[karan561]

The prototype was caught testing on the Nurburgring.

Despite the mule using a a camouflaged AMG bodykit, it is clearly not a full-on AMG model by looking at the ground clearance and its cornering stability.

Video;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T9HOc5vZdM

The E W213 is based on the MRA (Modular Rear-wheel drive Architecture) platform.

Source

[vineethvazhayil]

I'm really interested in the next gen E Class. I think it will have some potent alternative drive train to go head to head with the Teslas of the world. It would be a top choice for us to replace our Infiniti M35.

[Nikhilb2008]

I really love the current E Class. I think it's by far the best looking sedan in India.

With the new design philosophy Merc seems to be copying the BMW policy of the 2000s.

You want 15 feet of car? The C Class it is then! Oh, you want a slightly bigger size, the E Class it is! Oh, you have an unlimited budget, then it's the S class for you laddie!

All the cars look identical and it just looks terrible.

[deetjohn]

More pics from topspeed.com and they call it the 2017 E-Class. I hate the current face-lifted E and this looks rather nice. But the similarity in design to the S and C makes it even more difficult to distinguish between models and that'll be a bother for some.





Source

[vb-saan]

Ah as expected! The S with a 40% reduction in size became the C, and the E probably will be with 25% reduction to the S. The cars look really good in isolation (for e.g. the new C), but now closely follow how Audi did with A4, A6 and A8.

I have a feeling the current E (in its face-lifted avatar) will be remembered as a classic in 10-15 years from now. The car feel so special inside without being flamboyant.

[karan561]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

With the new design philosophy Merc seems to be copying the BMW policy of the 2000s.

All the cars look identical and it just looks terrible.

Originally Posted by vb-san

Ah as expected! The S with a 40% reduction in size became the C, and the E probably will be with 25% reduction to the S.

Originally Posted by deetjohn

But the similarity in design to the S and C makes it even more difficult to distinguish between models and that'll be a bother for some.

Guys the test mules running around & spied are bolted on with C Class bodykits.

The actual E class mule will be heavily camouflaged

[suhaas307]

^^

You know, that makes sense! That explains the exaggerated / flared wheel arches because the track will naturally be wider.

I really hope they give it a distinctive look and not make it look like a swollen-C / shrunk-S.

Personally, I am not a fan of the current face-lift.
Some design touches in isolation are very tasteful and it does add a touch of modernity. But the design as a whole lacks a certain cohesiveness to it. And that's because the front is a bit rounded with curved edges while the sides and the rear retain the straight lines of the original design. I still think the pre-facelift E is a fantastic looking car.

[Raulspace999]

The car is somewhat looking shorter, but a bit more meaner. The headlights i suppose are integrated. The signature E-class AFAIK always had this spec of twin headlights standard in all their previous models.

[PlatzdaTurbo]

(1) BMWs sporting the same ugly face the f30 onwards with special mention to the especially ugly integration of the headlights with the kidney grille. Their entire line-up is now en-route to getting the same face.

(2) Layman not being able to distinguish the ~25 lakh A3 from the 1 cr+ A8 from the front with virtually all Audis being given the blandest rear mankind has ever seen.

(3) Merc showing initial promise in design with the new A class followed by the CLA but starting with the new C , all Mercs seem to be becoming the w222 in different sizes.

(4) Jaguar ,inspite of having some beautiful designs have all started looking similar.

(5) Ford trying to become the next Aston Martin starting with the facelift fiesta. Perhaps they feel they are entitled to do so considering Aston have their engines ???

These are just a few examples but they tell me one thing - Designers are fast running out or have already run out of ideas. Easier said than done but something thats a total departure from the usual ho-hum same car in S,M,L & XXL sizes philosophy and is truly fresh is awaited.

[rrsteer]

Originally Posted by PlatzdaTurbo

Designers are fast running out or have already run out of ideas. Easier said than done but something thats a total departure from the usual ho-hum same car in S,M,L & XXL sizes philosophy and is truly fresh is awaited.

Don't blame the designers. Blame the managers. Oh, don't blame them even. blame the engineers. Btw, don't blame them even.

Blame the competition, market. The inexorable tsunami that forces everyone to reduce cost in any and every which way.

[infotech58]

This car looks a lot like a shortened S class and probably a larger version of ongoing C class. I would still prefer W211 or even W212 over this. I am on lookout of a used E class and started my search with W211 but wanted only 2009 model year (to avoid SMB issues) but slowly W212 started to grow on me and I shifted my search to W212. Who knows, W213 may turn out to be something that is better than W212.

[ajmat]

Car looks too lightly disguised. Chances are that it is a development C class based mule doing some suspension testing. Look at the flared wheelarches!

[karan561]

Latest spotting of the new E;







^ Can be mistaken as a C63 AMG ... but if you notice closely in all the pics the 'flared wheel arches' & in the 2nd pic the length of the car which will re assure this as the new E under development

Source

[amit]

That 2017 E class test mule has chrome strips around the window's. Are test mules normally so well kitted out? Also, the last pic of the white car undergoing testing, the tail lights are of the new C class. It could be the AMG variant rather then the E class. Mercedes wouldn't put exactly the same tail lights for both C & E class would they?!

[karan561]

Spotted in production body for the 1st time;







Image source