BERLIN: Mercedes has given us a taste of the new E-Class it's preparing to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, followed by two-door versions four weeks later in New York.
According to the first details made public during test drives in the US, the new sedans and estates will bring a host of technical updates on the inside, including a new generation of steering wheel.
Mercedes says its new E-Class steering wheel will be equipped with touch-control surfaces that let you swipe on them as you would on a smartphone.
To go along with that, the E-Class will also get the MBUX smart operating system with touchscreen and voice controls, in addition to digital instruments that will be standard in future.
Meanwhile, the assistance systems continue to learn, allowing the driver to park more quickly in tighter spaces and better adapt the speed of the proximity control system to the flow of traffic.
Beyond that, the car will get the expected cosmetic update to the exterior, adding things like new headlights and a modified rear.
Under the hood, meanwhile, the engines are set to get more efficient, says Michael Kelz, head of the E-Class series at Mercedes. There will be seven plug-in hybrids for the E-Class, including all-drive and estate versions.
The series will also see the debut of two completely new petrol engines, both of which are equipped with 48-volt technology: a 2.0-litre four-pot engine with 272hp and a V6 with 367hp.
Mercedes has not yet mentioned fuel consumption figures, nor is it specifying prices, which will not be available until the sales launch later this year.
