2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class at Al Haddad Motors Bahrain

The new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, was launched by Al Haddad Motors, the official distributor for Mercedes-Benz Cars in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Unveiled by Dr Hassan Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Dr Ulf Ausprung, General Manager, Al Haddad Motors the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class took centre stage at the official launch which took place at Grand Foyer of the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Spa on the 5th of May, 2009.

With its unique combination of driver assistance systems, this saloon further consolidates the leading position of Mercedes-Benz in the luxury class.

Features include a drowsiness detection system, Adaptive Highbeam Assist and the proximity control system which is capable of performing automatic emergency braking when there is acute danger of a collision. The first models to be launched in Bahrain are the E300 and the E350. These will be followed by other displacement sizes later on in the year.

Al Haddad Motors expects the new E-Class to be a firm favorite with Bahraini customers and build an even stronger following than the outgoing model, according to Al Haddad’s general manager.

Mercedes-Benz has improved the already exemplary long-distance comfort of the E-Class even further in the new saloon, principally through the use of intelligent body shell technology with up to 30 percent greater rigidity, further improved seats and a newly developed suspension whose shock absorbers automatically adjust to the current driving situation. The optional air suspension now works in combination with an electronic damping system.

The outstanding safety and comfort of the E-Class are matched by its environmental compatibility and economy: the four- and six-cylinder engines are direct-injection units, and consume up to 23 percent less fuel than before.

Petrol engines: 20 percent fuel saving thanks to direct injection
Mercedes-Benz equips the BlueEfficiency models E 200 CGI and E 250 CGI that will arrive later this year with the newly developed four-cylinder direct petrol injection engine with a displacement of 1.8 litres, turbocharging and variable intake and exhaust camshafts. The E 200 CGI BlueEfficiency (184 hp) is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and the ECO start/stop function as standard, and consumes only 6.8 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres. This equates to 159 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

In the E 250 CGI BlueEfficiency (204 hp), which has a five-speed automatic transmission as standard, maximum torque is now 310 newton metres, which represents an increase of more than 26 percent over the previous V6 engine. At the same time the NEDC fuel consumption is reduced by over 20 percent to 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres, equating to 174 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

As before, the E 350 CGI BlueEfficiency (available in August 2011) with direct petrol injection (292 hp) and the top-of-the-line E 500 (388 hp) are included in the range of engine variants in the new E-Class. By optimising details of their design, it has been possible to reduce the fuel consumption of these V6 and V8 models by up to 0.6 litres per 100 kilometres. For the ultimate in performance, the E 63 AMG from Mercedes-AMG develops 525 hp.

Mercedes-Benz equips the V6 and V8-models as standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission, steering wheel selector lever and shift paddles.

The new E-Class is the first car in the world to be equipped with headlamps which adapt to the traffic situation and respond automatically to avoid dazzling other drivers. The optional Adaptive Highbeam Assist uses a camera on the windscreen to recognize oncoming traffic and vehicles moving ahead and to control the headlamps so that their beams do not reach the other vehicle. This achieves the best possible road illumination in a given situation. The range of the dipped headlamp beams can be extended from 65 to as much as 300 meters. If the road ahead is clear, the system performs a gentle transition to high beam.

The Lane Tracking package for the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class includes Blind Spot Assist familiar from the S-Class, and as a new development, Lane Keeping Assist which seeks to prevent the vehicle from leaving the road unintentionally. When the system recognizes that the car is drifting from its lane, the driver is prompted to take counter steering action by brief but unmistakable vibrations of the steering wheel.

Night View Assist from the S-Class is now also available as an optional extra for the new E-Class. Mercedes-Benz has improved this system with a special pedestrian detection function: as soon as Night View Assist Plus recognizes pedestrians ahead of the car, they are highlighted in the on board display to provide a greatly enhanced warning effect.

This new Attention Assist drowsiness detection system, which is standard equipment in the E-Class, is equipped with highly sensitive sensors that continuously monitor more than 70 different parameters.

Automatic emergency braking when a collision is imminent
The well-proven, radar based assistance systems from the S-Class are now also optionally available to E-Class customers. An enhanced long-range radar sensor now has a range of 200 metres (previously 150 metres), and is able to monitor the mid-distance so that dynamic events such as a vehicle ahead suddenly pulling out to overtake can be detected even more effectively.

Active Bonnet, seven airbags and PRE-SAFE as standard
During the course of its development, the new E-Class was subjected to more than 150 high-speed crash tests. The crumple zone principle invented by Mercedes safety pioneer Béla Barényi has been continuously improved by the engineers in Sindelfingen. The front-end deformation zone of the E-Class acts on four independent levels, and is even more effective than before. The increased use of extra-high-strength steel alloys also helps to ensure that the bodyshell is able to withstand high impact forces. Around 72 percent of all the body panels are made from these high-tech steels-yet another unrivaled figure in passenger car development.

With seven airbags as standard, belt tensioners, belt force limiters, crash-responsive head restraints and ISOFIX child seat attachments, the new E-Class has even more extensive safety features than the preceding model.

Another new feature is the Active Bonnet, the latest development to result from Mercedes-Benz’s long-standing commitment to pedestrian protection. It is standard equipment in the new E-Class. In the event of an impact, a system of springs raises the rear section of the bonnet by 50 millimeters in a fraction of a second, thereby increasing the available deformation space. Thanks to the cleverly designed mechanism, the driver is able to reset the Active Bonnet to its normal position without having to visit a workshop.

As well as being a trendsetter in the safety field, the E-Class has been setting the standards for long-distance comfort in this vehicle class for several decades. Bettering the already high level of the preceding series, Mercedes-Benz engineers have achieved further advances with the new saloon-especially where ride, seating and climate comfort are concerned.

The air suspension system optionally available for the V6 models (standard in the E 500/E 500 4MATIC) has for the first time been combined with an electronically controlled damping system which processes various sensor signals and controls each wheel independently. In this way Mercedes-Benz specialists have achieved significantly better ride comfort while improving handling safety and agility at the same time. The driver is able to select either Comfort or Sport mode at the touch of a button.

When it came to developing the seats for the new E-Class, Mercedes-Benz chose a new, enhanced version of a well-established Mercedes concept, namely padded seat piping-a sophisticated and demanding upholstery technique that is only used by Mercedes-Benz. This involves the insertion of an additional foam filling under the fabric or leather cover, and gives an immediate feeling of comfort and well-being when sitting in the car. There are different versions of this padded seat piping: in the basic model and AVANTGARDE line the upholstery has horizontal piping, while the ELEGANCE line has longitudinal piping and is reminiscent of the well-known and well-proven Mercedes seat design from the 1960s and 70s.

On request the E-Class is also available with a rear seat unit consisting of two comfortable, single seats. This rear-seat comfort package includes seat heating, leather upholstery, a centre console, comfort head restraints, roller blinds in the rear doors, an electrically operated roller blind for the rear window, comfort sun visors and a central module for the optional ski bag.

Typical Mercedes attention to detail has also been lavished on the interior of the new E-Class where the designers have ensured that every feature appeals in both emotional and functional terms with its form, colour or material. The result is a harmonious whole-an atmosphere in which the car’s occupants immediately feel safe and protected, and long journeys can be enjoyed without any feeling of effort or stress.