Mercedes is adding a new E-Class Coupé model to its line-up. UK pricing and specifications will be announced later this month, with first deliveries taking lace in April 2017.

“With its clear, aesthetic lines, our new E-Class Coupé appeals equally to heart and mind. It condenses contemporary luxury, agile sportiness and high-tech engineering into an automotive personality with esprit, offering exclusive, refined driving pleasure,” says Prof. Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

Based technically on the Saloon, the Coupé showcases the next step in the evolution of the Mercedes-Benz design language, acc wording to the company, which says the new Coupé “exhibits a puristic, surface-accentuated design with reduced lines and sensual forms”.

Inside, the two optionally available high-resolution 12.3-inch displays are merged under a single lens to produce a floating Widescreen Cockpit effect. Positioned in the driver’s direct field of vision, the instrument cluster shows virtual instruments, which can be selected by the driver in three different styles, “Classic”, “Sport” and “Progressive”, depending on which information and views the driver chooses.

The entry-level model combines two round dials and a 7-inch colour display cluster (1000 x 600 pixel resolution) with a central display featuring an 8.4-inch screen diagonal (960 x 540 pixels). The round dials, instrument cluster and central display are installed in a single frame with a high-gloss piano-lacquer look. The newly designed air vents are heavily influenced by the look of a turbine engine.

Touch Control buttons on the steering wheel enable the driver to control the instrument cluster and multimedia system using finger swipes, without having to take their hands off the steering wheel. The E-Class Coupé is also available with a touchpad 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.

With a length of 4,826 mm, a width of 1,860 mm and a height of 1,430 mm, the new E-Class Coupé is larger than its predecessor. Mercedes says the main benefit of the wider track, with 1,605 mm at the front (+67 mm) and 1,609 mm at the rear (+68 mm), is the enhanced driving dynamics.

A range of petrol and diesel engines is available, all of which are equipped with ECO start/stop and comply with the Euro 6 emissions standard. This includes the new 2.0-litre diesel engine launched in the new E-Class Saloon.

At market launch, there will be an initial choice between one diesel and three petrol engines. Further engine variants and 4MATIC versions will follow.

With a displacement of two litres, the new diesel engine in the E 220 d variant delivers 143 kW/191 bhp, with a combined NEDC average consumption of 71 mpg. This is equivalent to CO2 emissions of 106 grams per kilometre. In addition, Mercedes claims a high level of refinement for the four-cylinder with single-stage turbocharger and variable turbine geometry. Both the cylinder head and the crankcase are made of aluminium. The Mercedes-Benz-developed NANOSLIDE surface coating efficiently reduces the friction between cylinder liner and steel piston.

All the models available at market launch are equipped as standard with the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission, which Mercedes says allows fast gearshifts along with lower engine speeds, producing a beneficial effect on efficiency and noise.

The Coupé comes as standard with DIRECT CONTROL suspension. The suspension is 15 millimetres lower than on the Saloon and is tuned for comfort with an amplitude-dependent damping system.

The DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL suspension with adjustable damping is optionally available. It, too, is set lower. Using a switch in the centre console for the as-standard DYNAMIC SELECT system, the driver can vary the damping characteristics of this suspension. Three modes are available, offering a wide range of adjustment options: “Comfort”, “Sport” and “Sport+”.

Alternatively, the new E-Class Coupé can be equipped with multi-chamber air suspension, including all-round roll/pitch/heave stabilisation. 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.

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”.

The DYNAMIC SELECT system not only makes it possible to select the suspension characteristics in combination with DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL and AIR BODY CONTROL, but it also enables the driver to influence other vehicle settings – such as the throttle response, ECO start/stop function, shift points of the automatic transmission and more.

If the vehicle is equipped with COMAND Online, it is possible to use Apple’s smartphone-based infotainment system CarPlay as well as Google’s Android Auto. If a compatible smartphone is connected by USB, the customer can, if desired, switch to the CarPlay or Android Auto interface.

In addition to COMAND Online, the Audio 20 USB/GPS infotainment systems are available. Like COMAND Online, they come with a Bluetooth® hands-free system and also have internet capability with a Bluetooth-capable mobile phone with mobile phone card and data option. COMAND Online also offers an integrated hotspot functionality.

Whereas Live Traffic Information was previously reserved for COMAND Online, in combination with Mercedes me connect the new E-Class Coupé offers the same function with the Audio 20 GPS with GARMIN MAP PILOT SYSTEM as well. Live Traffic Information allows the reception of up-to-the-minute, accurate traffic information in real-time.