If the EQE is a bit outré for your tastes with its curvy wedge styling and electric power, Mercedes-Benz has a redesigned E-Class on the way.
The upcoming W214-series E-Class has been spied testing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a convoy with its EQE sedan counterpart.
At this stage, the next-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class is expected to be revealed during 2023 as a 2024 model.
The E-Class is the middle child of Mercedes-Benz’s combustion-powered, rear-/all-wheel drive sedan trio, and the new generation follows the redesigned S-Class launched locally in 2021 and the new C-Class launched this year.
Mercedes-Benz hasn’t confirmed what’ll be under the bonnet of this new-generation E-Class, but a range of 48V mild-hybrid turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel powertrains are expected, along with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options.
It’s unclear whether the E-Class will follow the smaller C-Class in offering only four-cylinder powertrains across both the core and AMG ranges.
Currently, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is offered in Australia with a choice of three turbocharged four-cylinder engines, one of which is mated with a plug-in hybrid system.
Stepping up to the AMG range, however, gets you a turbocharged inline-six in the E53 and a twin-turbo V8 in the E63.
This prototype spied at the Nürburgring has been previously spied during winter testing in convoy with a second E-Class prototype.
As previously seen, this prototype has production headlights and tail lights that are partially covered in camouflage.
Its headlights appear to be larger and more angular than the current E-Class, with a seemingly larger grille that’s set lower and has more of a shield shape.
The side profile appears to have cleaner details and this prototype has flush, pop-out door handles.
The W214 E-Class’ design language seems to be more evolutionary than revolutionary, and it has a strong family resemblance with the C-Class and S-Class.
Inside is where the the most substantial visual changes are set to take place, with the new E-Class expected to adopt a portrait-style touchscreen infotainment system like the C-Class and S-Class.
The C-Class currently offers a choice of 9.5- or 11.9-inch displays and 10.25- or 12.3-inch digital instrument clusters, whereas the S-Class comes with a 12.8-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Both run the latest MBUX infotainment operating system.
C-Class interior
The current, W213-generation E-Class first arrived in Australia in mid-2016 and received a facelift in 2020.
Turbo-diesel engines and an All-Terrain wagon body style were available here but were withdrawn in 2021, though they continue to be available in Europe.
The E450 was also discontinued, though it lives on in Europe albeit with a turbocharged inline-six instead of the old twin-turbo V6.
Current W213-generation E-Class
The E-Class already has an all-electric alternative in the form of the EQE sedan. It’s confirmed to be coming to Australia in the second half of 2022.
Featuring a radically different silhouette to the more conventional E-Class, plus the option of Mercedes-Benz’s humongous MBUX Hyperscreen, the EQE rides on a dedicated electric architecture.
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