Mercedes Introduces Quite Interesting E-Class All-Terrain Variant

From unpaved tracks to steep, serpentine snow-bound roads, the new E-Class All-Terrain can tackle routes where conventional estates have to give up, thanks to greater ground clearance and 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Rugged styling and flared wheel arches also give it a tough look. The E-Class All-Terrain makes its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show 2016. The first cars will arrive in the UK from spring 2017, while pricing and specification will be announced in early 2017.

An eye-catching feature of the front is the SUV-style two-fin grille with the star integrated in the centre. The distinctive front bumper and lower panelling, electroplated in silver-chrome, also contribute to the robust appearance. The top part of the three-part front bumper is painted in the body colour and the lower part comes in grained black plastic.

The All-Terrain also features a model-specific three-part bumper at the rear with the top part painted in body colour and the lower part in grained black plastic. Further features typical of an SUV include robust load sill protection and an underbody guard electroplated in silver-chrome.

The All-Terrain will be launched as an E 220 d 4MATIC (194 hp) with the newly developed four-cylinder diesel engine. A short time later a variant with a six-cylinder diesel engine will follow. Both models come with the new 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission as standard.

The All-Terrain has DYNAMIC SELECT as standard. This enables five driving programmes to be selected with different engine, transmission, ESP and steering characteristics. A special model-specific feature is the All-Terrain driving programme, which offers settings for off-road driving and was derived from the GLE.

Selecting the All-Terrain driving programme with the driving programme switch raises the chassis via the standard AIR BODY CONTROL by +20 mm up to a speed of 35 km/h. The thresholds for ESP, active yaw control and acceleration skid control (ASR) are adjusted accordingly. The All-Terrain driving programme has a special indicator in the vehicle display. Information displayed there includes the steering angle, the vehicle level (position of the air suspension), the angle of slope and the angle of inclination, the accelerator/brake position and a compass.

Thanks to air suspension three levels from 0 to +35 mm are selectable. Independent of the driving programme the highest level can also be selected manually with the level button on the centre console. The E-Class All-Terrain is 29 millimetres higher than the E-Class Estate – 14 mm of which is due to the tyres’ larger height/width ratio and 15 mm to the normal driving level of the air suspension. The ground clearance is 121 to 156 mm.