2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe wins WhichCar Style Award

THE Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe has been crowned the most stylish car on sale, as the winner of the 2018 WhichCar Style Award.

Mercedes-Benz was presented with the accolade at tonight’s Australian Motoring Awards, hosted by the Bauer Motoring Network at The Forum in Melbourne, Australia.

The verdict was handed down by a panel of judges made up of renowned Australian automotive designer, Paul Beranger, motoring expert Ryan Lewis from WhichCar, and leading voices on fashion and lifestyle from the wider Bauer Media family of publications, including Belle editor Tanya Buchanan, Real Living editor Emma Vidgen, and Elle beauty & lifestyle associate Amy Starr.

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In its third year, the WhichCar Style Award again aimed to identify the most aesthetically desirable new car on the market, based on a comprehensive criteria that considers vehicle design in terms of X factor; technology; innovation; exterior and interior cohesiveness; colour, texture and quality; value and fulfilment of purpose.

A shortlist of 12 eligible cars was selected by the Wheels and WhichCar teams and put to the readers for a popular vote, narrowing the field to a final four. It was the E-Class Coupe that eventually stood tallest above the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi Q2 and Hyundai Kona.

Judges agreed that the well-dressed E-Class Coupe’s form is perfectly suggestive of its sought-after blend of luxury appeal and on-road athleticism. Its elegant proportions are innately pleasing to the eye, and its relatively unembellished side profile is a fine example of minimalist design finesse.

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Pillar-less window openings on either side – a signature element of Mercedes-Benz coupes over the decades – have made their way to the E-Class Coupe, offering an uninterrupted open-air feeling from front to back.

Every model grade of the E-Class Coupe addresses the Style Award values from inside out. Its cabin brims with tech innovations incorporated in a manner both attractive and easy to use, and though its ultra-modern cockpit breaks new ground, its high quality and impeccable attention to detail complements the exterior look and feel for an overall sensation of style with substance.

“It embodies quality craftsmanship and engineering, yet is beautiful and elegant. When sitting in it you can adjust everything to make it feel like it was built just for you. It feels like you’re inside an amazing, luxurious cocoon, and you just want to drive off in it,” said Tanya Buchanan, Editor for Belle.

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“The stretching of the upper part of this coupe is sublime in terms of proportion. The pillar-less glass and the lack of sculpting on the body side, it really reflects a maturity and self-confidence. It’s a beautifully executed car,” said automotive Design Consultant Paul Beranger, former Head of Toyota Style Australia.

“This car is for a person who is very discerning, who thinks a lot about quality and wants something that is classic, but still very modern. Inside, everything felt intuitive and the finishes are world class. I love that you can customise the LED lighting. It has so much detail without feeling overworked,” said Emma Vidgen, Editor for Real Living.

“The E-Class Coupe is a really successful marriage of classically beautiful design principles and up-to-the-minute technology. It’s for people who have a sense of style, who want prestige, and a car that feels special to walk up to, even before getting inside. The presence of this car has an effect on people,” said Ryan Lewis, Online Editor for WhichCar.

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“It belies the technology that’s underneath. There’s a lot going on inside the vehicle and you would never know that from how simple and sophisticated the exterior is,” said Amy Starr, Beauty & Lifestyle Associate for Elle.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe is available in three model grades, starting from $96,000.