What's the news?
We've seen it, been driven in it and chatted about it extensively at the Detroit Auto Show, so we can now add some more details to our Mercedes-Benz E-Class coverage. Mercedes is calling it a 'masterpiece of intelligence', though those worried about the rise of the machines rest assured, as Mercedes-Benz invited Dr Andrew McAfee, co-Director of MIT and expert in all things digital, to quell those fears. It's not going to happen, even if, with a few software tweaks, the E-Class is capable of fully autonomous driving.
Behind all the fanfare about this hugely important new saloon for Mercedes-Benz we dug out a couple of exclusive details. Firstly, the new Mercedes-AMG E 63 will, from this W213 E-Class on, only be offered in 4Matic four-wheel drive guise. Second, the new 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine will form the basis of an entirely new generation of turbodiesels, which will include a straight-six from around 2018, moving away from Merc's current V6 diesel layout.
The AMG variant will be with us soon, powered by a revised, higher output version of the AMG GT's 4.0-litre V8 biturbo petrol engine. Given its anticipated near-600hp output, it is little surprise that the company has switched to all-wheel drive. Sales of the outgoing car in left-hand drive markets have been dominated by 4Matic four-wheel drive (right-hand drive E 63s were only offered with rear-wheel drive due to packaging issues).
Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Management Board Mercedes-AMG, speaking recently about the 4Matic on the S 63 Coupé, said that the weight penalties were negligible. He reckons that all-wheel drive allows smaller diameter axles and lighter aluminium sub-frames rather than steel ones, making the difference as little as 20kg. Even with drive going to all wheels, expect the new E 63 to be as riotous as ever, with the torque split likely to be similar to the 33/67 bias front-to-rear on the existing 4Matic car.
Much is being made of the E-Class's electronic architecture, which is necessary for the all-new 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, codenamed OM654. That new four-cylinder unit will form the basis of a new range of engines, including a 150hp entry-level option to join the 195hp version in the E 220 d. It'll also be expanded with an in-line six-cylinder in the next two years, anticipated to replace the current V6 turbodiesels. Due to its requirement for the E's electronics it'll be at least 2018, around an anticipated facelift, before the new four-cylinder diesel makes its way into the current C-Class.