Even Mercedes admits that the changes to the new E-Class are more "subtle" than adventurous. Indeed, I suspect you may be hard pressed to spot them when you see the existing model alongside.
Changes there are, however, as the E-Class moves again towards being more of an S-Class and several of this car’s features are deployed for the E-Class.
The car is longer and wider but the essential character of its three-box design remains. The design tweaks are fairly minor, to judge from the images, but there are now innovations such as a narrower rear light bar, improved LED headlights and flush door handles. There are also some aerodynamic improvements to better efficiency.
According to Mercedes, the longer wheelbase results in increased headroom, greater rear leg and knee space, and a 25mm increase in elbow width. Luggage capacity has also increased up to 540 litres. That figure will be reduced on plug-in versions.
There will be four petrol versions with two and three litre capacities and two diesel versions with 2.2 engines. Plug-in mild hybrid electric power versions will be included in the line-up, with an expectation that an electric-only range of about 80 km will be available.
The MBUX Superscreen is feature expected to be an optional extra. So too will be the air suspension feature and rear-axle steering.
No prices have been announced yet and the car is due here in the autumn.
