The famous Mercedes E-Class is getting a major facelift ready for release this summer. This updated luxury motor - which clearly takes inspiration from the German car firm's all-electric EQ range - not only looks far more futuristic but also reduces drag to make driving more economical. There are also new hybrid engines which can be switched to fully electric mode with Mercedes promising that owners should get over 60 miles of driving without drinking an ounce of fuel. The outside of the E-Class looks impressive but it's on the inside that things get really exciting.
The rebooted E-Class is fully loaded with new technology including clever AI that learns your routines and automates tasks. So, if you pull up to the same car park every day, the vehicle will learn the commute and know when to wind the window down to grab a ticket.
Perhaps the most eye-catching part of this car is the massive "Superscreen" that spreads itself across the whole of the dashboard - there's even a smaller display for passengers to enjoy.
It's not just there for show either as this digital panel can be transformed from offering basic controls into a fully-packed entertainment system. That means movies can be viewed and there's even full access to apps such as TikTok and Angry Birds. Should you pull over to watch a family flick, the E-Class includes intelligent ambient lighting which reacts to what's being viewed. Start a movie with fast sequences of beats and the interior will see rapid light changes - when the action dies, flowing rhythms can create softly merging lighting moods.
Along with plenty of playtime, the car is also built for work with full access to apps such as Zoom. There's even a built-in selfie camera so you can be seen whilst chatting online with your colleagues in the office.
Of course, it wouldn't be safe to watch a blockbuster or ring work whilst whizzing along the M25 so all of this tech only works when drivers have safely stopped on the side of the road.
However, Mercedes has included a clever function to keep passengers entertained on those long journeys from A to B. The smaller part of the Superscreen can be used whilst the car is in motion with sensors automatically blocking what's being shown from the driver so they don't get distracted.
Other innovations packed inside the new E-Class include a Digital Vehicle Key which uses your phone to unlock the doors and start the engine. This virtual key can even be shared with family members for a set amount of time - that means they can't dash off in your expensive saloon without you knowing.
To keep everyone comfy on long journeys there's THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control and Digital Vent Control which moves the blowers to the perfect position.
There's also an in-built Anti-Travel Sickness programme and coaching in the car which helps occupants breathe properly - Mercedes says this will help reduce the stress of the daily commute.
Speaking about the launch, Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement, said: "The new E-Class is even more intelligent, and reaches a new dimension of personalisation and interaction. Thanks to digital innovations, music, games and streaming content can be experienced in the car with almost all senses," said
"The new MBUX Superscreen, for example, offers a large glass surface that extends to the central display. We have also developed a new compatibility layer that allows the installation of third-party apps. With the new THERMOTRONIC with Digital Vent Control, all nozzles in the front area can be adjusted electrically as if by magic. And with the new routines, the new E-Class can be adapted to personal habits."
The new E-Class is expected to hit roads this summer with the entry-level model starting from around £50,000.
