Last year in March Mercedes started the production of the
current Mercedes E-Class (W211), which was supposed to replace the very
successful predecessor, the W210.It must have been a very difficult and complicated task for the Mercedes engineers and those in charge of the nearly 2 billion Euro budget, to come out with a new car, replacing a exceptionally successful car which over the seven years of production managed to fascinate and convince annually nearly 200.000 customers worldwide to own this car.
Last year the E-Class customers represented 18 percent of all Mercedes’ worldwide passenger-car customers.
The engineers at Mercedes had to create a new E-Class, which you would find in large numbers at the German taxi stands, as well as in huge numbers on the left lane of the Autobahn. Furthermore the new E-Class had to perform as the state-of-the-art Business-Class limousine as well as the ultimate Ambassadors’ and Embassies’ car.
To find out if the new Mercedes E-Class will reach this goal and prove to be
trendsetter for top technology, design and driving enjoyment, we test-drove this
month the Mercedes E240. After a development time of 48 months and an investment totalling more than two billion euros, the current new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which celebrated its world premiere at the Motor Show in Brussels 2002, is offered with numerous technical innovations, setting new standards in the areas of vehicle safety, comfort and handling dynamics.
For the first time ever we find innovative technologies and options available in this vehicle class, like the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC), developed specially by Mercedes-Benz, which is standard equipment in the new E-Class. An innovative multicontour seat which automatically adapts to the current driving situation and the enhanced AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) air suspension system for outstanding ride comfort are also celebrating their automotive premiere.
New, dynamic reinterpretation of typical design characteristics Mercedes chose evolution over surprise when it came to the subject of its redesign.
The design of the new E-Class continues the elegant lines of the preceding series.
The striking twin headlamps, with which the E-Class first made its mark in 1995 to initiate a design trend and which was a revolution at that time, have been redesigned and slightly angled back, trying to characterise the progressive, dynamic appearance of the frontend, with which Mercedes wants to attract new buyers from the BMW-5-series drivers.
Newly developed air suspension combines comfort with sportiness
The new E-Class shows its dynamic character with outstanding agility, sportscar-like handling and superb cornering. A newly developed four-link front suspension and a multi-link independent rear suspension mainly of aluminium create the technical conditions for this. At the same time the standard-fitted electrohydraulically controlled braking system ) and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®)ÔSensotronic Brake Control (SBC ensure maximum handling safety and help the driver to cope better with emergency situations. SBC celebrated its world premiere in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, and is now entering large-scale production for the first time in the new E-Class.
Mercedes-Benz has also increased ride comfort with the equally innovative AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) air sus
pension system, which uses microelectronics to
control both springing and damping. Sensors monitor the road condition, driving
style and loading of the saloon, ensuring that AIRMATIC DC always selects the
best possible shock absorber and spring settings. In this way the new system
resolves the previous conflict of aims between near-perfect suspension comfort
and excellent handling dynamics, thereby meeting very varied customer
requirements. This air suspension is standard equipment in the top-of-the-range
E 500 V8 model, and is available for all other models in the new E-Class as an
optional extra. Unfortunately our test-drive car was not fitted with this option,
which is definitely an option we would recommend.Premiere for two-stage belt force limiters and new crash sensors
Mercedes-Benz has further optimised occupant safety with newly developed, intelligent restraint systems which adapt to the current occupant and accident situation. In addition to adaptive front airbags the new E-Class is for the first time equipped with two-stage belt force limiters and automatic weight classification for the front passenger. In combination with additional crash sensors these systems provide occupant protection which is even more precise and adapted to the specific accident situation. Sidebags for the front seat occupants, large windowbags, high-performance belt tensioners, automatic child seat recognition and a rollover sensor are further components of the standard safety features.
Compared to the preceding model the body structure of the new E-.Class has even larger deformation zones at the front end. They are supposed to ensure an even better energy absorption during an accident, allowing the passenger cell to remain substantially undamaged even during a severe impact.
Second-generation CDI engines with twin balancer shafts for the first time Currently ten different engines available for the new E-Class saloons – five petrol engines with four, six and eight cylinders and an output range from 129 kW/163 hp to 350 kW/476 hp, and five CDI engines with four, five and eight cylinders, respectively, and an output of 122 hp to 130 kW/260 hp. The fuel consumption of the new E-Class has been reduced by up to 0.9 litres per 100 kilometres compared with the preceding model.
E 200 CDI 122 hp / 270 Nm between 1400-2800 revs
E 220 CDI 150 hp / 340 Nm at 2000 revs
E 270 CDI 177 hp / 425 Nm between 1800-2600 revs
E 320 CDI 204 hp / 500 Nm between 1800-2600 revs
E 400 CDI 260 hp / 560 Nm between 1700-2600
E 55 AMG 476 hp / 700 Nm between 2650-4500
E 500 306 hp / 460 Nm between 2700-4250 revs
E 320 224 hp / 315 Nm between 3000 and 4800 revs
E 200 K 163 hp / 240 Nm beteen 3000-4000 revs
E 240 177 hp / 240 Nm at 4500
For the first time Mercedes-Benz has equipped the four-cylinder engine of the E
220 CDI with twin balancer shafts, achieving a significant improvement in noise
and vibration comfort. The V6 engine, which was fitted in our test-car was capable of dealing with 1570 kg-weight of the E240, though we were all time wishing to have some more horsepower and torque beneath the hood.
Superlative climatic comfort with the new four-zone THERMOTRONIC
Long-distance comfort is assured by the standard automatic climate control, newly developed seats and state-of-the-art driver support systems. As an optional extra, Mercedes-Benz offers the efficient four-zone air THERMOTRONIC climate control, whose microprocessor individually determines and controls the temperature for the driver and front passenger, as well as the passengers on the outer rear seats.
For owners requiring even more individuality in terms of seating comfort Mercedes-Benz has developed the dynamic multicontour seat as a world first. This is equipped with several air chambers which automatically inflate and deflate according to the driving situation to offer the driver and front passenger the best possible lateral support.
In the E240 this option doesn’t make much sense, on the other hand we highly
recommend these seats if you will go for the top-of-the line E55 AMG, the E500
or the E 400 CDI.Three lines with individual characteristics and a full range of standard equipment
Three distinctive design and equipment lines meet different customer requirements: CLASSIC, ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE. Even the basic model, CLASSIC, comes complete with a radio, automatic climate control, Sensotronic Brake Control, light-alloy wheels and a host of other safety-related and comfort features. The AVANTGARDE line distinguishes itself with its own dynamically designed bumpers and side skirts, as well as fabric/leather upholstery and cockpit instruments with white dials. Powerful bi-xenon lights are also standard equipment in this model.
The latest technical innovations from the entertainment electronics and telecommunications sectors are available in the new E-Class. The Audio 50 APS radio and the innovative control and display system COMAND APS (available from the fourth quarter of 2002) – both with an integral navigation computer – feature a graphics-capable colour display which also enables SMS messages, emails and the online services of the Mercedes-Benz Portal to be displayed in conjunction with a fixed-installation car phone. For the first time the navigation system in the new E-Class can also be controlled using the LINGUATRONIC voice control system.
From autumn 2003 Mercedes will offer a new automatic transmission for the
E-Class.The new 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission will be a standard feature of the E 500, S 430, S 500, CL 500 and SL 500 models, replacing the five-speed automatic version currently fitted.
The newly developed seven-speed automatic transmission reduces fuel consumption in the NEDC driving cycle by as much as 0.6 litres per 100 kilometres (depending on the car), increases acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h by up to 0.3 seconds and allows significantly quicker intermediate sprints from 60 to 120 km/h. At the same time, shifting is even smoother, and therefore more comfortable, than with the automatic transmission presently used.
Since April 2003, purchasers of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class – in conjunction with the control and display system COMAND APS - for the first time receive the complete instruction manual for either Saloon or Estate model on DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). This is provided in addition to the printed version
In this year's "Europe's No. 1 Car" competition staged by the motoring publication "Auto Bild" and its 13 European partner publications, the readers and an expert jury voted the Mercedes-Benz E-Class the best new model to appear on the European market in 2002. In the period from its market launch in March last year up to February 2003, some 220,000 E-Class Saloons were sold worldwide.
This months’ test-drive was presented to you by Hertz Berlin
Der Testwagen wurde uns freundlicherweise von der Diplomatic Sales Abteilung der Hertz-Station Budapesterstrasse in Berlin zur Verfügung gestellt.
Die Hertzstation an der Budapesterstrasse verfügt über lange Erfahrung mit Botschaften und ausländischen Staatsbesuchen.
Ob ein Auto fürs Wochenende mit Familie oder Freunden oder ob ein Chauffeurdienst für offizielle Anlässe: Hertz Berlin bietet für alle Anlässe die günstigsten Angebote in Berlin
Hertz Berlin bietet auch interessante Monatstarife an
Eine hervorragende Betreuung und flexible Organisationen ermöglichen auch kurzfristige zur Verfügungsstellung von Shuttle- und Delegationsfahrzeugen (mit und ohne Fahrer) bei Delegationen und Staatsbesuchen.
Tagestarife z.B.:
1-Ford Ka oder VW Lupo für 53,17 Euro pro Tag Inkl.
CDW-Haftungsbeschränkungm, TP-Diebstahlschutz, Zulassungsgebühr,
sowie Mehrwertsteuer.
2- VW Passat / Ford Mondeo für 70,57 Euro W.O.
3- DB C-Klasse / 3er BMW für 87,97 Euro W.O.
4- E-Klasse / 5er BMW / Volvo S80 für 108,85 Euro W.O. (Schaltung)
5- DB S-Klasse / 7er BMW für 184,25 Euro W.O.
Wochentarife
1.- Ford Ka oder VW Lupo 264,69 Euro
2.- VW Passat / Ford Mondeo 350,64 Eurp
3.- Mercedes C-Class / BMW 3 series 420,04 Eurp
4.- Mercedes E-Class / BMW 5series 519,25 Euro
5.- Mercedes S-Class / BMW 7 series 877,40 Euro
Wochenendtarif von Freitag 12.00 Uhr bis Montag 12.00 Uhr
Preise für die gesamte Zeit.
1.- Ford Ka oder VW Lupo 81,00 Euro
2.- VW Passat / Ford Mondeo 101,00 Euro
3.- Mercedes C-Class / BMW 3 series 106,00 Euro
4.- Mercedes E-Class / BMW 5series 137,00 Euro
5.- Mercedes S-Class / BMW 7 series 229,00 Euro
Monatstarif:
Ford Ka 498 EUR
VW Passat / Ford Mondeo 628 EUR
Mercedes C-Class / BMW 3 series 868 EUR
BMW 5 series 980 EUR
Mercedes E-Class 1257 EUR
BMW 730i 1890 EUR
Renault Espace 1099 EUR
For Diplomatic Drivers Club members and booking through the website of the Diplomatic Drivers Club website, you will be receive a free up-grade-voucher upon booking.
For Special Diplomatic and Embassy rates, please contact the Embassy and Government representative, Mr. Bangin Salih
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Embassy and Government Representative
Bangin Salih
Tel. +49(0)30 25798694
Fax. +49(0)30 2629239
E-Mail GEBER60BERLINDT@HERTZ.COM
Adress:
Hertz Autovermietung GmbH
Budapester Str. 39
10787 Berlin
