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| Open-pore wood trim. Prepare to see a lot more of the gorgeous finish as other car makers follow Merc |
These are the exceptional consumption, dynamic lights, inductive
phone charging and gorgeous new open-pore wood trim finish.
Of course, for now these features are all optional and what with
the Euro and all, prepare to pay in units of R15 000 for anything other than
what is provided standard in the entry level E200, which sells for
R707 100.
Drive Pilot
For an extra R41 000, Merc will fit the driving
assist package called drive pilot, a semi-autonomous steering system that will
steer the big saloon around corners of up to 15 degrees.
Unlike with the trucks in the Daimler Group, which are fully
steering themselves on highway test programmes as you read this, Merc said the
legal groundwork is not yet ready for self-steering cars.
All-new diesel engine
The E-Class introduces a new four-cylinder
diesel unit that will quickly filter down the ranks.
Despite being only a two-litre, the diesel makes
143 kW and 400 Nm and delivers 3,9 litres per 100 kilometres, which equates to
CO2 emissions from 112 grams per
kilometre — my old scooter used more fuel than this!
Multifunction Telephony
The E-Class also introduces Merc’s new
infotainment system. It allows mobile phones to be charged and, at the same
time, connected to the vehicle’s exterior aerial with absolutely no need for
cables or a telephone holder.
Cables and USB ports are however still provided,
as the E-Class is now a generation ahead of most smartphones’ ability to use the
wireless, inductive charging system.
Only phones that support the Qi (pronounce “chi”) standard will
work on the inductive charging pad, built into the stowage facility at the front
of the centre console.
The one criticism I have of this system is that it only fits
smaller mobile phones with a screen diagonal of up to 15,2 cm. Phablet users
must move smartly along.
I initially also could not see my Sony Experia on the system, until
for the first time activating the Near Field Communication (NFC) on the
phone.
The Merc’s system took over and paired my phonebook, music and call
lists in an eyeblink. You still have to turn Bluetooth on to use the
system.
If the vehicle is equipped with the optional Comand Online, it is
also possible to use Apple’s smartphone-based infotainment system CarPlay as
well as Google’s Android AutoT.
3D listening pleasure
As a fan of the late Ivan Rebroff and of late,
Mongolian throat singing, I thought I had the best test for the new Frontbass
system in the new E-Class.
Merc claims it delivers a unique listening
experience using the space in the cross-member and side member of the body
structure as a resonance chamber for the bass speakers and it certainly sounded
like I was jostling for space with the uvela of these deep-voiced male singers
with the volume turned up.
A Burmester 3D surround sound system is optionally available with
23 speakers, some in the roof, which should treat the occupants to the closest
thing to a concert hall experience a car can offer.
Pads that touched me
But it is the small things that impress, like
the mini-mouse pads on the steering wheel. These are so intuitive, my right
thumb was feeling for the little pad in the next car I drove. Like a smartphone
interface, these pads mounted on the left and right of the steering wheel
respond precisely to horizontal and vertical swiping movements, allowing the
driver to control the entire infotainment system using finger swipes without
having to take their hands off the steering wheel.
Further controls for the infotainment system are provided in the
shape of a touchpad with controller in the centre console, which can even
recognise handwriting, and the Linguatronic voice control system.
Merc is proud to say while the new E-Class is considerably more
intelligent, it is not that much more expensive, considering how much value the
rand has lost to the Euro.
We can thank all the credits built up by the thousands of C-Class
models exproted from the world-class factory in East London for this saving.
Merc’s PremiumDrive six-years or 100 000 km maintenance contract is
included in the prices below.
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| The unassuming profile of the 2016 E-Class in KZN's cane fields. |
Pricing and power:
E 200: R707 100
(1991 cc, 135 kW/300 Nm)
E 220d: R759 100
(1950 cc, 143 kW / 400 Nm)
E 350d: R946 300
(2987 cc, 190 kW/ 620 Nm)
• Full disclosure: Impressions gathered during a
launch on invite of the manufacturer.
