Mercedes-Benz has long been synonymous with luxury, innovation, and driving excellence. The E-Class, often considered the very heart of the brand, has consistently embodied these values. For 2020, Mercedes-Benz introduces a thoroughly updated E-Class Sedan and Wagon, injecting fresh dynamism and cutting-edge technology into this iconic model. Set to arrive in the U.S. market by late 2020, including the adventurous new All-Terrain variant for the first time, the refreshed E-Class is poised to continue its legacy of leadership in the executive sedan segment.
With a remarkable history spanning over 14 million Sedan and Wagon deliveries since 1946, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class isn’t just a car; it’s a symbol. The tenth generation, launched in 2016, captivated with its blend of clean, emotive design and a meticulously crafted, high-quality interior. It also set new benchmarks for driving assistance systems. This compelling combination of emotional appeal and intelligent technology has resonated deeply with drivers worldwide, with over 1.2 million customers choosing the current generation E-Class Sedan or Wagon. Now, Mercedes-Benz elevates the E-Class experience even further with a comprehensive refresh.
Key Highlights of the 2020 Mercedes-benz E-class Refresh:
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Sharper, More Dynamic Design:
- Redesigned front headlamps (standard full-LED, optional MULTIBEAM LED)
- Redesigned taillamps for a modern aesthetic
- Revitalized radiator grille and front bumper
- All-Terrain variant enhanced with SUV-inspired visual cues
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Next-Generation Driving Assistance:
- Innovative steering wheel with capacitive hands-off detection
- Enhanced Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with route-based speed adaptation
- Advanced Active Stop-and-Go Assist for smoother traffic navigation
- Refined Active Steering Assist for lane keeping
- Upgraded Active Brake Assist with turning maneuver function
- Active Blind Spot Assist now includes exit warning for added safety
- Parking Package with 360° camera featuring expanded side view
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Elevated Interior Comfort and Technology:
- Standard widescreen cockpit featuring dual 12.3-inch displays
- Intuitive MBUX infotainment system with LINGUATRONIC voice control (standard)
- Optional augmented video for navigation for enhanced guidance
- Available Interior Assistant for gesture-based control
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Electrified Powertrains for Increased Efficiency:
- Electrified models introduced for the first time in the U.S. market
- Powerful M256 engine for 450 models: 3.0L inline 6-cylinder gasoline engine with Integrated Starter-Generator (ISG) and 48-volt electrical system, delivering 362 hp.
Dynamic Design: A Visually Striking Evolution
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class makes a bold statement with its enhanced dynamic design, evident both inside and out. The redesigned front end immediately captures attention, anchored by a striking new grille. This grille features a single louvre design adorned with chrome pins, exuding both sportiness and sophistication. Chrome and high-gloss black trim elements on the front bumper further accentuate the vehicle’s elegant yet athletic stance.
For the sedan variant, AMG body cladding now comes standard, amplifying its sporty character. Both the Sedan and the All-Terrain models feature sculpted power domes on the hood, further underscoring their dynamic intentions. Standard all-LED headlamps not only provide exceptional illumination but also contribute to the E-Class’s modern and assertive face. Optionally, customers can choose MULTIBEAM LED headlamps for even more advanced lighting technology.
The rear of the Sedan receives a refined update with a new bumper, split taillamps, and a redesigned trunk lid. The taillamps themselves have been meticulously revised, featuring a new geometric design that enhances visibility and adds a distinctive rear light signature.
The All-Terrain variant confidently embraces its adventurous spirit, drawing visual inspiration from Mercedes-Benz’s SUV family. Signature All-Terrain design elements, such as the radiator grille and the stylized skid plate, now boast a sophisticated mirror chrome finish, further differentiating it and emphasizing its rugged yet refined character.
To further personalize the 2020 E-Class, three new metallic paint colors are introduced: Cirrus Silver, Graphite Grey, and Mojave Silver. The wheel selection has also been expanded to include aerodynamically optimized wheels, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and overall sustainability.
Stepping inside the 2020 E-Class reveals a cabin elevated by new colors and material options. New color combinations such as Magma Grey/Neva Grey and Magma Grey/Macchiato Beige create a contemporary and luxurious ambiance. Trim options in Natural Grain Grey Ash Wood and an updated Burl Walnut Wood provide tactile richness and visual warmth.
Mercedes-Benz seats are renowned for their long-distance comfort, and the 2020 E-Class seats are no exception, blending this hallmark with modern design aesthetics. A particularly convenient feature is the adaptive driver’s seat adjustment. By simply entering body height into the media display, the seat automatically adjusts to a suggested position, requiring only minor fine-tuning for perfect individual comfort.
The design of the front seats further accentuates the sporty aura of the interior. They offer excellent lateral support, ensuring occupants are securely held during spirited driving, without compromising on long-haul comfort. The seat contouring follows the pronounced side bolsters, and depending on the chosen specification, the center section features sporty transverse or modern longitudinal seams. The colors of the center sections of the seat backrest and cushion are carefully coordinated with the overall seat design, creating a harmonious and inviting interior space.
Next-Generation Driving Assistance: Enhanced Safety and Convenience
The 2020 E-Class benefits from the latest advancements in Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems, providing cooperative support to the driver for a heightened sense of active safety and relaxed driving. A key innovation is the hands-off recognition system, now operating on a capacitive basis. This system enhances user-friendliness when utilizing semi-automated driving modes. Maintaining control is now simpler; merely holding the steering wheel is sufficient to inform the assistance systems of the driver’s engagement. Previously, a slight steering movement was required. The new steering wheel incorporates a pad with sensors within the rim that detect whether the driver is holding the wheel. If the system detects prolonged hands-off driving, it initiates a warning cascade, culminating in Emergency Brake Assist activation if driver inactivity persists.
Standard Active Brake Assist is a vital safety feature, capable of autonomous braking in numerous situations to prevent collisions or mitigate their severity. In typical city driving scenarios, the system can brake for stationary vehicles and crossing pedestrians, and even prevent collisions depending on the specific situation. As part of the Driving Assistance Package, this capability now extends to turning across oncoming traffic, further enhancing safety in complex intersections.
The updated Driver Assistance package also incorporates Active Speed Limit Assist. This system intelligently utilizes map data and information from Traffic Sign Assist to proactively respond to speed limit changes. Route-based speed adjustment ahead of bends, roundabouts, toll stations, intersections, and highway exits or entrances is also included. When Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with route-based speed adjustment is engaged, the 2020 E-Class can now leverage data from LiveTraffic Information with End-of-Traffic-Jam Assist. Ideally, this preemptive system reacts to traffic congestion before it becomes visually apparent to the driver or detectable by radar and camera sensors. Upon traffic jam detection, speed is proactively reduced to approximately 60 mph as a precaution, unless the driver overrides this setting.
Active Stop-and-Go Assist significantly enhances driving comfort in highway traffic jams. At speeds up to approximately 35 mph, the system can largely manage lane keeping and maintain a safe following distance. The extended restart function allows the vehicle to automatically resume driving up to one minute after a complete stop, easing the stop-and-go experience.
Active Blind Spot Assist with exit warning provides enhanced protection, particularly when exiting the vehicle. It can react to vehicles in the blind spot and in the critical area with active brake intervention. When the vehicle is stationary, the system now visually warns passengers in the exterior mirror before door opening if a vehicle, or even a bicycle, is approaching in the critical zone. If the door handle is engaged at this moment, an additional audible warning sounds, and the ambient door lighting flashes red. This function detects approaching road users moving at speeds exceeding 5 mph and remains active for up to three minutes after ignition switch-off.
Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC and a 360° camera simplifies parking maneuvers. The system aids in searching for and selecting parking spaces, as well as automatic entry and exit (if parked automatically) from parallel and end-on parking spaces or garages. The 360° camera provides a more realistic media display image, including an expanded side view. When exiting a parking space, the system can warn of crossing traffic behind the vehicle and apply the brakes if necessary, further enhancing safety and convenience in urban environments.
Enhanced Interior Comfort: MBUX and Intuitive Technology
The interior of the 2020 E-Class receives significant enhancements, most notably the integration of the latest generation MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system and a completely redesigned steering wheel. The new steering wheel is available in all-leather or wood-leather combinations. Control surfaces feature a high-gloss black finish, while trim elements and surrounds are finished in silver shadow. The instrument cluster and media display are controlled via swiping motions on Touch Control Buttons. The operating principle of these buttons has evolved from optical to capacitive, eliminating the need for mechanical systems and reducing fingerprint susceptibility. Capacitive detection is also utilized to determine driver control of the steering wheel (as described in the driving assistance systems section).
The MBUX system in the 2020 E-Class comes standard with two large 12.3-inch screens, seamlessly arranged side-by-side to create a widescreen cockpit effect. The information displayed on the high-resolution screens is easily legible and presented with emotive graphics that enhance the intuitive control structure.
Drivers can personalize the display style to suit their mood or interior preference, choosing from four distinct styles:
- Modern Classic: A refined evolution of the classic display style, featuring an elegant and light material mix.
- Sport: A high-tech turbine look with sporty black/yellow contrasts, conveying a dynamic feel.
- Progressive: A reduced and minimalist digital presentation, emphasizing essential information.
- Discreet: All displays are minimized to the absolute necessities, offering a clean and uncluttered view.
Standard touchscreen control of the media display and optional augmented reality technology for navigation further enhance the user experience. When navigation is active, a video image of the surroundings is overlaid with helpful navigation information, such as arrows and house numbers, directly onto the media display. The system can also assist at traffic lights (where infrastructure is available) by superimposing the current traffic light situation onto the display, particularly helpful when visibility is limited.
The optional MBUX Interior Assistant provides intuitive, natural operation of various comfort and MBUX functions through movement recognition. For example, approaching a hand to the touchscreen or touchpad on the center console triggers changes on the media display, highlighting individual elements for easier interaction.
E for Efficiency: Electrification of the Powertrain
Electrification takes a significant step forward in the 2020 E-Class model update. E 450 models now feature the M 256 3.0L inline 6-cylinder turbo engine with EQ Boost technology. Models equipped with this engine benefit from a 48-volt on-board electrical system. Energy recuperation and the ability to “glide” with the engine switched off contribute to the gasoline engine’s high efficiency. The M256 engine boasts technical highlights including NANOSLIDE® coated cylinder barrels and CAMTRONIC for intake valve control.
The Heart of the Brand: The Enduring Legacy of the E-Class
Vehicles positioned in the upper mid-range segment have been integral to Mercedes-Benz and its predecessor brands since the early 20th century. The first Mercedes models of 1901, which established modern automotive construction principles, were offered in various versions catering to different customer segments, including those seeking vehicles in what is now considered the upper mid-range category.
With over 14 million units delivered since 1946, the E-Class stands as the best-selling model series in Mercedes-Benz history and is widely regarded as the “heart of the brand.” E-Class customers are among the most loyal to the Mercedes-Benz star, with eight out of ten Sedan customers remaining with the brand for their next vehicle purchase.
Following World War II, the 170 V model, originally introduced in 1936, was the first Mercedes-Benz to resume production, initially serving rescue services, police, commerce, and trades. A sedan version soon followed in 1947, marking the first post-war Mercedes-Benz passenger car.
The 180 model (W 120) of 1953, with its unibody construction and “Ponton” shape, set new technical and design trends. In 1961, the four-cylinder versions of the “Fintail” model series (W 110) arrived, becoming the first models with safety bodies and crumple zones. The “Stroke Eight” (W 115/114) in 1968 marked another significant step, and the introduction of the first coupe model broadened the range of body styles. The successor model series 123, launched in 1976, surpassed its predecessor’s success and introduced the wagon version, establishing Mercedes-Benz as a pioneer in family-friendly lifestyle and recreational vehicles. The 124 series (1984-1995), also available as a four-seater cabriolet, was the first to officially bear the name E-Class in mid-1993.
The “four headlamps” design and innovative technology characterized the 210 model series launched in 1995. The E-Class of model series 211 debuted in early 2002, followed by the 212 series (Sedan and Wagon) and 207 series (Cabriolet and Coupé) in 2009. In 2010, the long-wheelbase V 212 Sedan was introduced for the Chinese market. Mercedes-Benz launched the current E-Class generation, model series 213, in 2016, with the Wagon available as an All-Terrain version from 2017.
Modern Digital Production of the New E-Class
The E-Class Sedan and Wagon are manufactured at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant, sharing a flexible production line with the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe. Production utilizes advanced digital technologies, including smartphones for vehicle tracking, additive manufacturing for equipment production, and digital shop floor management for real-time key indicator monitoring. The Ubisense system is also employed, locating necessary fastening tools for employees and providing vehicle-specific information, ensuring optimal support during assembly.
The Sindelfingen plant serves as the center of competence for upper and luxury segment passenger cars and the lead plant for the S- and E-Class. Employing over 35,000 people, the plant also produces the S-Class Sedan, Coupe, and Cabriolet, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, and the Mercedes-AMG GT family. Future plans include production of electric vehicles under the new EQ product and technology brand. By 2022, the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen Plant will achieve full CO2-neutrality. “Factory 56,” one of the world’s most advanced automotive production facilities, is currently under construction at the site.
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class represents a significant step forward, blending refreshed design, cutting-edge technology, and enhanced efficiency while upholding the core values that have made the E-Class a cornerstone of the Mercedes-Benz brand for generations. As it prepares to arrive in the U.S., the 2020 E-Class is poised to reaffirm its position as a leader in the luxury automotive landscape.
About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 15 model lines ranging from the sporty A-Class Sedan to the flagship S-Class and the Mercedes-AMG GTR. MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.mbsprinterusa.com.
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