The 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe has been tested ahead of the 2017 Detroit Motor Show in January. The man in charge of testing and development of this coupe was Peter Kolb, and the driving of this German coupe was more than just enjoyable.
The predecessor of the new E-Class was launched in 2010 in the UK, but the new model is far better than the old one. The prototype that was tested was the E400 Coupe, and this car was pushed to the limit. One of the torture tests that it undergo included driving of it on the height of 2,500 meters. Under the hood of the new Mercedes-Benz, we can find a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine that produces 328 bhp and 354 lb-ft of torque.
The unit is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the 4Matic 4WD system. You can shift gears very smoothly with this gearbox, whereas the noise in the cabin is reduced to the minimum, so you will not have to worry about that. The 2017 prototype doesn’t have any problems when it comes to driving on the straight line as it offers a great amount of power.
However, if you decide to use Sport mode instead of Comfort, you will hear a crackle through the exhaust allowing it to breath more freely resulting in loudness increases. Be that as it may, the E-Class has a hint of sportiness while you are driving it in Sport mode.
The German car giant is keeping the performance figures a secret, and they are unwilling to talk about it just yet. According to Kolb, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class goes from 0-62 mph in approximately 5.0 seconds whereas the top speed is limited to 155 mph. The vehicle that can be compared with our coupe is the E500 Coupe with 4.7-liter turbocharged V8 power plant. The unit in the old E500 delivers 402 bhp and 442 lb-ft of torque, which is more powerful than the new 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe.
There will be some differences between the base and upper trims of the new model, as Kolb says. Namely, the entry-level E200 will come out with a six-speed manual transmission, but the higher trims are all equipped with the nine-speed automatic.
While the 2017 E-Class was in the process of production, the main goal of the company was to improve performance and fuel efficiency. In addition to this, the carmaker also focused on delivering better handling and driving in general, in order to make sure that the new car is appealing to all. Peter Kolb said: “It started during the initial digital prototyping stage and has played a central role right the way throughout its development.”
So compared to the previous model, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe has improved handling, driving, and comfort. Furthermore, the new vehicle will also have a much stiffer body, which has been proven by conducting various tests, as experts’ claims. What is specific about this car is that it comes without pillars which can be seen on some previous E-Class models also.
We have already mentioned some driving modes, but the standard Dynamic Select system offers more. Besides Comfort and Sport, you can opt for Eco and Sport Plus as well. Kolb also added: “The tuning is unique. We have widened the range of settings so there’s now a greater spread in the steering, throttle and gearbox mapping in each of the modes.”
When the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class started climbing snowy mountain roads, the agility of the vehicle was instantly noticed. Although the road was slippery and covered with snow, the car is stable and turning into corners is easy, with little body roll. The 18-inch wheels are wrapped in 245/45 Michelin Pilot Alpin tires which offer great traction and grip on the surface.
The production vehicle will come out with three different suspension choices. The first one is a comfort-orientated set-up with Air Body Control system. Other two options are steel set-up with fixed-rate dampers and sports system with steel springs combined with adaptive dampers.
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe will definitely be better than the previous version, and we can’t wait to see it at 2017 Detroit Motor Show.
What do you think about the new E-Class Coupe?
