Mercedes-Benz ushered in the 2014 model year with a significant restyling of the Coupe and Cabriolet versions of the esteemed E-Class, blending striking new aesthetics with cutting-edge assistance systems under the banner of “intelligent drive.” This update showcased advancements in safety technology, including enhanced accident prevention capabilities with crossing vehicles and pedestrians, alongside an improved Active Lane Keeping Assist. The visual enhancements aligned the Coupe and Cabriolet with Mercedes-Benz’s evolved design language, further complemented by luxurious interior appointments characteristic of the entire E-Class family. The 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet marked their U.S. debut in June, promising a blend of elegance and innovation.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet have long been celebrated as highly desirable vehicles within the premium mid-size segment. Renowned for their intelligent and efficient engineering, coupled with opulent and comfortable features, these models are unequivocally designed to deliver passionate driving experiences. They stand out as emotionally resonant highlights within the successful E-Class lineage. The 2014 refresh brought forth a design both externally and internally that was not only fresh but also more sharply defined, mirroring the array of new technological advancements embedded within.
Dr. Joachim Schmidt, then Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars, aptly summarized the essence of these models: “Three words suffice to very briefly characterize the Coupe and the four-seater Cabriolet: stunning, athletic, passionate. Especially gratifying is that both cars also offer the most intelligent engineering that currently can be had. This makes both of them genuine dream cars.”
Design Evolution: Emotional Appeal Perfected
The 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet embraced a revitalized front-end design, prominently featuring newly designed headlamps that integrated all functional elements within a unified lens. Standard models were equipped with partial LED lighting, while full LED technology was offered as an option for the first time in this vehicle class. Innovative flowing light elements within the headlamps cleverly maintained the signature “four-eye” aesthetic synonymous with the E-Class lineage.
The redesigned front bumpers, now more V-shaped and incorporating larger air intakes, emphatically underscored the vehicles’ athletic disposition. This bolder front design projected a distinctive, sporty presence while simultaneously reinforcing the visual connection between the Coupe and Cabriolet and the redesigned E-Class Sedan.
The rear fenders, retaining their powerfully sculpted form, visually emphasized the rear-wheel-drive nature of these sporty models. New tail lights and a broadened rear bumper, accented with a chrome trim element, further accentuated the assertive stance of these vehicles.
Maintaining classic coupe proportions, the models featured a long hood, elongated side profile, a gently sloping roofline, and a robust rear end. Signature styling cues that have historically defined Mercedes-Benz Coupes – such as the uninterrupted flow of the fully retractable side windows, devoid of B-pillars – amplified the distinctive silhouette of these two-door iterations.
The four-seater Cabriolet also boasted fully retractable side windows, contributing to its refined proportions characterized by a subtly ascending shoulder line that gracefully extended from the front to the trunk lid.
Refined Interior: An Elegant Sanctuary
Mercedes-Benz extended the redesign to the interior of the 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, harmoniously blending it with the expressive exterior. The cabin was characterized by premium materials, a two-section trim piece spanning the dashboard, and uncluttered surfaces, creating an ambiance of sophisticated minimalism.
Across the entire 2014 E-Class family, an analog clock was incorporated between the redesigned air vents, while the console switches were updated with a chrome finish.
Further interior refinements included a redesigned center console that eliminated the traditional gear selector lever, and a new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel equipped with DIRECT SELECT shift lever and shift paddles. This design modification liberated space for additional storage and larger cup holders, enhancing everyday usability.
A standout feature of the new E-Class Cabriolet was its acoustic soft top, engineered with high-grade insulation to achieve class-leading noise reduction. This specialized acoustic cabriolet soft top minimized wind noise intrusion into the cabin, even at higher speeds.
With the top lowered, the standard AIRCAP system played a crucial role in reducing interior turbulence and wind noise, significantly enhancing convertible driving comfort, especially for rear-seat passengers. The AIRCAP system intelligently deployed automatically at speeds exceeding 25 mph and retracted below 10 mph, allowing the E-Class Cabriolet to present its purest form during slower drives and stops. The wind deflector, positioned between the rear head restraints, dynamically adjusted based on occupant detection via rear seat belt usage, optimizing its position along with the extendable front wind deflector.
For those seeking to extend the open-top driving season, the optional AIRSCARF neck-level heating system provided a comforting warmth, enabling enjoyable top-down drives even in cooler ambient temperatures.
Personalization: Limitless Individualization
The 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet offered an extensive palette of customization options, allowing for virtually limitless individual configuration. New interior colors and combinations, such as a striking blue paired with contrasting beige, injected a fresh and vibrant atmosphere into the exclusive ambiance of these E-Class models.
“Intelligent Drive”: Assistance Systems of the Future, Today
Mirroring the advancements in the Sedan and Wagon models, the 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet incorporated new assistance systems, synergizing comfort and safety under the umbrella of Mercedes-Benz’s “intelligent drive” philosophy.
At the heart of these systems was a suite of advanced sensors, including a Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera positioned near the rearview mirror. This camera provided a three-dimensional view of the area up to 165 feet ahead and monitored the broader environment up to 1,640 feet. Intelligent algorithms, part of the Driver Assistance Package, fused data from the stereo camera and radar sensors to interpret visual information. This enabled the system to detect and spatially classify vehicles (ahead, oncoming, or crossing), pedestrians, and road markings within a wide field of vision.
Standard on the 2014 Coupe and Cabriolet was COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, a radar-based collision warning system with adaptive brake assist, designed to significantly mitigate collision risks. Also standard was ATTENTION ASSIST, now enhanced to detect inattentiveness and drowsiness across a broader speed range, providing drivers with feedback on their fatigue levels and driving time since their last break. Adjustable sensitivity levels were also incorporated.
Optional assistance systems, available across the 2014 E-Class range, introduced new or enhanced functionalities:
- DISTRONIC PLUS® with Steering Assist: Assisted drivers in lane centering and semi-autonomous tracking of traffic flow.
- BAS PLUS® with Intersection Assist: Expanded Brake Assist to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians, augmenting driver-applied braking force as needed.
- PRE-SAFE® Brake: Pedestrian detection with autonomous braking initiation at speeds up to 30 mph to prevent collisions.
- PRE-SAFE® PLUS: Rear-end collision anticipation, triggering PRE-SAFE® occupant protection measures and applying brakes post-impact to prevent secondary accidents.
- Active Lane Keeping Assist: Enhanced to detect uncleared adjacent lanes, including oncoming traffic, and intervene with one-sided braking to prevent unintentional lane departures, even on unmarked roads, complementing Active Blind Spot Assist.
- Active Parking Assist: Automated parking with active steering and braking in both parallel and perpendicular parking spaces.
- 360-degree camera: Provided a comprehensive view around the vehicle, including a virtual bird’s-eye perspective, with dynamic guidelines for parking and maneuvering.
Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, then Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, highlighted the comprehensive advancements: “The new E-Class makes a big step forward in every respect. With an emotionally appealing design it provides for fresh highlights in its segment. And in technical respect it offers unique things. They include new assistance systems from the future S-Class which, for example, relieve driver stress with steering assist, DISTRONIC PLUS® and for the first time also can prevent accidents with crossing vehicles or pedestrians. In addition, the EClass achieves best ratings in the area of efficiency, offers an internet-capable cloud-based infotainment system and improves night-time driving safety with state-of-the-art LED headlamps. So the E-Class is a veritable high-tech package – a very attractively packaged one at that.”
Powertrain Efficiency and Performance
All engine variants available for the 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet incorporated an ECO start/stop system, emphasizing efficiency. The E350 was powered by a direct-injection V6 gasoline engine producing 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The E550 featured a twin-turbo direct-injection V8, delivering 402 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.
The E350 Coupe also offered the option of 4MATIC All-Wheel-Drive in the U.S. market, enhancing traction across diverse terrains, improving active safety, and providing refined driveline performance.
Mercedes-Benz equipped these models with a 7-speed automatic transmission featuring DIRECT SELECT lever and shift paddles. This updated transmission offered improved efficiency and easier maintenance. A new short-term ‘M’ mode allowed for manual gear changes, reverting to fuel-efficient automatic mode after a set period.
Suspension and Handling Dynamics
The 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet utilized the AGILITY CONTROL suspension with a selective damping system. This system adapted shock absorber response to road conditions, balancing sporty handling with Mercedes-Benz’s signature long-distance comfort.
Optional upgrades included the AGILITY CONTROL sports suspension with firmer damper tuning and the ADVANCED AGILITY package, featuring electronic damping control and selectable sportier accelerator and transmission shift characteristics. The ADVANCED AGILITY package allowed drivers to customize damping settings for comfort or sporty driving styles at the push of a button.
Standard across the Coupe and Cabriolet range was the electromechanical Direct-Steer system, also found in the Sedan and Wagon models. This system combined speed-sensitive power assistance with a variable steering ratio, resulting in more direct steering response, comfortable handling, and enhanced steering comfort across all speeds. The electromechanical system also contributed to energy savings and enabled advanced assistance systems like Active Parking Assist.
Premium Standard Features
The 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet came generously equipped with a comprehensive array of premium standard features. This included advanced infotainment systems designed to keep drivers connected and informed while on the move.
Standard infotainment included the COMAND system, featuring a 7-inch high-resolution color display, AM/FM/WB radio, in-dash DVD/CD player, memory card slot, auxiliary input jack, and Bluetooth interface for hands-free calling.
Furthermore, the mbrace2 system was standard, providing top-tier safety, infotainment, personal assistance, and vehicle care services. mbrace2 offered a networked vehicle experience with open internet access and custom in-vehicle apps like Facebook, Yelp, and Google Local Search (Mercedes-Benz Apps). Cloud-based software updates ensured mbrace2 users always had the latest app versions. The user-friendly design and limited functionality of these internet-based apps prioritized utility without driver distraction while the vehicle was in motion, with certain features restricted during driving.
