Mercedes-Benz was busy at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. Headlining the German luxury brand’s exhibit was its family of revamped E-Class cars.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class returns in 2-door coupe and convertible as well as 4-door sedan and wagon body styles. All versions receive updated interior and exterior styling as well as a host of new convenience and safety features.
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Under the hood, the E-Class sedan will reprise E350 and E550 variants. The former uses a 302-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine while the latter has a turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 with 402 horsepower. New for 2014 is the E250 BlueTEC, which employs a 190-horsepower 2.1-liter turbodiesel 4-cylinder. Similarly new is the E400 HYBRID, which uses the E350’s V6 engine paired with a 27-horsepower electric motor. The E250, E350, and E400 have rear-wheel drive. Available on the 350 and standard on the E550 is Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The wagon comes only in E350 form with standard all-wheel drive.
Coupes and convertibles similarly come in E350 and E550 variants, each with rear-wheel drive. An AWD E350 4MATIC coupe is part of the roster, too. The 350’s engine mirrors that of its sedan counterpart, while the 550s get a 402-horsepower 4.6-liter turbocharged V8.
Most enticing are the new E63 AMG 4MATIC sedan and wagon. You read that right. For the first time, Mercedes-Benz is offering its ultra-high-performance cars with all-wheel drive. Paired with a 550-horsepower turbocharged 5.5-liter V8, the sedan will go from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and achieve a top speed of 155 mph, according to Mercedes.
Still not enough? The E63 AMG S-Model increases engine output to 577 horsepower and the top speed to an eye-watering 186 mph. S-Model sedans will reach 60 mph from a stop in 3.5 seconds while the wagon will do it in 3.6. Note that the S-Model is the only way you can get an AMG wagon.
All 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars come standard with a 7-speed automatic transmission.
Newly standard on all E-Class models is forward-collision warning. Among the optional safety features are collision pre-braking and lane-departure warning. Also available are a surround-view camera, a navigation system, and the company’s mbrace2 infotainment and telematics system.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and wagon will go on sale this spring. The coupe, convertible, and AMG models will follow in the summer. Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale dates.
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CG Says: The new diesel and hybrid models are all very well and good, but it’s the new AMG models that really set our hearts aflutter. How can you go wrong with a 577-horsepower, all-wheel-drive station wagon? The only way it could be more awesome is if it were available with a manual transmission. Still, this sounds like a fantastic car, and we’re eager for a go behind the wheel.
