Mercedes claims the car represents everything it knows, yet quite why the company has built this much technology into it is baffling. For example, the Sensotronic brakes first introduced in the new SL are standard fit across the range - something no other manufacturer can boast as yet. Then there's Airmatic DC, a new type of air-sprung suspension that replaces the old model's coil springs with bellows. By varying the air volume within these bellows, the system can actually alter the effective spring rate - but that's not all. As well as softening or stiffening the suspension, it'll reduce roll by varying the volume across the same axle and, bizarrely, it's also linked to new, 'intelligent' seats called Dynamic Multicontour. These have several air cushions that inflate or deflate automatically to adjust to what the car is doing. As you corner, air cushions in the backrest sides will inflate, fattening the side bolsters to grip you better. All this is performed by a computer within the seat that instantaneously processes data such as steering angle, lateral acceleration and road speed.
Thanks to extensive use of aluminium for the bonnet, wings, bootlid, parcel shelf and several internal body parts, the new E-class is slightly lighter than the outgoing model. In future more Mercs will use aluminium in this way, stealing a march on rivals Audi.
Of most interest to evo is the return of the E500, using the 306bhp V8 engine and adaptive five-speed auto gearbox from the new SL500, giving a 0-60 time of 5.9sec and a restricted top speed of 155mph. The real performance version comes next year with the arrival of the new E55 using the 469bhp supercharged V8 from the SL55. Even the 400bhp BMW M5 looks a little lame in comparison, especially when you consider that the E-class should be lighter than the SL55 and therefore even quicker.
The new E-class goes on sale in Germany in March and should hit the UK by August, with prices expected to be slightly higher than the outgoing model.
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