The latest addition to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up is the 0pen-top two-door E-Class Cabriolet and it goes on sale on January 11, 2010.
While many open-top tourers are great in summer they tend to spend the winter in the garage but the E-Class Cabriolet is designed to keep passengers warm in winter with the top down.
New features include:
The AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop: always on board and easily controllable at the push of a button, it reduces turbulence substantially for all four seat occupants.
The modified AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system and
The acoustic soft top fitted as standard
The soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds – even when driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h.
The cabriolet roof is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft top compartment from the boot area; it must be closed in order to close the soft top.
If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the boot capacity is increased by 90 litres to 390 litres. A through-loading feature is included as standard for the new Cabriolet, as is EASY-ENTRY – a manually operated entry and exit aid for the rear passengers.
Engines
The powerplants for the new E-Class Cabriolet are equally innovative: the new direct-injection diesel and petrol models combine efficiency with what Mercedes describes as “superior power delivery”.
The low fuel consumption Mercedes claims for the E-Class Cabriolet is not only been achieved because of the new engines, but also with a number of practical measures.
These include on-demand activation of the steering and fuel pumps, the use of tyres with low rolling resistance and an alternator control system which takes account of the current driving situation and the
vehicle’s electrical power requirements, plus the crucial factor of outstanding aerodynamics.
An overview of the engines:
E 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Cabriolet: 125 kW (170 hp)
E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Cabriolet: 150 kW (204 hp)
E 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Cabriolet: 170 kW (231 hp)
E 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Cabriolet: 135 kW (184 hp)
E 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Cabriolet: 150 kW (204 hp)
E 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Cabriolet: 215 kW (292 hp)
E 500 Cabriolet: 285 kW (388 hp)
Less turbulence: AIRCAP® is a world-first
In 1989, Mercedes-Benz introduced a world premiere in the shape of a draught-stop for the SL model series, followed in 2004 by the AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system to further enhance comfort in open-top models.
Now Mercedes introduces another world-first: the AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop, which can be activated at the push of a button.
It reduces turbulence in the interior of the new Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, creating a sea of warm air. It is also much easier to implement and use than conventional draught-stops: there is no tricky installation, the two individual rear seats remain free and the Cabriolet’s flowing side lines remain uninterrupted.
AIRCAP® consists of two components: a wind deflector that can be extended by around six centimetres with a net in the windscreen frame and a draught-stop between the rear seats.
Quiet Interior
An acoustic soft top, fitted as standard gives the E-Class Cabriolet has one of the quietest interiors in the segment for four-seater premium cabriolets with a fabric roof. Mercedes claims that the soft top’s high-quality insulation brings about a clearly noticeable reduction in the interior noise level compared to conventional fabric soft tops. Exterior noise caused by other vehicles and wind noise are therefore absorbed more effectively.
The soft top is of course waterproof and windproof and it can be put through an automatic carwash without any problems. With a total thickness of 23.5 mm, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the E-Class Cabriolet is also ideal for use in winter.
Safety
The new Cabriolet offers a number of safety innovations one would expect from a Mercedes model. including roll-over protection, the A-pillars reinforced by two additional tubes and the plug-in B-pillars. This new model is also the first Mercedes cabriolet to feature headbags.
The roll-over protection consists of two barswith a diameter of 35 mm that are housed in the rear head restraints in modules behind the rear seat backrests.
A tilting cone sensor detects imminent danger to the occupants based on extreme skidding movements or acceleration caused by impact. If this sensor then sends a corresponding signal, pre-tensioned pressure springs are activated.
Once activated both roll-over bars in the rear head restraints are extended. They reach their highest point and are locked automatically within a fraction of a second. In combination with the robust A-pillars, each of which is reinforced with two high-strength steel tubes, the steel bars provide highly effective roll-over protection.
The plug-in B-pillars engage in the side skirts, thus offering highly effective protection in the event of a crash. A shoe made from ultra-high-strength steel braces the inside of the B-pillar against the rear seat crossmember.
With seven airbags fitted as standard, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seats, as well as the crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger, the new E-Class Cabriolet offers an extensive range of safety equipment.
The airbags, which can deploy in milliseconds include front airbags and sidebags for the driver and front passenger, a kneebag on the driver’s side, and headbags.
The headbags are housed in the door panelling in the beltline area and cover a wide area – around 0.7 x 0.5 metres with a volume of 17 litres when deployed – the airbags provide extremely effective protection. Rear sidebags are available as an option.
Other safety equipment available for the E-Class Cabriolet includes ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection, the sophisticated Intelligent Light System, the Active Bonnet and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control.