2013 E-class Coupé and Cabriolet revealed (pictures, not prices)
MERCEDES has released general details of the updated 2013 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet – but no details about prices at this time.
The new front end styling echoes the saloon and estate, with the previous two-headlight design reverting to single group with a two-light look. As standard the clusters are part-LED, though full LED lighting is available as an option.
New front and rear bumpers aim to give a more muscular, athletic look that accentuates Mercedes’ desire to change the way these two derivatives of the E-Class are perceived.
Their interiors have changed less obviously, but new materials and revised designs are the most noticeable restyling from the existing E-class, with wood and aluminium finishes now available.
The instrument cluster is new, with white-backed dials in a three-tube design. The air vents have also been redesigned and, in the centre, flank an analogue clock similar to the one in the saloon variant.
There is no gear selector on the centre console, instead switching shifting duties to a lever on the steering column. Paddles are fitted as standard to allow semi-manual shifts.
The Cabriolet can be specified with Mercedes’ Airscarf neck-level heating, which adds vents to the seats but keeps a particularly heat-sensitive part of the body warm in colder weather when the roof is folded down. It also has an acoustic hood and an automatic ‘Aircap’ deflector system that deploys above 25mph, retracts below 9mph and reduces air swirling in the cabin.
A highlight among the new technology the cars feature is a network of sensors that create a three-dimensional view of the road ahead to better anticipate for dangers and potential accidents.
The engine range is familiar, with petrol and diesel options for both cars. A new kind of petrol engine moves fuel efficiency up a step, however. The four-cylinder BlueDirect unit uses a newly-developed injection system based on technology from AMG V8 engines in conjunction with a full spread of efficiency measures to achieve “outstanding” efficiency stats – which have not yet been revealed.
Both the Coupe and Cabriolet are fitted with ‘Agility Control’ suspension as standard, which includes driver-selectable damping characteristics.
Prices and technical specs are expected in the coming weeks.
