NBK brings Mercedes’ new E-Class to Qatar

The new E300 at Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles’ Salwa Road showroom yesterday. PICTURE: Anas Khalid

By Bonnie James/Deputy News EditorA more dynamic exterior, an eye-turning interior, enhanced safety and comfort features, and the next level of sustainable automotive solutions are among the highlights of the 2014 E-Class from Mercedes-Benz, launched in Qatar yesterday by Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles.“The new E-Class is a remarkable improvement (over) its predecessors, underlining simultaneously the true essence of the Mercedes-Benz driving experience and unmatched engineering and performance,” NBK Automobiles general manager Khaled Shaa’ban said at the launch event.“Luxury, prestige and technology are only few of the specifications where the E-Class is far ahead of its competitors,” he claimed while expressing hopes that it will generate a lot of enthusiasm in the Qatar market, in line with the success seen across the world.The 2014 E-Class, credited with receiving the “most extensive face-lift in the history of the brand”, comes in variants from E200 to E63 AMG, with engines offering a rated output from 184hp to 585hp and a seven-speed automatic transmission as standard.A newly interpreted exterior makes the car appear even more powerful and dynamic. The redesigned headlamps comprise all functional elements in a single lens. Flowing light elements within the headlamps retains the essential lines of the trademark “four-eyed” look.The E-Class is available with two different front ends. The sedan features the classic, three-dimensional saloon radiator grille in three-louvre look with the Mercedes star on the bonnet, whereas the sport sedan comes with the sporty front end featuring a centrally-positioned star to create a distinctive, emphatically dynamic look.The reworked interior features high-quality materials and refined, subdivided areas with precise joints and sharp curves.Among the new additions are a two-part trim which stretches across the entire dashboard, the design of the air vents as well as an analogue clock between the two central vents.The redesigned centre sans the selector lever, and a new multifunction steering wheel with Direct Select lever and shift paddles, are among the interior highlights.The sport sedan has a powerful AMG front and rear apron, new AMG side skirts and AMG wheels. Typical of the AMG brand is the lavish scope of equipment and appointments.Starting with the E200, features include LED headlamps, an electric sunroof, two-zone automatic climate control, Parktronic and Comand DVD player. The 360° camera comprises a close-range system of several cameras to assist in parking and manoeuvring. In addition to the functions of the back-up camera, it also enables monitoring of the areas to the side of the vehicle and directly in front of the vehicle.The unique safety features include the Pre-Safe preventive occupant protection system with belt force limiters and side airbags on all outer seats and drowsiness detection with Attention Assist.Among the highlights of the new E-Class are the new or substantially enhanced assistance systems in the Driving Assistance package Plus. These include innovations like:n Distronic Plus with Steering Assist; n Brake Assist System (BAS) Plus with Junction Assist – which is able to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians; n the Pre-Safe Brake – which can detect pedestrians and initiate autonomous braking to avoid a collision at speeds up to 50kph; n Active Lane Keeping Assist – which can now detect when the adjacent lane is occupied, in particular by oncoming traffic; n Collision Prevention Assist; Active Parking Assist; andn LED intelligent light system.With regard to sustainable automotive solutions, the new E-Class includes a choice of three refined, high-torque petrol engines: the E200 BlueEFFICIENCY rated at 184hp with four-cylinder direct injection, and the six-cylinder models E300 rated at 252hp and E400 with an output of 333hp.The prices start from QR180,000 for E200, going all the way to QR620,000 for E63 AMG.