These latest spy shots provide a glimpse of the new Mercedes E-Class’ cabin, ahead of its full reveal next year.
A new generation E-Class is due to hit roads by 2024, and these new spy pics give the best look yet at what to expect.
Underneath the camouflage, we can see the BMW 5 Series competitor will adopt a cleaner design in its next iteration, along with S-Class-derived tech inside.
Mercedes is set to introduce a new CLE model line to effectively replace the two-door coupe and cabriolet versions of the E-Class, which will be exclusively available in either wagon or sedan forms.
Each variant will feature prominent front grilles picked out by a smattering of small three pointed star logos, flanked by a pair of LED headlights. With crisper surfacing and flush-fitting, pop out door handles, Mercedes has opted for a more minimalist approach with the next E-Class, and the tapered tail appears to borrow styling elements from the S-Class flagship. The wagon model will carry the same design ethos, save for an extra horizontal strake in the grille.
As revealed by these new photographs, the interior will receive a significant overhaul with what appears to be a Hyperscreen-style display spanning the dashboard. Two infotainment options are likely to be available, however, with lesser models receiving a conventional portrait-style setup borrowed from elsewhere in the range.
The infotainment suite will be underpinned by the firm’s latest MBUX software, and an improved array of driver assists will be integrated into the package. Expect the S-Class’s 3D instrument panel, “Hey Mercedes” voice assistant and augmented reality navigation system to trickle down, too.
Pure EV power will be reserved for its EQE counterpart, but the E-Class will offer electrification across the range with a selection of 48-volt mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engines, along with a plug-in hybrid option. Built around a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol motor, the setup will offer more than 125km of electric range and improved efficiency over the outgoing car, thanks to a 31.2kWh battery and motor tech from the new GLC 300e.
As expected, an AMG E 63 super sedan is also in the works, which has been spied bearing a set of quad-exit exhausts. Given that the BMW M5 will launch with hybrid power in 2024, the E 63 is likely to follow suit with a plug-in system derived from either the four-cylinder C 63 or the 620kW, V8-powered AMG GT 4-Door 63 S E-Performance.
The AMG GT 4 Door rides on the same MRA platform as the outgoing E-Class, so it may be possible to adapt its V8 powertrain for the new, MRA2-based E-Class. Furthermore, Mercedes Chief Technical Officer Jochen Hermann previously told Automotive Daily that the brand’s famed V8 engines will feature in “AMG GT 4 Door-sized cars and above”, so this isn’t out of the question.
The E 63 model we spotted rides on larger, wider wheels, and behind the camouflage at the front, a bespoke grille design and more aggressive air intakes are almost a certainty.
The new E-Class should hit Australian roads near 2024, beating the next-generation BMW 5 Series to market.
Yousuf Ashraf