Mercedes-Benz has released photographs of the face-lifted W213 E-Class in heavy camouflage and our first instinct was to check if our prediction made on New Year’s Eve Came true.
Turns out it did! With the next generation S-Class going around on its winter testing runs and a new C-Class being developed as well, we had an inkling the E-Class mid-cycle refresh would be around the corner. We did an analysis of the car’s design and the way Mercedes-Benz had been updating their designs across their portfolio and came to this conclusion:
The article essentially highlights the alignment of the bumper line with the top of the taillight on the E-Class. On the S- and C-Class models, the line doesn’t quite lineup so neatly with the taillight. We theorised that this was because the E-Class facelift would be extensive and would incorporate the new, longer and more horizontally-aligned CLS/A-Class taillights as well as other Sensual Purity design cues.
Even with loads of camoflage covering up most of the taillights of this facelift prototype, we can clearly see that this is in fact the route that has been taken.
Here are some other key facts from the press release about the facelifted E-Class.
PRESS RELEASE
- Next generation driving assistance systems
- Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with route-based speed adjustment: with the help of information from LiveTraffic, the E-Class can recognise and respond to tailbacks and slow-moving traffic even before the driver becomes aware of them. When a traffic jam is detected (and if the driver does not choose a different response), DISTRONIC reduces the speed to around 100 km/h as a precaution.
- Active Tailback Assist: in the event of a motorway tailback where there are lane markings, this can substantially assist the driver with lane-keeping and maintaining a safe distance at speeds up to around 60 km/h, with a high degree of availability.
- Active Steering Assist: can assist the driver in forming a rescue lane on multi-lane roads.
- Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function: if there is a danger of a collision with oncoming traffic when making a turn across a carriageway, the E-Class can be braked at the speeds typical of such manoeuvres.
- Active Blind Spot Assist with exit warning: this function can lower the risk of a collision with other road users, e.g. passing cyclists. Active Blind Spot Assist also monitors the blind spot when at standstill, and can warn the driver of approaching vehicles, motorcycles or bicycles when opening the door.
- Parking Package with 360° camera: Side View gives the Parking package a new function that keeps an eye on the entire side of the vehicle. The extended side view makes it easier to manoeuvre alongside nearby, parallel obstacles such as kerbs and garage walls.
- Even more comfort in the interior
- New steering wheel generation with touch controls (control by swiping a touchscreen surface
- Large display screens as standard (2 x 10.25 inches)
- MBUX incl. “Hey Mercedes” voice control and augmented reality (additional information such as house numbers is shown virtually in the video image of the surroundings on the media display, and traffic lights are also shown)
- Interior Assist (allows intuitive, natural operation of different comfort and MBUX functions by movement recognition)
- ENERGIZING comfort control with ENERGIZING COACH (individual fitness recommendations based on an intelligent algorithm, integration via wearables)
- ENERGIZING seat kinetics and Power Nap (in conjunction with 48-volt system or plug-in hybrids)
- New Air Quality Indicator function (for megacities)
- Via Mercedes me: Mercedes-Benz Urban Guard (all-round surveillance of the parked vehicle with the following functions):
- Collision damage warning
- Tow-away protection warning
- Anti-theft warning
- Tracking function in case of theft
- Owner’s ability to deactivate the vehicle key by smartphone as a preventive measure if the key is lost or stolen
- Efficient Technology Initiative: electrification of the powertrain
- Seven plug-in hybrids, among them 4MATIC variants and estates
- Plug-in hybrid models for the US market for the first time
- New in-line engines
