ultimately be faster around the track, they do not want to abandon their RWD fans.

I hope they offer both, but for the U.S. market for the E63 4Matic is the only configuration, just like the E550. Not a fan of that, but oh well. Mercedes is the brand about vast choices, or should be. No reason for an E550 4Matic in Florida or Texas or Cali, where they sell a lot of them.

M

 

[Pagani]

I hope so, but I doubt it. If so then the brand new SL65 AMG's V12 will be short lived.

M

There is precedent for that. Recall the NA E63 AMG 212 that lasted but a year before the v8TT came?

 

[Wunderkind]

Yep you were right all along! I can hardly believe it. They say the CLS63 is going 4Matic too....wow!

M

With that much torque, 4WD is becoming a neccesity. It's not a bad thing. Think about it, the other way to harness all that extra power, Mercedes either goes down the 4WD route, or, fit even wider and bigger rear tyres to the car. Bigger and wider rear tyres means wider rear fenders, more rolling resistence and more/worse fuel consumption, and also affects the ride and handling characteristics. There might be more grip, but the car would feel wooden (i.e. all grip and no finesse). Also, the car will still have to rely on the traction control more to keep things tidy.

Interesting the journalist mentioned the M5 is no longer the precision sports car in sedan clothing. I think the next generation M and AMG products will be better as they will be lighter due to more light weight materials being used.

 

[Merc1]

There is precedent for that. Recall the NA E63 AMG 212 that lasted but a year before the v8TT came?

Correct again, I'm with you on this.

M

 

[Keyonte]

ENTIRE PHOTO GALERY INCLUDING INTERIOR SHOT http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests...mg_4matic_development_mule_first_look/photos/

EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW AMG HOPE IT DRIVES AS WELL AS THEY'RE MAKING IT OUT TO BE, THE INTERIOR JUS JUST A MINOR UPDATE TO THE CENTER STACK WITH A NEW SCREEN AND AIRVENTS NOTHING TOO MAJOR THAT I CAN SEE BUT I WOULD THINK WITH THE NEW S CLASS COMING OUT IT WOULD BORROW SOME STYLING CUES FROM IT BUT I GUESS NOT, THE NEW 575HP M157 SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE HELL OF A AMG

 

[Zafiro]

and then comes the next Audi RS6 with 610 hp. Then the E-class wont be the strongest 4-door sedan anymore.

 

[Wolfgang]

Mercedes plans big changes for '14 E class

LOS ANGELES -- With the rapid pace of technology, Mercedes-Benz says it no longer can rely on relatively minor midcycle changes for key models. So the E-class freshening planned for next year will be more extensive than usual, with major sheet metal and interior changes, said Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.

The 2014 E-class family, including a sedan, station wagon, coupe and convertible, will go on sale next summer.

Cannon said the luxury market is changing because buyer "expectations are being driven by consumer electronics, and its rapid pace of new product introductions.

"The ability to just keep the product going for seven years with just minor tweaks is a strategy we have gone away from," he said

The current E class, which debuted in 2009, competes with the BMW 5 series and the Audi A6.

Cannon also said a redesigned S-class sedan will arrive next fall with major interior and exterior changes.

He said the 2014 S class will have a host of technological features, including two cameras in the front that can adjust suspension settings. It will also have a rear camera that can sense an impending rear crash and make adjustments to safety systems.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20121203/OEM03/312039966#ixzz2E4RPTcZH

 

[K-A]

Mercedes plans big changes for '14 E class

LOS ANGELES -- With the rapid pace of technology, Mercedes-Benz says it no longer can rely on relatively minor midcycle changes for key models. So the E-class freshening planned for next year will be more extensive than usual, with major sheet metal and interior changes, said Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.

Cannon said the luxury market is changing because buyer "expectations are being driven by consumer electronics, and its rapid pace of new product introductions.

"The ability to just keep the product going for seven years with just minor tweaks is a strategy we have gone away from," he said

M-B, speak for yourselves.

If you weren't so behind initially, you wouldn't have to drastically improve things so much for facelifts.

BMW, Audi, Porsche are doing just fine with very minor mid-cycle changes, because they engineer the cars to be ahead of the curve initially. Gotta love M-B marketing, trying to make their problems seem like widespread problems in the industry, when it's they who are losing market share, and competition who don't follow their "strategy" of big mid-cycle changes are gaining. Customers who spend premium-car money like some timeless value and initial innovation, and in the long term reward those who can deliver that. I for one not only don't want to support M-B for becoming like a "Toyota brand" with drastic changes every 3-4 years, but I don't even want my W212 anymore due to it becoming so prematurely dated.

If M-B's were properly foresighted at launch, they wouldn't need to do such massive mid-year changes. Again, look at Porsche, they do very light changes, and are practically the automotive benchmark right now.

 

[DjordjeC63]

I just hope that it won't understeer as RS Audi...

 

[Monster]

Cannon said the luxury market is changing because buyer "expectations are being driven by consumer electronics, and its rapid pace of new product introductions.

"The ability to just keep the product going for seven years with just minor tweaks is a strategy we have gone away from," he said

The difference between the consumer electronic market and the automotive market is that cars are the 2nd most expensive purchase for most people, a $500 to $700 smart phone or tablet is relatively cheap and easily replaceable. Also these products are way less complicated than designing, testing and then manufacturing a proper vehicle. MB can choose to update the in car electronics every one or two years and leave the rest of the car as it is.

 

[K-A]

The difference between the consumer electronic market and the automotive market is that cars are the 2nd most expensive purchase for most people, a $500 to $700 smart phone or tablet is relatively cheap and easily replaceable. Also these products are way less complicated than designing, testing and then manufacturing a proper vehicle. MB can choose to update the in car electronics every one or two years and leave the rest of the car as it is.

That struck me as odd too. Electronics are easy to update. This just sounds like an excuse and marketing tactic because M-B knows their car wasn't competitive enough, and most consumers outside of the U.S obviously saw that and chose more impressive cars. Many of us chose the W212 because of its distinctive aesthetic elements, which will now be changed to different ones as well, some of them now more normalized appearing.

Also, those new pics show the interior looking quite similar to the current one, save for the CLS carryovers. I hope that isn't the case as the interior of the W212 needs some major plush-ing to be competitive as well.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Face the reality KA. The E-class was conceived at a time when MB's resources were likely at their most stretched. They delivered a very conservative product that did not move the game on sufficiently. Sure it's build quality and reliability are beyond reproach now, but they have given up much ground in terms of comfort, refinement and general luxury.

Furthermore, they are simply not attracting enough younger buyers because the car is extremely conservative without the AMG sports pack. Even with it, it still looks like a product more suited to an older buyer, particularly when sat alongside the A6. As such they can't simply rest on their laurels for another 4 years for the sake of keeping happy a select few customers who only want to see evolutionary changes.

Expect to see major revisions with every facelifted benz, until they return to where they should be in terms of product competitiveness and market share. The newly released ML, A-class etc. will not be exceptions.

 

[JLBM]

Face the reality KA. The E-class was conceived at a time when MB's resources were likely at their most stretched. They delivered a very conservative product that did not move the game on sufficiently. Sure it's build quality and reliability are beyond reproach now, but they have given up much ground in terms of comfort, refinement and general luxury.

Furthermore, they are simply not attracting enough younger buyers because the car is extremely conservative without the AMG sports pack. Even with it, it still looks like a product more suited to an older buyer, particularly when sat alongside the A6. As such they can't simply rest on their laurels for another 4 years for the sake of keeping happy a select few customers who only want to see evolutionary changes.

Expect to see major revisions with every facelifted benz, until they return to where they should be in terms of product competitiveness and market share. The newly released ML, A-class etc. will not be exceptions.

Agree with you on comfort. Especially MB's seats. The E-Class can't hold a candle to the F10's comfort seat (or sport seat for that matter). The seats in my Range Rover Sport don't compare with the F10's.