E-Class (W212/C207/A207) Mercedes W212 E-Class Facelift: Renders, Spyshots, Etc

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

It's sad to see AWD on an AMG. No more crazy drifting. This car will be a beast, but the will it have the character of an AMG? Aren't AMG's all about hooliganism?

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

It's sad to see AWD on an AMG. No more crazy drifting. This car will be a beast, but the will it have the character of an AMG? Aren't AMG's all about hooliganism?

There was a recent article on carsales.com.au where AMG's chief engineer said both AWD and RWD variants will be offered. The AWD models will end up faster due to the traction superiority, but they won't abandon RWD fans and will continue to offer it.

 

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

There was a recent article on carsales.com.au where AMG's chief engineer said both AWD and RWD variants will be offered. The AWD models will end up faster due to the traction superiority, but they won't abandon RWD fans and will continue to offer it.

 

[Merc1]

The E63 will be exclusively 4Matic for the U.S. market it appears.

M

 

[bmwownage]

OK so now they are into headlight graphics. If those quad neon square-ish incomplete shapes is not BMW angel eyes inspired then I don't know what is. Exactly, with these rings or whatever they are, they are trying to resemble quad headlights that they had on E classes since 1995, which is the same idea as BMW using angel eyes for their quad circular headlights since the beginning. At least this is better than the christmas tree LEDs they had before but too late for a copy, it's pretty lame to me. And some of us are begging it to apply on other models... i mean, why? why would incomplete square light rings represent any Mercedes Benz at all? I kind of admire Audi, since their random strip of LED, they have evolved it into something related and distinctively meaningful.. Rest assured though, when MB thinks of something, it's going to apply on every single model eventually without thinking.

I also find it quite...well, embarassing for MB to have a clip that advertises new headlights... did BMW ever make a clip to show off their angel eyes? of course it was back in the E39 days when they had this, or did Audi make a clip that is just about headlights? I mean, there are even more sophisticated light cluster designs out there, like Mazda, but when they make a clip, it's about the whole design of the car, there is nothing to show off about when you have some new graphics, or at least you don't really need to have words saying that "i am advertising new headlights, i am very cool please like me". "The future of headlamps", i don't see much new technology in there, what's so future about it? i don't see any technological advance, it isn't even a full LED light. And really, design is about the overall result, you may have a masterpiece headlights but matched with crap lines and a crap body and what you have is still a pig. I'm not saying the FL is a pig but i'm just saying advertising like this misses the point and therefore dumbs themselves down. make some new bumpers and say "future of bumpers" "future of exhaust pipes" "future of antennas" "future of grilles" "future of wheel arches" "future of alloy wheels" while all they are is just new separate cosmetic designs with zero technological advance.

I don't disagree that this looks good (headlights alone) though, i just hate it when i know the thing lacks depth and meaning and tradition.

 

[DjordjeC63]

"The future of headlamps", i don't see much new technology in there, what's so future about it? i don't see any technological.

Never heard of marketing ?

 

[Keyonte]

maybe its the start of something new to the brand and they are giving you a glimpse of it, dont forget the S class "doesn't have a single light bulb"

 

[K-A]

I also find it quite...well, embarassing for MB to have a clip that advertises new headlights...

Bingo. Shows what kind of marketing base M-B is going for.

To their defense, M-B usually put out pretty serious ads and videos, and I love 'em, I hope they don't start doing cheesy stuff like entire campaigns advertising things as superfluous as extensively graphic'd headlights.

 

[MAJESTIC]

OK so now they are into headlight graphics. If those quad neon square-ish incomplete shapes is not BMW angel eyes inspired then I don't know what is. Exactly, with these rings or whatever they are, they are trying to resemble quad headlights that they had on E classes since 1995, which is the same idea as BMW using angel eyes for their quad circular headlights since the beginning. At least this is better than the christmas tree LEDs they had before but too late for a copy, it's pretty lame to me. And some of us are begging it to apply on other models... i mean, why? why would incomplete square light rings represent any Mercedes Benz at all? I kind of admire Audi, since their random strip of LED, they have evolved it into something related and distinctively meaningful.. Rest assured though, when MB thinks of something, it's going to apply on every single model eventually without thinking.

I also find it quite...well, embarassing for MB to have a clip that advertises new headlights... did BMW ever make a clip to show off their angel eyes? of course it was back in the E39 days when they had this, or did Audi make a clip that is just about headlights? I mean, there are even more sophisticated light cluster designs out there, like Mazda, but when they make a clip, it's about the whole design of the car, there is nothing to show off about when you have some new graphics, or at least you don't really need to have words saying that "i am advertising new headlights, i am very cool please like me". "The future of headlamps", i don't see much new technology in there, what's so future about it? i don't see any technological advance, it isn't even a full LED light. And really, design is about the overall result, you may have a masterpiece headlights but matched with crap lines and a crap body and what you have is still a pig. I'm not saying the FL is a pig but i'm just saying advertising like this misses the point and therefore dumbs themselves down. make some new bumpers and say "future of bumpers" "future of exhaust pipes" "future of antennas" "future of grilles" "future of wheel arches" "future of alloy wheels" while all they are is just new separate cosmetic designs with zero technological advance.

I don't disagree that this looks good (headlights alone) though, i just hate it when i know the thing lacks depth and meaning and tradition.

LMAO! I don't even know where to start... but didn't BMW advertise "joy and happiness"? Never seen Benz advertise something so silly and soft and lacking German gravitas... In addition, the lights are not rip offs of corona rings, not even close. Bentley and Land Rover both have ringed LED patterns as DRL's, so I guess they too are sooo influenced by BMW. Give me a break.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Don't feed the troll.

 

[Zafiro]

I have to agree though, showing so much attention towards new lights are kinda lame.

 

[Foxfire]

To take the discussion away from the headlights for a bit, do we know if MB plans to update the 7G-tronic transmission so it's not as laggy? That's one of the main things why this car felt large and slow to me.

 

[Monster]

To take the discussion away from the headlights for a bit, do we know if MB plans to update the 7G-tronic transmission so it's not as laggy? That's one of the main things why this car felt large and slow to me.

The 7G gearbox received an update in late 2010, with an improved torque converter design. Have a read, although there is no mention of improved shift speed.

http://www.sussexautos.co.uk/mercedes-tronic-plus.php

 

[K-A]

It also received an update for 2012 MY cars (I think it's called "7G Plus" or something like that). I drove a 2012 E-Class with the "Plus" tranny and couldn't really gauge it properly one way or the other, especially considering the car itself had an extra 34 Horsepower which was moderately noticeable.

After enough cars with the 7G tranny, I think that although when it works well, it's super smooth, relatively snappy, and all that, it's so buggy, and at some point, a 7G car will start acting up with hiccups, second-guesses, and "bumps". My 2011 just started doing that and it's reminding me of my 2006 E-Class which had to go to the shop a handful of times before they finally changed the Valve Body (common issue with the earlier 7G's), which didn't even do much good.

Also, shifting from the paddles is incredibly slow on the 7G, as is the R-to-D transition, especially if you're in a circumstance where you have to make a quick U-Turn, you better hope no cars are coming toward you, because you can make a phone call to your Mother in the time it takes a 7G to shift from R to D before it actually catches and starts moving (by then you're pressing the gas pedal so hard for dear life of not getting rear ended, by the time the car DOES start moving, it hits like a Turbo-Charger since your foot is all the way to the floor, it's actually embarrassing and gives the car a very "Granny like" behavior).

 

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

DCT really does make a difference. I'm in awe of how twin clutch systems have made their ways to cars like the Focus.

K-A, the AMG Speedshift, while an improvement over the 7G tronic, you still feel lag when shifting. I'm very impressed at how BMW has implemented their 8 speed. It feels like a twin clutch system, and changes are quick. I hope they improve the transmission on the new E.

 

[K-A]

Yeah, the the BMW's I've driven have a very clear edge in the transmission department. Also, it seems they have a better "tweak format" to change how the car shifts. M-B's "S" and "E" modes are a joke, as all they do is eliminate 1st gear or being back 1st gear. Would be nice if they actually changed shift characteristics in themselves.

 

[Wunderkind]

Yeah, the the BMW's I've driven have a very clear edge in the transmission department. Also, it seems they have a better "tweak format" to change how the car shifts. M-B's "S" and "E" modes are a joke, as all they do is eliminate 1st gear or being back 1st gear. Would be nice if they actually changed shift characteristics in themselves.

I share your feelings regarding the Mercedes 7G transmission. It's rather slow in manual mode. Maybe it's a software issue that Mercedes never fixed properly.

 

[Tarek]

Tarek - what the hell?!? Your post out of the blue gave me such a fright. Go back to Facebook man.

Bored there so i came here for a bit..haha.

Finally..a 4Matic E63..exciting times!

 

[KonradK]

So the rear lights on the E Coupe/cabriolet remain unchanged ?

I mean in terms of size, of course they'll get new internals.

This is a very important question to me as well. I hate these FAT, tail lights. These tail lights should be thinner and not remind me of 2000 BMW 3. I hoped they will make these tail lights smoother, more elegant, and not only change diodes inside.

 

[tennmb]

Well, the US dealer ordering guide is out for the 14. Only two exterior photos are shown, and what is funny is that MB is using a CGI featured and watermarked from Autobild. Not an actual photo of the car.
The descriptions make note of softer interior dash materials and slightly narrower taillamps, which are also full LED. It also says that standard headlamps are "static" LED (whatever that means) and that intelligent LED is optional. LED driving lights are now integrated into the main assembly. The instrument cluster will be just like the 3 cone model in the CLS.

Unfortunately the brain trust at MB still hasn't figured out how to offer ventilated seats with MB TEX, (you have to pay for dead cow skin) or make Keyless Go standard across the board.