The W 212 series of the E-Class is a successful model for Mercedes-Benz, but sometimes a radical change is needed to light things up. Often criticized for having a too conservative look lacking passion and dynamism, the E-Class will undergo a restyling procedure which targets to deliver more attractive aesthetics for the executive limousine. The new design exercise will showcase fewer complicated lines, a clean, elegant and straight profile with no Ponton creases, single-unit headlights instead of the current quad configuration and upgraded tail lamps.
The E-Class Facelift comes soon after the unveiling of the new S-Class (W 222), so it will borrow the latest developments in safety assistance, ride control and telematics. First of all, engineers will introduce the third generation of the DISTRONIC PLUS which was enhanced to detect cross-traffic and act accordingly. Furthermore, the new E-Class will boast several other clever technologies, such as an improved night vision system, which is able to detect animals, an intelligent lighting device with moving LED pixels, a road congestion assistant, a more precise lane keeping system, anticipated damper-adjusting MAGIC RIDE CONTROL and the first-ever Head-Up Display system. The E-Class will also feature Car-to-X communication, an ingenious, integrated traffic management solution that enables autonomous driving and recognizes different road situations.
Major changes are set to encounter in the engine department as well, as the E 350 BlueEFFICIENCY will gain more power thanks to the 333 hp 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. Moreover, there's word Mercedes-Benz plans to discontinue the E 500 version in Europe (something smells rotten in this rumor) beginning with 2013 and offer it solely for Stateside clients. This manouevre could prove rather faulty, we say, because the peak output is to rise from the current 408 hp up to 435 hp courtesy of the BlueDIRECT twin-turbocharged V8 with a maximum displacement of 4.7 litres. The E 63 AMG is expected to showcase the same powerplant, only that the output will grow by 12 hp up to 537 hp. While the BlueTEC and BlueTEC HYBRID variants remain unchaged, the E 300 CDI version will bite the dust. Mercedes-Benz is said to have already started the development of a high-end diesel engine, which arrives on the future E-Class (W 213) in 2015. Till then, a plug-in hybrid E-Class could launch in 2014. It will follow the footsteps of the VISION S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID concept car, so this means a V6 unit with over 300 hp and an electric motor with up to 109 hp, which leads to a total output in excess of 400 hp.
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