2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Preview
CARS.COM
Competes with: BMW 6 Series
Looks like: The E-Class sedan meets the S-Class coupe
Drivetrain: 329-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with nine-speed automatic transmission; rear- or all-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Summer 2017
Mercedes-Benz released details on the redesigned 2018 E-Class coupe, a swanky two-door that combines themes from the flagship S-Class coupe and redesigned E-Class sedan. Initially the coupe will come as an E400, but higher-performance AMG versions will almost certainly follow.
More 2017 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
The new E-Class coupe will debut at next month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, so stay tuned for our up-close impressions. It goes on sale in summer 2017.
Exterior
The E-Class coupe wears the sedan’s nose, complete with swept-back headlights and a broad, vertical grille. The horizontal wraparound taillights and long, swooping greenhouse recall the S-Class coupe. The frameless windows omit a B-pillar and there’s a big enough stretch of glass over the backseat that a second set of doors — in the vein of the CLS-Class — appear like they could fit without too much rejiggering. The lengthened profile portends the E-Class coupe’s new dimensions, too; it’s a significant 4.8 inches longer and 2.9 inches taller than its predecessor.
The bumper features a wide, continuous opening that fans out near the fenders like a kayak paddle. A sportier three-portal design, meanwhile, puts a dark lip below the center opening.
Interior
Mercedes boasts “long-distance comfort for four people” with the E-Class coupe. Cabin styling follows the E-Class sedan, with the instruments and a massive, 12.3-inch center display housed under the same dashboard hood. An optional virtual instrument display replaces the physical gauges with their own 12.3-inch screen that can show various gauge themes. It also borders the center display to create a continuous widescreen effect. Like the E-Class sedan, the coupe has touch-sensitive steering wheel controls. Mercedes’ Comand knob-based controller incorporates a touchpad with handwriting recognition; a navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are all standard.
Under the Hood
The E400 has Mercedes’ turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, good here for 329 hp and 354 pounds-feet of torque. With the standard nine-speed automatic transmission, it scurries to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, Mercedes says. Optional all-wheel drive (4Matic, in Mercedes-speak) slows the sprint to 5.5 seconds. An adaptive air suspension is also optional.
Safety
