Emotionally charged: CATS Motors launches the new E-Class

MANILA, Philippines - Before Mercedes-Benz diversified their product portfolio to include everything from hot hatches to SUVs to supercars, they were highly renowned for the E-Class and S-Class. Though its designations may have changed (to reflect its positioning in the broadened Mercedes-Benz product range), both of these sedans continue the tradition of being the best in their respective classes. And now, CATS Motors, the country’s general distributor of Mercedes-Benz took the wraps off the new E-Class which the company touts as “one of its biggest mid-cycle enhancements in Mercedes-Benz history.”

Outside, the biggest and most obvious change to the E-Class is its new front end that does away with the twin-headlamp design, which first debuted in 1995. Now, the 2013 E-Class features a single headlamp lens that comprises all functional elements such as park lights, turn signal tights, and so forth. Nonetheless, Mercedes-Benz manages to pay homage to the E-Class design heritage by creating a “four-eyed” look via the LED daytime running lights. From there, the new E-Class features a revised hood and bumper to smoothen and sharpen the design. The front bumper, for instance, is free of any light functions and features a spoiler lip to underscore the car’s sporty credentials. At the back, the E-Class has a revised tail lamp design with horizontally structured LED and fiber optic elements, which in conjunction with the chrome trim on the V-shaped trunk lid and the revised bumper, help emphasize the car’s width. The E-Class is available with a wide range of alloy wheels from 16 to 19 inches.

For the first time, the E-Class is also made available with two distinct appearance designs: Elegance and Avantgarde. In the Elegance line, the E-Class features the classic grille with three louvers and the three-pointed star on the hood while on the Avantgarde line, it incorporates the sports car radiator grille with the central star and two louvers. Other detail changes include unique rear bumpers between the trim lines. The optional AMG Sport cranks up the styling even further with the use of full LED headlamps as well as visible twin-pipe exhausts with rectangular openings at the back.

Inside, the E-Class features a visibly reworked and refined cabin that’s harmonized with the expressive exterior. A new feature is the two-part trim that stretches across the dashboard. Available in either wood or aluminum finish, it helps emphasizes the cabin’s spaciousness. The air vents have also been reworked enabling an analogue lock to reside between the two central vents. The instrument cluster, center console, and steering wheel have all been reworked for improved visual, tactile, and functional qualities. The E-Class’s interior is also available in a new range of colors with tone-in-tone or contrasting stitching and seats with material-dependent design: transverse piping for Artico trim and vertical piping for leather.

Eleven new or improved assistance systems, the latest telematics generation and additional convenience features such as a 360-degree camera, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Keyless-Go package, Hands-Free access for contactless opening and closing of the trunk, and Active Multicontour Seat confirm the innovative leadership of the E-Class.

For now, the new E-Class features two engines: a 204 horsepower, 500 Nm torque, 2.2-liter 4-cylinder diesel (E 250 CDI) or a 252 horsepower, 340 Nm torque, 3.5-liter 6-cylinder gasoline (E 300). Both engines feature ECO start/stop that automatically stops the engine in traffic for improved fuel efficiency as well as the 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed dual clutch automatic. A new feature on this gearbox is the inclusion of a short-term M mode which holds a particular gear before automatically switching back to full automatic mode after a period of time.

Improving the E-Class’s handling and ride aspect is a suite of new technology headlined by the Direct-Steer system which is standard. This electromechanical system combines speed-dependent power assistance of speed-sensitive steering with a variable ratio across the steering angle range. This system has numerous benefits including: improving the E-Class’s agility thanks to a more direct steering response, a comfortable handling and high levels of steering comfort across the speed range, and considerable savings potential since energy is only required when steering occurs. In addition, the E-Class features Direct Control  suspension, which offers three suspension configurations depending on trim. With the Elegance, the selective damping system is tuned for a comfortable ride while on the Avantgarde, it’s designed to return a sportier experience. The AMG Sports package features an even sportier tune with a 15-mm lowered stance.

For decades, the E-Class serves as the flagship of Mercedes-Benz, and as such, is the embodiment of the brand. In every generation, it has set the benchmark in the areas of safety, design, and comfort with an impressive number of innovative features. It has successfully captured more than ten million customers since its introduction six decades ago. Locally, the current E-Class (W212) has been the market segment leader since its launch in 2009—selling some 503 units compared to the BMW 5 Series (480), Audi A6 (100), Volvo S80 (104), Lexus GS (251), Jaguar S-Type (36), and Jaguar XF (155). With the launch of the new E-Class, Mercedes-Benz is poised to keep that leadership, retaining its thrust as the most technologically-advanced mid-sized luxury automobile.

For now, CATS Motors is selling the Mercedes-Benz E 250 CDI Avantgarde for P 5,380,000 and the E 300 AMG Sport for P 5,680,000, with the other variants of the E-Class, including the Estate (wagon), Coupe, Cabriolet, and the E 63 AMG being made available in the near future.