 Luxury Cars: The replacement for the CLK to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month is the latest Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupe which will be offered for sale by June 2009. The E-class Coupe's design is a departure from its parent C-class platform to the underpinnings of a revised variant of the E-class.
The rationale behind this move is to bring the E-class Coupe upmarket thereby making room for an upcoming C-Class Coupe at the lower end of the C-class range. The E-class Coupe will come with a 4-door configuration when it becomes available in 2012 as a substitute for the CLK models, which have not been performing for quite a while. Being faithful to its designation the E-class Coupe's exterior design keeps to the new E-class saloon. Although the new E-class Coupe has more distinction than its CLK sibling, it also lost some of the sophistication of the latter.
The E-class Coupe, which comes with a 0.24 drag coefficient, is considered the world's most aerodynamic street car. Compared to the CLK, the E-class Coupe is 46mm longer, 46mm wider and 20mm lower and a wheelbase longer by 45mm. This boost in dimensions translate to more interior space, with enhanced shoulder and leg room for both the front and rear occupants. Luggage space is 15 liters more than the CLK at 450 liters.
The E-class Coupe will include the following gasoline engine options: a 204bhp turbo 1.8-liter four-pot in the E250 CGI, a 292bhp 3.5-liter V6 in the E350 CGI, and a 388bhp 5.5-liter V8 in the E500. There are also two diesel powerplants; one is a 204 bhp twin-turbo 2.2 in the E250 CDI and another with a 231bhp 3.0-liter V6 in the E350 CDI. The V6s together with the E500 will come with a 7-speed auto transmission. The E-class version that's deemed the most economical is the E250 CDI which comes with a 53mpg fuel consumption and emission rate of 139g/km of CO2. For contrast, the 177bhp BMW 320d comes with a 59mpg fuel efficiency rating and 128g/km emission. The most powerful version, the E63 AMG will also arrive later this year carrying the same 6.2-liter V8 engine found on the C63 AMG. Mercedes-Benz is also preparing a surprise, the new E400 Hybrid, a new version fitted with the 3.5-liter V6 engine but also with a small electric motor capable to deliver an extra 20bhp.
Andrew Christian
4wheelsnews
JustLuxe Contributor
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