Mercedes Benz’s E-Class Sedan to Get Major Updates
Inside, changes are minimal, mostly made to the décor of the interior with new materials and colours. Aside from a revised version of the Thermatic climate control system and a rear-seat entertainment system, the only real new addition to the E-Class is a new steering wheel. More impressively, the new four-spoke tiller (borrowed from the CLS-Class) is linked to a reworked steering system that’s approximately 10 percent sharper than before. Combined with new spring link dampers, these changes improve the car’s dynamics, a change that’s said to boost driver confidence.
Benz is also aiming to make the E the safest vehicle in its class with new technologies to help the driver and drivers of other vehicles avoid accidents. The 2007 E-Class will feature M-B’s new Intelligent Light System, a five-mode program for the standard bi-xenon headlamps. Depending on vehicle speed, the beam adjusts in order to provide enhanced visibility without creating excessive glare and dazzle from oncoming drivers. Likewise, the E-Class also features flashing rear brake lamps, which are present to reduce the reaction time of drivers behind the vehicle. Benz claims a shortening of 0.2 seconds for reaction time, which works out to an amazing 5.5 metres of distance when traveling at 100 km/h.
Benz also hopes that in the event of an accident the new E will also be one of the safest automobiles to be in. Aside from having a safety pedigree, the E-Class is fitted with numerous new passive safety features that include the Pre-Safe system, which ‘primes’ all safety systems (including raising reclined seats, pretensing the seatbelts and even closing the sunroof) in the event of an unavoidable collision in order to allow the passive safety features to provide maximum protection. Also new, the Neck-Pro whiplash prevention system is standard on all models, as are a full count of airbags which include side impact airbags and side curtain airbags.