Executive saloons aren't the most exciting things in the world are they?
They begin their lives as cars to take people to work and slowly become taxi's and finally, probably, cheap run arounds for people who remember that car from when back when.
It seem quite good just add bought one yeah However with each new one, there a bit of cool stuff bubbling under a lovingly crafted exterior designed to entice you into it's seat.
The stuff that five years ago would be alien to us, but in another five years will seem completely indispensable.
This is the new Mercedes E Class and it's full of stuff that you're probably gonna want.
First the shape it's rather Pleasant i've never really been a fan of Merc looks until recently apparently they designed guys wanted to look like it to pay for a couple of reasons one so buyers can presumably think they're cruising down Route One but really there are On a commute, and two, it's super aerodynamic, so much so that the E220D, the one with the two-liter diesel engine in it, is 102 grams per kilometer of carbon dioxide.
That's less than any of its rivals, and it's more efficient as well.
It'll do over 70 MPG if you drive it like a saint.
In here they're are toys are so many toys but the main one is this jewel screen it is optional but you'd be a fool not to speck it because it's incredible frankly on one side the passenger side the center console did you go to Giant nav screen got access to pretty much everything all the entertainment your phone and even an owners manual When you're, the one in here, the instrument pinnacle, that is just for me.
So I've got my rev counter speed, I have a number of styles.
The larger screen also shows you the front and year cameras in amazing definition.
I know I saw a few people that would be very jealous of it.
But that is just the biggest bit you can see.
There's stuff you can't.
This car can pretty much drive itself using something called drive pilot.
It will keep the car in lane using steering pilot and work in conjunction with the adaptive cruise, so you don't really need to do anything.
The speed limit pilot will read them mad and the road signs to keep you at the correct limit.
And active lane changing system will change lanes for you.
So long as you indicate and it's clear.
This has yet another party piece in that you can open, close and start the car using NFC on your phone.
You don't actually need a physical key if you don't want it.
So for example, if you're away on business and you have the key to the car with you but you need it moved, you can send your key via phone to your most trusted chum Who can then take it home for you or take it on a journey without you knowing.
The entertainment itself is handled either by the usual controls wheely thing or by touch sensitive buttons on the wheel.
The displays can be changed to look classic, sport, or progressive which would Apparently inspired by Trump, the nav will show you the nearest fuel stops and how much the motion lotion is.
If you could spec a commode, I'm pretty sure you'd never have to leave this thing.
And I don't think I would want to because the interior is just beautiful.
Previously I thought Mercedes interiors were a bit overdone, a bit chinchy, but
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The balance here is just perfect.
The materials are stunning.
The design of it, the flow of it.
It just feels nice.
And it's really quiet in here, in case you haven't noticed.
And that's because the front of the car is now smaller.
This thing has a .23 drive coefficient, which means it Sails through the air very efficiently, very cleanly.
But because of that small front end, less wind goes over the cabin, which means it's whisper quiet.
And if you get the optional air suspension, I imagine it would be like driving on a cloud.
So there we are.
The new Mercedes future [UNKNOWN] run around is full of lovely tech and is very comfy, but is it quick?
Well, in the UK we're gonna get a bunch of engines built.
We're in the E350d a 3L V6 diesel.
It's got 258 horsepower and it will do not to 62 in 5.9 seconds.
The question is, is this any good to drive?
The car does feel light and fluffy.
It's not too bouncy.
It's not too harsh.
It's not too hard.
It's not an uncomfortable experience.
It doesn't punish you for wanting to have just a slightly harder experience.
And it does feel good.
This is by no means a sports car.
It's not even a GT.
It's just a comfy Executive salute.
The brake on this is pretty damn good.
Again, there's loads of positive feedback from the pedal.
And, well, the brakes work in an emergency.
I've had some errant cyclists on this drive.
Now, the engine itself, it is smooth.
It's not as quiet as I'd hoped it would be, and the V6 is a bit droning.
It's not the most exciting sound in the world.
It kind of groans at any speed.
Gearbox is the Mercedes 9G electronic.
You really can't tell when it's shifting gears.
It's very very odd if I'm honest because you just kind of go and the car goes you need another gear.
Off you go, you don't see that you don't Really hear it all that much.
The safety tech or the drive pilot stuff.
That's where it gets clever but also a little bit too clever for my liking, because yes, people can do some catastrophically stupid stuff, and I think this is geared up for those people, because it hasn't kicked in that many times during the time of the car, but I do wonder whether it's not something of Ahead trigger.
For example I was reversing in a lay-by and a car was coming on the road quite fast from mine and it's slammed the anchors on immediately and [UNKNOWN] lots of beats and noise.
Well, it scared me half to death.
What happening with cars now is that we're getting to a point where the drivers becoming secondary.
A lot of people expect it to drive well.
They expect it to be smooth.
They expect it to keep them safe.
Now we're getting into an area where cars aren't just technologically advanced, they are hyper tech.
They will think for you.
They will do everything for you.
Everything will be a finger prod or a poke or a thumb rub away.
We're a few steps away from autonomy where it stands in the moment but in the intermediate period This is a fantastic age to live because you can engage with a car, you can feel what it's doing, you can drive it as hard as you want to.
And you'll still be comfortable, and you'll still be safe.
And one day, you can tell the car to drive as hard as you want it to and tell it to drift around every corner if you want it to, I imagine.
And you can sit in the back with the paper and a cup of coffee.
For the people who don't like driving who buy cars simply cuz they need to get from A to B, that's gonna be a fantastic world, but right now an E class is probably a perfect car for someone who doesn't like driving because it's smooth, it's relaxing, it's comfortable.
You can see out of it mostly, this A pillar's quite big, and taking a left-hander you do have to kind of crane round it, but we're in a brilliant era for cars.
We're very lucky to be where we are, ad this is a fantastic example of where we're going.
So it's good then.
That's hardly a surprise after selling over 13 million E-Classes over the years, each with their own innovations, like ABS and nine speed gearbox and others, it'd be pretty hard to make a duffer.
This car isn't about speed, it's about keeping its occupants comfortable and most importantly safe.
Yeah, the V60 [UNKNOWN] can be a bit droney, and the touch pads on the steering wheel are a nice idea, but they're a bit flawed as it stands.
However in all the new E-class of this lineage, they proud.
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