Mercedes E550 Coupe and Cabriolet Bound for North America [Updated]
NHTSA documents discovered by AutoGuide.com reveal Mercedes is planning to offer a V8 in the E-Class coupe and cabriolet.
Currently, shoppers of two-door E-Classes have had to settle for Mercedes’ 329 hp 3.0-liter M276 bi-turbo V6 which is available in rear or all-wheel-drive configurations, but that’s about to change in 2018.
According to Daimler’s 2018 VIN decoder submitted to the NHTSA last month, Mercedes will begin offering both the E-Class coupe and cabriolet to North American shoppers with a version of the S550’s 449-hp 4.7-liter M278 bi-turbo V8.
In the E550 the M278 V8 will produce a detuned 402-hp, however, 4MATIC enthusiasts will be disappointed to learn Mercedes won’t offer the V8 in combination with the company’s all-wheel-drive system. Unfortunately, there’s still no hint about what Mercedes has planned for the inevitable AMG version of the two-door E-Class.
SEE ALSO: Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe Spied Testing a Facelift at the Nurburgring
As for the E-Class sedan, it will continue to soldier on with the 241-hp 2.0-liter M274 four-cylinder E300 and the E43 AMG396-hp which uses a 396-hp version of the 3.0-liter bi-turbo V6.
UPDATE: Mercedes-Benz reached out to inform us that the NHTSA filing we came across was actually for the previous generation E550 and is not an indication that a V8 version of the new E-Class Coupe will arrive.
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More by Michael Accardi
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Finally! Besides not having an AMG, I felt the loss of the V8 was the biggest disappointment with the new E-Class. I don't care if it's the same motor they used in the W212, it was/still is a great engine.
I have a 550 Cab, I love it.