2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class - Will It Pull Away BMW 5-Series Customers?
Few carmakers have as long or proud a history as Mercedes-Benz, but I would never have realized that its E-Class model dates way back to 1953 if I hadn't read it in their press literature. Since this early model, dubbed the Ponton, Mercedes has managed to sell over 9,000,000 in this class alone. Being 25% of the brands total sales, one can only imagine the time and attention spent to get the new model right.
All it takes is one look and you can see they've hit their target spot on. While evolutionary rather than revolutionary, the new E is decidedly sportier than the outgoing model, testified to by its amazing 0.27 coefficient of drag, and more distinct in its category. Gone are its bland, ovoid rear taillights, replaced with bold triangular lenses that mirror its recently updated siblings. Integrated fog lamps grace its lower front fascia while chrome accented, organically shaped bumper caps house understated side markers at their corners. Flanking a familiar grille, its quad headlamps remain but are now flush to the raked bodywork, canted back and skewed outward they appear as if positioned to light up the sky. A gentle shoulder line progresses upward as it makes its way toward what looks like a taller rear deck lid. From front to back, profile to quarter views, the new E-Class shows a positive progression and arguably more congruous design than the outgoing model.