Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W211)

The W211 E-Class was unveiled at the January 2002 European Motor Show Brussels featuring twin-headlights, angled slightly rearward. The 2003 E-Class was larger than its predecessors while offering less interior space, particularly in the estate version, than the W210 it replaced. It offered petrol or diesel engines with a choice of rear or four-wheel drive. Mercedes-Benz claimed to have reduced the fuel consumption of the new E-Class by up to 0.9 litres per 100 km compared with the outgoing model. It debuted as the fastest production sedan in the world. The E 55 AMG was also offered in an estate version for later model years. E 55 Powertrain The E 55 AMG is powered by the M113K engine, a 5.4 L V8 with a Lysholm type supercharger manufactured by IHI. The E 55's engine won International Performance Engine of the Year for 2003. The E 55's engine, although the same as the one in the SL55 AMG, had less horsepower, at and of torque. The difference in power is due to a smaller-diameter, longer-length exhaust system in the E 55. The supercharged 5.4 L V8 engine was mated to the Speedshift 5-speed automatic transmission, which has a torque capacity of , as the newer 7G-Tronic introduced in 2003 is limited to , not enough to handle the torque from the supercharged V8. E 55 suspension, brakes, wheels & tires E 55 came with an AMG tuned Airmatic suspension with 3 different driving modes as well as the ability to significantly raise the car. The E 55 features cross drilled disc brakes at the front with 8 piston calipers. The rear brakes consist of discs and 4 piston calipers. The E 55 came with 245/40/18 tires up front and 265/35/18 in the rear with performance tires on the standard AMG 18" split spoke wheels. E 55 Performance Car and Driver reported in their testing that the E 55 AMG was faster than the SL55 AMG. The E 55 AMG was the fastest four door car in Mercedes-Benz's lineup at the time. While the E 55 could accelerate from 0- in 9.8 seconds, it took the Audi RS6 11 seconds. The E 55 was the fastest production sedan available until Mercedes-Benz released the S65 AMG. However, Car and Driver criticized the brakes on the E 55, chastising them for being difficult to modulate, and said that the car as a whole felt 'aloof'. Car and Driver also tested an E 55 AMG Wagon, which weighs more than the sedan. They found that it accelerated from in 4.1 seconds and in 9.7 seconds. The E 55 was a sales success, being the best selling AMG until the release of the C 63 AMG. ==2006–2009 (mid-generational refresh)==

The W211 was updated in 2006 for the 2007 model year. There was new standard and optional equipment, which enabled the W211 to hold its own against its competitors. Sensotronic was dropped due to customer complaints about its software, while Pre-Safe (w/o autonomous braking) was made standard. The announced vehicle was unveiled at the 2006 New York International Auto Show. In total, 29 model variants were available, with 16 Saloons and 13 Estates. New standard equipment included PRE-SAFE active protection, NECK-PRO head restraints, flashing brake lights, tyre pressure monitor. The optional Intelligent Light System included bi-xenon headlamps and 5 different lighting functions. The bodies were restyled including the front grill, rear view mirror, side mirrors, redesigned headlamps, front spoiler, rear lights, gear knob and steering wheel. Coinciding with the minor model update, the largest factory built engine in the E-class range, the E 500 (badged E 550 in some countries), had its engine size increased from 5 litres to 5.5 litres in 2006. E 63 AMG (2007–2009) The E 63 AMG was the refreshed high-performance model of the W211, replacing the E 55 AMG. Besides the Saloon, it was also offered in the Estate body style similarly to the E 55 AMG estate model to compete with the new wagon versions of the BMW M5 (E61) and Audi RS 6 (C6), though those two high-performance wagons were never sold in North America. This engine had a high-pressure die-cast alloy cylinder block with twin-wire arc spray coated running surfaces. Compression ratio is 11.3:1. According to many auto journalists, the E 63 AMG was one of the quickest production sports sedans in the world. Both the sedan (saloon) and wagon had a 0– acceleration time of 4.3 seconds. Compared to the previous E 55 AMG, the E 63 AMG had more horsepower but less torque, enabling it to be mated to the newer 7G-Tronic automatic transmission. While the E 500 and E 550 had the standard Mercedes Airmatic DC suspension with adaptive damping, the E 63 AMG had the AMG-tuned Airmatic suspension which with the stability control turned off gave it far better driving dynamics than its non-AMG predecessors. The AMG Performance package P030 added electronic speed limiter deletion, limited-slip rear differential, Alcantara sports steering wheel, stiffer valving Airmatic suspension over the standard AMG tuned Airmatic, AMG , 5-spoke multi-piece wheels, and optional AMG carbon fibre trim. E-Guard (2006–2008) The E-Guard was an armoured version with category B4 protection level, introduced in July 2006. Engine choices included E 320 CDI, E 350, and E 500. The vehicles were reinforced with steel and aramid. Other safety equipment included Michelin MOExtended run-flat tyres with pressure loss warning system. All three models had an electronically limited top speed of . E 300 BlueTEC (2007–2009) Common rail Direct Injection with a 7G-Tronic automatic transmission, launched in the US as the E 320 BlueTEC in 2007 and in Europe as the E 300 BlueTEC in 2008. The W211 never had a urea injection system throughout its production. The Bluetec name was only adopted to have consistency between the petrol and diesel nomenclature. ==Engines==

Engines There was a wider range of engines available in Europe than North America and other markets. • 2006–2009 E 500 are known as the E 550 in US, Canada. • E 500 was sold with 5.0L in US, Canada for 2003–2006, and as the E 550 with 5.5L after 2007. • E 300 BlueTEC was sold as E 320 BlueTEC in US, Canada. • E 280 4MATIC was sold as E 300 4MATIC in Canada. • E 240 was sold as E 260 in Indonesia • Note that some models (i.e.: E 280, E 350, E 280 CDI) are introduced with the M272 and OM642 engines in pre-facelift form Transmissions Optional equipment: 5-Speed Automatic – code 42/3 in the data-card; 7-Speed Automatic (7G-TRONIC) – code 2/7 in the data-card; Up to approx. 07/2005: From 07/2005: From 09/2005: From 01/2006: From 09/2007: From 04/2008: The same, except: Safety ==Sales==

On 19 December 2008, Mercedes-Benz announced it had delivered 1.5 million units of W211 E-Class vehicles, with 1,270,000 sedans and 230,000 wagons. US and Germany sales ==References==