2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe revealed

Mercedes-Benz has whipped the covers off the sleek two-door companion to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, with the E-Class Coupe making its official debut in Europe today ahead of its first public showing at the Detroit Motor Show in early January.

Based on same platform as the E-Class sedan (rather than following the same format as the current-gen E-Class Coupe, which was based on the W204 C-Class), the E-Class Coupe has grown substantially.

Measuring 4826mm long, 1430mm tall and 1860mm wide, the new E-Class Coupe is 123mm longer, 74mm wider and 32mm higher than the car it replaces. Track width has swelled by 67mm at the front and 68mm at the rear too, giving the 2017 E-Class Coupe a bulkier road presence. Wheelbase also grows by 113mm

And with styling that bridges the gap between the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe and the flagship S-Class Coupe, the new two-door E-Class boasts a premium aura inside and out.

On the outside, slim LED taillights and an upturned bootlip mimic the S-Class Coupe, while the front end is almost a straight facsimile of the sedan, with AMG-Line cars sporting a prominent three-pointed star set into the grille and flanked by chrome bars.

Linking front and rear is a sleek turret forming an unbroken arch from pillar to pillar. The glasshouse is open thanks to the absence of a traditional B-pillar in the middle, though as with the current E-Class Coupe the rear glass is interrupted by a trim strip and a small triangle of fixed glass – a necessity to allow the rear quarter window to slide downward.

Like the E-Class sedan, the Coupe will be offered in Avantgarde and AMG Line grades.

Inside, the E-Class coupe features familiar furniture from the sedan, with some models available with twin side-by-side 12.3-inch electronic displays while low-spec models get a traditional analogue instrument set.

The air vents have been styled after jet engine tailpipes, and the E-Class Coupe’s greatly increased dimensions translate into improved rear seat legroom, headroom and shoulder room – though the Coupe remains a strict four-seater. Front seat occupants also benefit from more sprawling space.

Capacitive touch controls on the steering wheel allow control of the infotainment system via smartphone-style swiping movements, all without removing your hands from the wheel. Besides Benz’s native COMAND infotainment system, the E-Class Coupe will also feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring and an inductive loop phone charging pad.

Besides the standard inclusion of automatic emergency braking, the E-Class Coupe will also be available with Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot semi-autonomous guidance system, which is able to follow curves in the road and keep a safe distance from other traffic at speeds up to 210km/h.

Benz’s Remote Parking Pilot system can also be optioned, allowing drivers to exit the car and park it via a smartphone app – ideal for tight garages and parking spaces.

Four engines will be offered initially: one diesel inline four, two turbo petrol inline fours and the 245kW/480Nm turbo V6 of the E400 4Matic – the latter being the most powerful model until the arrival of the expected Mercedes-AMG E43.

The entry-level E200 makes 135kW and 300Nm from its 2.0-litre petrol four-pot, while the E300 turns up the wick on the same engine to 180kW/370Nm. Fuel economy on the European test cycle is listed at 6.0L/100km for the former and 6.4L/100km for the latter, while 0-100km/h times are a claimed 7.8 and 6.4 seconds respectively.

The E220d will be the sole diesel option, capable of 143kW and 400Nm from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel. Sipping 4.0L/100km on average, the E220d’s 7.4-second 0-100km/h time is respectable for an oil-burner.

At the top of the tree, the E400 4Matic Coupe sprints to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds and consumes 8.1L/100km.

A nine-speed automatic moves the E-Class Coupe forward technologically, and air suspension will be available – at least in overseas markets. The standard springs give the Coupe a 15mm lower ride height compared to the E-Class sedan, and adjustable dampers are also available as an option.

The E-Class Coupe will arrive in Australia in mid-2017, with pricing and local specifications yet to be confirmed.