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Singapore
I don’t know about you, but if I just bought a new Mercedes, I want people to know. Even more so if it’s an E-Class, because driving one means you never have to say you’ve done it again. Your Benz will now say it for you.
As well as being the automatic choice of those in Singapore who have played life’s cards well, the E-Class appears to be the star at the center of the Mercedes-Benz universe. If you include all the ancestors since 1946, Mercedes sold 14 million of them.
There is good news if you are thinking of making 14 million one. Mercedes launched a revamped E-Class here on December 10, and it looks markedly different from the old one. In fact, it almost looks like a completely redesigned car, with its new slimmer headlights and slimmer front grille.
At the rear it appears even further removed from its predecessor, thanks to the new horizontal taillights that replace the triangular ones.
The interesting thing is not that the E-Class has a new look, but a new look. Judging from the upcoming S-Class, the brand’s new flagship, Mercedes design is entering an era where glitz is downplayed in favor of understatement. Consequently, the E-Class has been stripped of some of its more striking details and is now sharply toned down.
How well that approach will work here is anyone’s guess; For some buyers, the goal of driving a Mercedes-Benz is to revel in the opulence of the vehicle. Perhaps it would make more sense to appreciate the Mercedes for what it is instead: a luxurious, relaxing car for travel, one that feels high-tech and is enjoyable to drive.
Until next year, Singapore only gets the E 200 model, which tends to account for the bulk of E-Class sales anyway. Not surprising, because it feels like all the Mercedes you need.
Its 2.0-liter turbo engine may have a husky voice, but it offers enough torque to give the Mercedes a nice spin of speed, aided by the nine-speed transmission.
The Business Times promoted the exclusive version, one of the three available here and the most traditional of all. The others, labeled Avantgarde and AMG Line, look sportier and have different suspensions with lower, stiffer springs for more precise handling.
However, the E 200 Exclusive takes the shocks firmly enough that it’s hard to imagine an even firmer setup that would do the Mercedes any good.
Also, even if the Exclusive variant is supposedly the least sporty of all, the E 200 generally has plenty of agility built in, certainly enough to make a road full of twists and turns something that is welcome rather than avoided.
The interior is largely preserved from before, but there are three new steering wheels, all of which have touch-sensitive pads. That new technology points to the idea that the Mercedes software guys have been busier than their mechanical engineers.
Consequently, the E-Class now has the “Hey, Mercedes” voice-activated control system, which is part of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment suite that has spread across the line. of brand products.
Instead of hitting the touchscreen, you can apparently ask your Mercedes to drive you home or cheer you on if you’re tired, which would be a great feature if it worked well.
In truth, Mercedes appears to be one lap behind Audi and BMW in the voice control race (and both appear to be one lap behind Apple and Google), at least in terms of having an ear for the Singapore accent. He could change voice radio stations, but to most other things his answer was “Excuse me?” followed by “Sorry, I can’t help you with that.” At least it was an apology.
However, these voice control systems are the future and will only get better with use.
In the meantime, there’s the new Mercedes me connect app to impress your friends. Launched here recently, it’s similar to the add-on apps Audi and BMW have had on the market for a while, and it basically makes use of a 4G line to make your phone an extension of your Mercedes. Or is it the other way around?
The app has a number of features, like remotely locking or unlocking your car, placing it in a parking lot for you, or kindly alerting you to abuse by a parking valet. Apparently it can pair with some Garmin fitness devices and let your Mercedes know what kind of condition it’s in (most likely sleep deprived, because of the effort that goes into being able to buy an E 200 here).
In turn, that can allow Mercedes to respond by creating a suitable environment in terms of cabin temperature and lighting.
That sort of thing may seem arcane or even frivolous, but it’s what an automaker does when you’ve mastered the more tangible aspects of luxury.
You may not see yourself making use of these digital features and want an E 200 just to telegraph your success. There’s nothing wrong with that, but with some of the ownership experience migrating to your smartphone, you can at least have some of that success in the palm of your hand now.
Exclusive to Mercedes-Benz E 200
Motor 1,991 cc, inline four turbo
Power 197 hp from 5,500 to 6,100 rpm
Torque 320 Nm at 1,650 at 4,000 rpm
Gearbox 9 speed automatic
0-100 km / h 7.5 seconds
Maximum speed 240km / h
Fuel efficiency 7.9 L / 100 km
Agent Cycle and transport
Price S $ 285,888 with COE
Available Now
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