2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the 'Brand's Most Advanced Vehicle'

It’s January, which means two things: One, it’s fricken cold here in Detroit, and two, the North American International Auto Show is in town. Getting a jump on its competitors, Mercedes-Benz revealed its all-new E-Class the day before the show officially begins.

This 2017 model is the 10th generation of this hugely popular luxury sedan, and supposedly, it’s the most advanced vehicle in the brand’s portfolio, which is saying a lot, since its Maybach S600 has more microprocessors than an Apple store.

Like practically every redesigned car these days, the new E-Class has grown a little bit. Its wheelbase is up by nearly three inches, and its overall body is longer by almost two. Thanks to a new structure, which features much more aluminum and ultra-high-strength steel, it’s also more rigid.

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Wearing the brand’s so-called “Sensual Purity” design language, this car features two unique looks depending on the trim level. Luxury lines feature a brighter grille and stand-up hood ornament. Sport variants gain a massive star emblem in the grille along with other styling tweaks.

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But all of that is so vain; let’s talk mechanicals. The 2017 E-Class will launch in the U.S. with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It ought to put out a class-competitive (if unimpressive) 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission should be standard.

Moving inside, the new E-Class will pamper passengers with a drop-dead gorgeous interior that features cues clearly borrowed from the S-Class. Material quality is stunning, from the leather to the trim to the speaker grilles. This cabin wows from the second you pop a door.

One of its standout features, which will be offered on the E300 model, is a monstrous 12.3-inch widescreen display. It also has touch-sensitive steering-wheel buttons, handwriting recognition and a simplified infotainment system.

But this stuff is just the tip of the technological iceberg. When properly equipped, this new E-Class can automatically help you steer through corners and change lanes. It can stop itself if necessary, prevent you from swerving like a drunkard and even brace for an impact if a crash is unavoidable.

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Beyond all of this, it also features “car-to-X” communications, giving it the ability to chat with other vehicles and even the infrastructure. But one of its coolest features is called Remote Parking Pilot, which allows the car to be controlled remotely by a smartphone, making it easier to park in tight spaces or garages.

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is scheduled to launch this summer in the U.S. Pricing information well be made available closer to launch.

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