The German penchant for silly eyewear has expressed itself in the headlights of Mercedes-Benzes for a while now, and the 2010 E-class continues this proud tradition. Gone are the ovoid frames of the last E-class, in favor of a hipper set of squared-off lenses. The rest of the E-class is similarly predictable—it’s still an upright sedan, its dimensions are within fractions of an inch of the previous generation’s, and the same engines as last year power it.
The angular theme starts at the headlights and spreads rearward to form a chiseled yet still conservative body. The only peculiar and controversial aspect of the design is the upside-down swoosh that runs over the rear fenders. Mercedes tells us that the rear fenders are supposed to recall the ’50s Ponton models; we think Nike’s lawyers might want to take a look. The fenders do look better in person if wheels 17 inches or larger are selected, sizes that will be standard on U.S.-bound E-classes.
Underneath is an all-new unibody structure that Mercedes claims is 30 percent stiffer and able to meet future crash requirements. The beefier structure leads to a weight increase of 150 pounds in the E350 and 260 pounds in the E550, according to the company. Predictably, acceleration from the 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 E350 and the 382-hp, 5.5-liter V-8 E550 suffers—zero-to-60 times will likely be slower by a few 10ths compared with last year’s results. In the fall, the 507-hp E63 AMG joins the lineup. A 50-state-legal diesel E320 Bluetec will be added early next year. All engines will be equipped with a seven-speed automatic.
Keep Reading: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class / E550 Sedan - Second Drive
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