Brand new Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Exterior

A quick word about how it looks before we pore over those tech details then. Gorden Wagener, Merc's design chief, told CompleteCar.ie that "all our sedans should be instantly recognisable," and on that one he's definitely achieved his goal. Think big C-Class and you'll not be too far off the mark, but then the C's a handsome machine, and the premium saloon marketplace isn't the place designers are known to test their more radical ideas, as buyers are typically a conservative bunch.

If the styling is a bit same-but-bigger, Mercedes-Benz makes up for that on the technology. There's enough electronics in there to fill the halls of last week's Consumer Electronics Show, with more active features, safety and comfort kit than in any other Mercedes-Benz. We should know, having ridden in a prototype, which, bar the odd - legislatively enforced - requirement to brush the steering wheel to tell the car you're still there, all but drives itself. It's a step closer to autonomy then, via what Merc's dubbing 'Drive Pilot', and as close as you can legally get to a self-driving car.

Interior

The E-Class's cabin underlines its future-looking tech, dominated by two massive screens (on all but the entry level models) housing the instrumentation, entertainment and information interfaces and offering plenty of personalisation options and masses of connectivity. It's controlled via Merc's usual 'Comand' controller, rather than touchscreens. It's all very quick and easy to navigate, while touch sensitive buttons on the steering wheel and speech control also feature. New seats (very comfortable too), significantly more interior space - thanks to a stretched wheelbase - and greater comfort thanks to new suspension should help the E-Class trump its rivals.

Mechanicals

The entirely new E-Class gains some new powerplants, with the smaller petrol and diesel engines dominating European sales. The E 200 petrol delivers 184hp and 300Nm of torque, allowing it a 7.7-second 0-100km/h time allied to 5.9 litres/100km and 132g/km consumption and emissions figures. The E 220 d betters that, the diesel producing 195hp and 400Nm, a 7.3-second 0-100km/h time, CO₂ emissions of 102g/km and 3.9 litres/100km fuel consumption. A less powerful 150hp E 200 d will be offered too.

All the four-cylinder diesel engines are the first of a new generation of powerplants from Mercedes-Benz. Shorter and more compact than before, they promise greater refinement allied to better performance and economy. All E-Class models will be equipped from launch with a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission, as well as a start-stop system that aids their efficiency around town.

The engine range will include a larger 3.0-litre turbodiesel badged E 350 d and an E 350 e plug-in hybrid using a four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor. The latter promises sub-50g/km CO₂ and a combined consumption figure in the region of 2.1 litres/100km.

Anything else?

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class makes its world debut this week at the Detroit Auto Show. We drive it next month and can report on that in March, but for a taster, read Kyle's passenger ride of a pre-production version here.