By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com / Photos Mercedes-Benz USA
With its expressive coupé-esque proportions, clear and sensual design and long-distance comfort for four people, the 2019 Mercedes Benz E-Class Coupé combines the beauty and classic virtues of a grand tourer with state-of-the-art technology.
Exterior
The coupé-esque proportions typical of Mercedes-Benz are characterised by a distinctive front end with low-positioned sports grille and central star, a long hood with power-domes, a rearward-shifted, squat greenhouse and a muscular rear end. The dynamic looks are underlined by four frameless, fully retractable side windows and the absence of a visible B-pillar. With these clear forms, the design of the Coupé conveys an air of luxury and style alike.
Equally typical of a Mercedes coupé are the two-part, extremely flat LED tail lamps, when the vehicle is opened, the taillight LEDs illuminate successively from the centre of the vehicle outwards. On locking the vehicle, the light sequence runs in the opposite direction. Both are additionally combined with an up and down dimming feature. This taillight show welcomes and says goodbye to the vehicle user similarly to the familiar welcome feature of the blue optical fibre show in the front headlamp. Thanks to innovative crystal optics, the tail lamps also have a brilliant appearance reminiscent of the glow of a jet engine.
Interior
The interior of the E-Class Coupé embodies the synthesis of sporty emotion and luxurious intelligence; The brilliant, optionally available 12.3-inch displays with a high resolution of 1920 x 720 pixels, unique in this segment are merged under a single lens to produce a Widescreen Cockpit that appears to float in space. As the key design element, it emphasises the width, as does the fascia-spanning trim, which terminates with a dynamic sweep in the door panel. The instrument cluster in the driver’s direct line of vision shows virtual instruments which can be represented in three different styles: Classic, Sport and Progressive.
Touch control buttons in the steering wheel enable the driver to control the instrument cluster and multimedia system using finger swipes without having to take a hand off the steering wheel. Additional controls come in the form of a touchpad with controller in the centre console, which can also recognise handwriting, plus the LINGUATRONIC voice control system. There are also direct-access buttons for controlling the air conditioning, for example, and for convenient activation and deactivation of certain driver assistance systems.
The avant-garde yet highly luxurious seats in the Coupé take their cue from the Sedan. The sporty individual-seat characteristics find their distinctive impression in all four seats; High-grade materials and contemporary colour landscapes come together to create a sporty, contemporary luxury. The attractive appointments in yacht blue in combination with macchiato beige lend the vehicle a cool, exclusive yachting look. Especially for the E-Class Coupé, there is a choice of two light wood trim packages in open-pore and high-gloss finishes. Precisely executed seams give emphasis to the seat design.
Connectivity and entertainment
In the E-Class Coupe, connectivity already begins with the effortless integration of a smartphone into the onboard system that features wireless charging. Simply place the device on the charging pad at the front of the center console to connect the smartphone via Near Field Communication with the multimedia system.
The wireless charging system works with all mobile devices which support or can be upgraded to support the Qi standard. The charging pad is integrated into the quick stowage tray at the front of the center console. A connection is established between head unit and mobile phone via Near Field Communication by touching the NFC logo. Phone calls can then be made via the Bluetooth hands-free system; It is possible to use Apple’s smartphone-based infotainment system CarPlay as well as Google’s Android Auto. If a corresponding smartphone is connected to the designated USB port, the customer can, if desired, switch to the CarPlay or Android Auto interface; Audio playback is possible from various sources, for example via Bluetooth or a USB drive. COMAND also offers hotspot functionality. It allows passengers in all seats to connect different WiFi-capable devices, such as laptop or tablet computers, to the internet.
As in the sedan, the Frontbass System in the Coupe delivers a special listening experience. It uses the space in the cross member and side member of the body structure as a resonance chamber for the bass speakers; The standard audio system has an output of 4 x 25 watts and seven speakers. The Burmester Surround Sound System with 13 speakers and a 590-watt amplifier with Digital Sound Processing is available as optional equipment.
Alongside the premium sound system, the optional Burmester High-End 3D Surround Sound System is also available. This treats the occupants to a listening experience reminiscent of the acoustics in a concert hall. This second-generation sound system additionally uses four roof speakers, two in the front and two in the rear. The effect: reflections, which come off the ceiling in a concert hall, are incorporated into the sound design of the E-Class Coupe in the same authentic manner. By contrast, other 3D sound systems dispense with roof speakers and use algorithms to simulate a 3D sound.
Performance
A powerful and efficient 3.0L V6 biturbo engine, upgraded with an additional 33 HP to 362 HP for 2019, equipped with ECO Start/Stop and a nine-speed automatic transmission, provides for lively performance and great fun behind the wheel.
The suspension on the E-Class Coupe offers agile driving pleasure on winding roads together with exceptional ride comfort. The Coupe comes as standard with a lowered suspension with selective damping. The suspension is 0.6-inches lower than on the Sedan’s Luxury Line and is tuned for comfort with an amplitude dependent damping system.
Alternatively, the E-Class Coupe can be equipped with multi-chamber air suspension, including all-around roll/pitch/heave stabilization. Advantages of this system: three chambers of different size in the spring struts of the rear axle and two in the spring struts of the front axle make it possible to control the hardness of the suspension in three stages. In this way, the occupants enjoy soft basic suspension, along with the secure feeling of good handling stability at higher speeds.
The multi-chamber air suspension is augmented by a continuous, electronically controlled adaptive damping system. The damping at each individual wheel is adjusted fully automatically to suit the current driving situation and condition of the road such as in the case of evasive maneuvers or on rough tracks. The system therefore delivers good ride comfort along with excellent driving dynamics; Using the DYNAMIC SELECT switch, the driver can also select different suspension characteristics in combination with the AIR BODY CONTROL system: Comfort, ECO, Sport, Sport+ and Individual.
Summary
For 2019, E-Class Coupé combines the beauty and classic virtues of a grand tourer with state-of-the-art technology. It also offers the intelligence of the E-Class family with full smartphone integration, Widescreen Cockpit and the latest assistance systems with the option of, among other functions, partially automated driving. A powerful engine with low exhaust emissions and comfortable suspension systems with selective damping provide the guarantee of a sporty and agile driving experience. The Mercedes Benz E450 4MATIC Coupe will start at $62,300.00.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com
