This new E-Class now carries a single-cluster headlight design. The cleverly-shaped LED daytime running lights though gives an illusion of it still having four individual lights. And for the first time in the model's history, two front grills on offer. The “Elegance” grade has the three-pointed star on the hood, while the “Avantgarde” has it mounted in the grill itself. Think of it as their way of distinguishing luxury from sporty. There also changes made to the front and rear bumpers, hood, and LED tail lights, but they're not as easy to notice.
Aside from the other luxuries and amenities, one new feature of the 2014 E-Class that's worth mentioning is the two-part trim which runs across the entire length of the dashboard. Buyers can choose between wood or aluminum finishes regardless of the variant they’re getting. They’ve also redesigned the instrument cluster, air vents, head unit, and analogue clock just to name a few.
One thing that Mercedes-Benz really focused on is improving the E-Class' safety. In fact, there's such an abundance of state-of-the-art safety features that it won't fit in this article if we go through them one-by-one. No kidding. To cut things short, we decided to just mention the ones that really impress.
Mercedes-Benz fitted the latest E-Class with what they call a “Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera.” This high-tech gizmo uses two cameras to produce a three-dimensional view of whats up ahead and feeds the data to other intelligent systems in the vehicle. One these is DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist which automatically steers the E-Class to keep it within its lane. The Brake Assist System (BAS) and PRE-SAFE, on the other hand, detects crossing traffic and pedestrians and applies the brakes automatically.
There's an array of new fuel efficient mils available that runs on gasoline, diesel, or hybrid technology. The petrol-powered powerplants range from 184 hp four-cylinders to 408 hp V8's that now all have fast-acting injectors, multi-spark ignition, turbocharging, fully variable camshafts, and a controlled oil pump. Meanwhile, the high-end diesel burners are fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to meet strict Euro6 emission standards. These engines are then paired with either a six-speed manual or 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission with DIRECT SELECT shift paddles.
If all of this sounds too tempting, do care to note that the 2014 E-Class will enter major markets first such as the United States by Q2 of 2013. Asian and the Philippine market is expected to follow within a year.
