The classic large luxury sedan from the three-pointed star gets a mid-life update and launch here time for the new year

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SINGAPORE

UPDATE: Here’s our test drive of the new Mercedes-Benz E 200 sedan!

The fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class that was first launched in 2017 has been given a big technical makeover, and was launched in Singapore at a livestream event on December 10, 2020. Prior to this, the world got the first glimpse of the new E-Class at another virtual launch earlier this year, due to the cancellation of the Geneva Motorshow (see below for more info).

Early this week, we were also given a private look at the new model in a limited-numbers, closed door session at the Mercedes-Benz showroom at Alexandra Road.

We have a full story on what’s new in the new E-Class above but at the moment you can only buy the E 200, in three trim levels, in Singapore. 

Prices start from $271,888 for the E 200 Avantgarde. This rises to $280,888 for the E 200 Exclusive and $290,888 for the E 200 AMG Line. All prices are quoted with COE.

The easiest way to spot the differences between them is to see where the emblem is located at the front. The Avantgarde is the entry-level trim but looks suitably modern with the large star emblem set in the centre with a pair of chrome strips in the intake grille, while the Exclusive is easily the most traditional of the trio with the bonnet-mounted logo.

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The AMG Line features a sportier external bodykit, but is identical in performance to the other E 200 models. 

Powering the E 200 is Mercedes-Benz’s M 264 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with 197 horsepower. A nine-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels in the classic Mercedes-Benz sedan powertrain layout. 

There’s also the E 300 and E 450 on the horizon, though when those will be arriving in Singapore are not yet confirmed. 

Furthermore, there’s also a range of upcoming plug-in hybrids for the E-Class, along with the chart-topping Mercedes-AMG E 53 as the most powerful of the range. Whether or not these will be coming to Singapore are still up in the air as well.

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Like the rest of the competition, what’s most revolutionary about the new E-Class is that the car’s computing power has been significantly increased. The apparent aim being to make the car future-proof to a certain extent, with software updates rolling out as necessary to keep the car current over the years. The voice recognition is better than ever, and promises a fully integrated driver and vehicle usage experience.

The interior dashboard uses two 12.3-inch screens. You can still choose between four display themes, though the possibility of Mercedes-Benz introducing more options via updates is very real.

Active safety and driving assistance features have been improved with the Distronic active cruise control now able to adjust the car’s speed for curves based on GPS data, and the improved 360-degree parking camera allows the automatic parking feature to effectively park the car within a demarcated space painted on the road. Early versions required a vehicle at either side of the parking space for the sensors to detect. 

The steering wheel now features haptic sensors to detect if the driver is actually touching the wheel, where previous versions depended on weight loading. If the car detects no hands on the steering wheel after a period of time, a series of warnings will slowly build up, culminating in the activation of the car’s Emergency Brake Assist if no driver action is detected after an extended period of time.

Claudius Steinhoff, the new CEO of Daimler South East Asia, which imports Mercedes-Benz cars into Singapore, noted, “In many ways the E-Class is the most important pillar of the Mercedes-Benz brand and it needs to be continuously forward-looking. It’s not only a volume-seller, but also an ambassador for what the brand represents as a leader in the executive luxury segment.”

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