An all-new E-Class will be the star turn of 2023 for Mercedes Benz as the German giant looks to launch a dozen new or heavily updated models in Ireland.
Updated A-Class
First out of the traps in February will be updated versions of the A-Class and B-Class, which will come with lightly updated styling, some upgrades to their infotainment systems, and new mild-hybrid engine options. There will be hot AMG 35 and AMG 45 variants, too.
Also at the Jalapeno end of the scale is the new AMG version of the C-Class, the latest C63 AMG, which has ditched its old V8 engine in favour of (shock! horror!) a four-cylinder turbo backed up by a plug-in hybrid system with a whacking great electric motor. It'll have a combined 670hp, will do 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds, and has an electric-only range of... er, about 12km. That's because it has quite a small battery to help save weight.
All-electric SUVs
Arriving after those, in the second quarter of the year, will be the high-riding all-electric EQS SUV and EQE SUV models. As you can tell from the imaginative names, these are the SUV versions of the highly-praised EQS and EQE electric saloons. The big EQS will get a seven-seat option with a one-charge range of around 590km - the slightly smaller EQE gets roughly the same range from a smaller battery.
Also arriving in Q2 will be an ultra-high-performance AMG version of the luxurious S-Class saloon. This latest S63 AMG combines V8 petrol power with a plug-in hybrid system to achieve a whopping 802hp with 1,430(!)Nm of torque. It'll get to 100km/h in just 3.3 seconds yet has a saintly electric-only range of around 30km.
The new E-Class
Coming in the third quarter of the year will be facelifts for the GLE and GLE Coupe, as well as the massive GLS luxury SUV. There will also be an all-new GLC mid-size SUV, with an ultra-efficient plug-in hybrid system capable of squeezing more than 100km of electric range out of each charge.
Most importantly, though, the new E-Class will arrive in Ireland in the autumn of 2023. While it won't stray too far from the current model's look, expect it to be a bit sleeker and get a very S-Class-like grille and light arrangement. The interior will become much cleaner and simpler, with an EQE-style combo of digital instruments and a large, square central touchscreen.
Tech details are a little thin on the ground for the moment but expect an expanded plug-in hybrid lineup with both petrol and diesel options and a longer electric range on a full charge (it should get at least 120km on electric power alone). The estate body will continue, thankfully, but the E-Class coupe will be dropped, replaced by a new CLE model which will be sort of a combined C-Class and E-Class coupe.