Auto Design

At the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz will be announcing the replacement of its middle-class coupé CLK with a new one called Mercedes-Benz E Coupé.

The name marks a welcome change and a new, more exciting direction in car design by the German make. The announcement comes only three months after the announcement of the new and innovative E-Class, due to go on sale next month.

The new Mercedes-Benz E Coupé is going to be a star of the show and it will attract a lot of attention and hopefully many orders. The look is certainly attractive and the performance are very promising the question will be whether the buying public is willing to go back shopping for luxury cars or will remain on the most conservative side.

The new E-Coupé will not go unnoticed with its strong design character and its dynamic, bold look. This is a very “expressive” and emotional response to the national competitors, Audi and BMW and it is remarkable how the competition eventually improve the results. Here we see Mercedes-Benz taking a direction of their own, becoming perhaps less elegant but more exotic and emotional.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz is coming back to outright sophistication with the frameless windows front and rear that clearly grant a lot of élan to the silhouette of the coupé. There is also a new graphic treatment of the surface all round.

Interestingly the bold design of the E-Coupé goes well together with a very good coefficient of aerodynamics. Mercedes-Benz claim a Cx equal to 0.24.  This and a modern generation of engines are meant to deliver excellent fuel consumption, especially when the car is equipped with the new Bluetech diesel engines.

The company claims a fuel consumption of just 5.3 litre per 100 km for the new four cylinder, 204 HP, “entry model” E 250 CDI Coupé. Other versions in the range at launch time are the 350 CDI (with the 213 HP V6) and three gasoline options: the 250 CGI four cylinders (also 204 HP), the 350 CGI (292 HP V6) and the E 500 with the 5.5 litre V8 credited of 388 HP.

The interior design represents a further evolution of Mercedes-Benz design rather than a revolution. The most attractive interior is the one offered with the E 500 Coupé with the Sport Package AMG with plush arrangement for four occupants, with two seats only in the back. Their design is a direct transfer from the Fascination sport car concept seen last year at the Paris Motor Show. New E-Class Coupé is due to go on sale on February 19, at prices ranging between 45 and 66 thousand Euros.

Prices in Germany (including 19 percent VAT):

E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Coupé             44,684.50 Euro
E 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Coupé             48,671.00 Euro
E 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Coupé             44,684.50 Euro
E 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Coupé             51,408.00 Euro
E 500 Coupé                                                      66,045.00 Euro

Complete photo gallery here: