Mercedes-Benz is taking a huge leap into the future with numerous innovations to the interior of the new E-Class, giving new interpretation to the concept of contemporary luxury.
#1 Dual Display
A main focal point of the luxurious interior of the new E-Class is that the dashboard houses two digital display units, each with a 12.3 inch screen and 1920 x 720 pixel display. These screens visually merge together in order to form a wide-screen dashboard cockpit, which acts as a central element to the interior whilst emphasizing the horizontal design. This widescreen cockpit display contains “virtual instruments” within the driver’s direct field of vision as well as in a centre display above the main centre console. A glass cover completes the look, giving it a modern flat screen appearance.
#2 Touch Controls
Another innovation to the new E-Class is the integration of touch control buttons to the multifunction steering wheel. This clever innovation enables the driver to control the functions of the infotainment system, using finger swipes, in the same intuitive manner as a smartphone, without removing their hands from the steering wheel.
#3 Intelligent Use of Materials
Opulent materials define the sporty and elegant style of the interior of the new E-Class. These materials include open-pore woods designed in flowing lines, inlaid wood and novel metal fabrics. The use of these authentic materials is continued throughout the car with a leather covered interior which is typical of Mercedes-Benz high quality look and feel.
#4 64 Colour Lighting
The interior lighting of the new E-Class makes use of durable, energy-saving LED technology. With the same applying to the optionally available “Enhanced Ambience Lighting”. Using 64 colours, it offers a massive range of choice for personalisation. Adding touches of light to the trims, the centre display, the door pockets and handle recesses and footwells.
#5 First Class Seat Design
Another highlight of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class are the seats. Their ergonomic and sculptural form make them particularly suitable for long journeys, whilst maintaining their sporty yet refined looks. The “AVANTGARDE” version offers a more sporty bias, with contoured seats which accent sportiness while offering good support and ventilation. The “EXCLUSIVE” line offer the same transversely tacked centre sections, but colour-matched to the overall seat sculpture in a fabric and leather mix or nappa leather. Even the basic entry-level fabric versions emphasise the luxurious ambience. Also available is a diamond-patterned designo seat with perforations similar to an S-Class seat combined with the enhanced lateral support of the sports seat.
#6 3D Sound
The new E-Class comes with the Frontbass system which delivers a special listening experience as standard, with the bass speakers using the space in the cross-member and side member of the body structure as a resonance chamber. If the car is equipped with the optionally available second generation (the first is equipped in the S-Class) Burmester 3D surround sound system, the occupants will be treated to a listening experience reminiscent of the acoustics in a concert hall. The sound system uses a 25-litre bass box with an amplifier in the boot, two mid-range speakers in the front doors as well as seven mid-range speakers and ring radiator tweeters of aluminium for precise sound resolution. In contrast, other 3D sound systems dispense with roof speakers and merely use appropriate algorithms to simulate a 3D sound. As in the S-Class, the sound can be optimally adjusted for every seat position using the so-called VIP setting.
#7 New Safety Enhancing Functions
In a world’s first, it’s now possible to implement all functions of the intelligent Light System by digital means. In addition, a host of new, adaptive light functions are possible that make night-time driving safer for both the driver and other road users. These include newly developed bad-weather lights, a city light and a navigation-based junction light.
Hayley has been an automotive writer for almost a decade, and is the editor of a popular UK motoring blog, as well as writing for DDR Surrey Mercedes Specialist. She specialises in Mercedes-Benz and dreams of one day owning a Mercedes AMG A45.