In past generations, she was often labeled planet Earth's favorite taxi. (Or have you always preferred the Ford Crown Victoria with the shiny black leatherette?) The Mercedes-Benz E-Class, however, has long since graduated to become a premium middle-management darling in all corners of the globe.
Still, even Mercedes-Benz North America would have to admit that a mid-life and/or new model year E-Class is not generally a traffic-stopping event. This time around, however, there's more going on with Mercedes' ninth-generation contender than, say, adding a new Pipe Smoker's Package or overhead cold beverage storage-TRONIC. And while it may still not cause a road block, this mid-shelf-life version of the W212 E-Class should, at least, make everyone slow down to rubberneck a bit, because the new V6 and V8 E-Class wants to take you farther on a full tank while making more power and torque to exercise your executive privileges.
When the freshened E350 shows up this September with its M276 3.5-liter V6, it's expected to remain the lion of the line, with 80 percent of North American E-Class sales.
It will continue to come in all three main bodystyles – sedan, coupe and convertible. All individual options and packages will be available for these three core Es. The E350 4Matic wagon will also remain, but it won't be alone – it'll be joined by the rear-drive E63 AMG Wagon with the latest M157 518-horsepower 5.5-liter bi-turbo V8 (550-hp with AMG Performance Package) to duke it out with the supercharged 556-hp Cadillac CTS-V Wagon. (*cue the singing angels*). There will naturally also be an E63 AMG sedan coming over with the new engine underhood.
In the meantime, all E550 V8 units sold in the U.S. will be sold only as 4Matics with Sport Styling included. That means no rear-wheel-drive E550s and no Luxury Styling pack for the V8, either.
And let's not forget the E350 BlueTEC rear-wheel-drive-only sedan with its 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6. This one stays as is while adopting any tweaks inside and out.
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