Piece by piece, the all-new Mercedes E-Class is beginning to come together. This is our first look inside the fifth-generation saloon, as official interior images are released ahead of the car’s debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January.
To help give the E-Class the upper hand against rivals such as the Audi A6, Mercedes has introduced a wave of new features. On the dashboard sits its next-generation digital readout, made up of two bonded 12.3-inch HD displays. The system will be fitted as standard on all models except the base version, which makes do with analogue dials and a separate 8.4-inch colour display.
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Both systems get Apple CarPlay. Other new additions include two touch-sensitive steering wheel pads, which let the driver control the displays independently without taking their hands off the wheel. The screens are configurable and can display things such as nav instructions and vehicle settings, while you can choose between three separate instrument cluster designs – Classic, Sport and Progressive.
The cabin will feel familiar to those who’ve sat in the flagship S-Class, with the four central air vents, a wraparound dash and flowing centre console that houses Mercedes’ COMAND controller. The E-Class also has massaging front seats and panel heating on the armrests.
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Gerd Schottke, E-Class interior designer, told Auto Express: “Simplicity is a very strong driver for us. Reduce complexity and reduce switches – keep it simple. A new product from Mercedes has to be a new holistic experience, from the moment you grab the keys.”
Elsewhere, the cabin features 64 ambient lighting colours, a new woven metal dash finish and an uprated 23-speaker Burmester stereo. Final prices and specs will be announced in January.
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