The most “emotional” members of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class family, the two-door Coupe and drop-top Cabriolet, have been updated, following on from the E-Class saloon and Estate that were facelifted two months ago.
Like those, the changes to the Coupe and Cabrio are more than skin deep, but ultimately don’t drastically alter how the cars drive.
Exterior changes are noticeable but not major: the grille now has an “A” shape, as opposed to the “V” of before, while the headlights now have an arrow-shaped light graphic instead of dual lines. There are also new wheel designs and paint options, including the rather attractive Patagonia Red on the Cabriolet in these pictures.
The biggest differences to the E-Class lie in the powertrains: All engine variants will now feature mild hybrid technology, with an integrated starter-generator (ISG) and 48-volt electrical system that runs separate from the car’s existing conventional 12-volt one. The mild hybrid system can provide a boost to the engine, recuperate energy from deceleration to power the car’s electrics, and allows the engine to shut down while coasting, all in the name of fuel and energy efficiency.
Four-cylinder models (E 200 and E 300) get a new engine with slightly more power than before, while the six-cylinder E 450 switches from a V6 to Mercedes’ new straight-six engine. The Coupe/Cabrio range is capped by the straight-six E 53 AMG; no plans have been mentioned of the thundering V8 from the E 63 AMG saloon and Estate being made available in the 2-door pair.
| E 200 | E 300 | E 450 | E 53 AMG | |
| Capacity (cc) | 1,991 | 1,991 | 2,999 | 2,999 |
| Engine type | 4-cyl turbo | 4-cyl turbo | 6-cyl turbo | 6-cyl turbo |
| Power (hp) | 197 | 258 | 367 | 435 |
| Torque (Nm) | 320 | 370 | 500 | 520 |
| Mild hybrid boost | 14hp / 150Nm | 14hp / 150Nm | 22hp / 250Nm | 22hp / 250Nm |
Daimler Southeast Asia has not confirmed which engines will be coming to Singapore, but our best guesses are the E 200, E 300 and E 53, given that that’s what we’ve received thus far.
The interior remains largely unchanged, with the big physical change being a new steering wheel, which has capacitive controls (like a smartphone) instead of optical. This setup also allows the driver to simply hold the steering wheel while using the car’s semi-autonomous driving functions, instead of having to nudge it, in order for the car to ensure the driver has control of the vehicle.
Like the facelifted BMW 5 Series we previously reported on, the E-Class’ multimedia system has also been upgraded to the company’s latest system, in this case Mercedes Benz User eXperience (MBUX).
The twin screen setup – one for the instrument cluster, one for the infotainment – remains the same size at 12.3-inches each, and contains a new feature, Energizing Coach. This helps drivers combat fatigue by adjusting music, seat massage and climate control settings, and can be made more precise by monitoring stress and sleep levels when linked with a Garmin wearable tracker.
Another major innovation is Urban Guard, which is a vehicle monitoring system that can alert the owner via an app if their car is bumped, towed, or broken into, as well as track the vehicle’s location if it’s stolen.
The final interior update applies to the Cabriolet, and seems tailor-made for Singaporean owners: the seats have been treated with a sun-reflecting coating that Mercedes claims can keep the leather up to 13 degrees C cooler in direct sunlight. Some of the AutoApp team is skeptical, but we’re willing to put our butts and thighs on the line and report on its effectiveness when we review the car…
When exactly that will be is still uncertain, but given that the evergreen E-Class saloon has been reportedly slated for a Q4 four launch, we’d say an early 2021 introduction for the Coupe and Cabriolet seems likely.
