While sticking to Mercedes' brand values as much as possible, the new E-Class should manage to impress potential buyers, as long as they can afford it.

At least this is how the folks at Consumer Reports feel, with auto engineer Tom Mutchler warning about just how expensive one of these models can get when you start adding up all the options.

Of course, this goes for most cars that make their living in this particular segment, however the Mercedes does tend the be a little more extravagant, especially this latest generation model.

Without giving away the verdict, we will tell you that Mutchler does notice a few peculiar things about the new E-Class, things such as the visibility not being as great as it was in the W212 model. The reason for that is the car's more rounded-out exterior styling that only leaves room for smaller windows - whereas the old car had a more boxy design and larger windows.

Whether this would be an issue for anyone is hard to say. Then again, with so many active safety features, E-Class drivers will oftentimes be warned if there's any obstacle in their way.

Mercedes-Benz have taken the third addition to the fresh E-Class family, the Coupe, to the Nurburgring, for some tire-shredding adventure.

More than eager to flex its muscles for the camera, the prototype had its entire stable of horsepower up and running most of the time, cornering like there's no tomorrow and looking menacing on the infamous German track.

Underneath its vinyl-wrapped sheet metal lies the MRA architecture from its four-door sibling, which is also shared between the C-Class and S-Class. It puts to the test the sedan's range of petrol units, starting with the base 2.0-liter four-banger turbo and its 241 HP and ending with the 396 HP on the E43 AMG Coupe version.

Across the Old Continent, the fresh Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe will stay true to its roots and offer an assortment of diesel engines too, but the cherry on top of the cake will be the range-topping model, which will use the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 lump, in two grades, culminating with 604 HP and 850 Nm (627 pound-feet) of torque in the most potent version, which will be worthy of the E63 AMG badge.

The army of engineers and designers behind its development have just a few more months to wrap it up, as they will spill the beans on it sometime in 2017, according to Daimler's map of future products.

Mercedes-Benz's proposal for the executive sedan segment in China comes in the form of the new E-Class with an extended wheelbase.

Based on the regular four-door and providing an additional 134 mm (5.27 in) of rear legroom, it was unveiled at the 2016 Beijing Motor Show, this spring, and it's aimed exclusively at the People's Republic, where it comes in two versions, the E200 L and E300 L.

Prices for the E200 L kick off from 436,800 Yuan, which equals to $65,648 at today's exchange rates, while the E300 L Avantgarde can be had from 474,800 Yuan ($71,359). Customers with deeper pockets can go for the E300 L Luxury model, which is the range topper and costs 499,800 Yuan ($75,116).


Both the E200 and E300 Ls are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, rated at 184 HP and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque in the former and 245 HP and 370 Nm (273 lb-ft) of torque in the latter, mated to a new nine-speed automatic transmission. The E200 L needs 8.6 seconds to sprint from naught to 100 km/h (62 mph), on its way to a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph), while the E300 L can do it in 6.9 seconds and travel up to 250 km/h (155 mph).

Joining Volvo's new V90 Cross Country in the crossover-flavored, executive estate segment, is Mercedes-Benz's E-Class All-Terain, teased here just a few hours ahead of its online reveal, which will be followed by a world premiere in Paris next week.

The video shows the All-Terrain's plastic body cladding, which may (or may not) come in handy if any drivers decide to leave the safety of the road and head on to a short off-road adventure, helped by a generous ride height, adjustable air suspension and 4Matic all-wheel drive system.

Since it will keep the shell, platform and most of the nuts and bolts of the latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, expect an identical interior with all the equipment offeredas standard or on the options list, as well as the exact same 670 liters of luggage volume, expandable up to 1,820 liters with the rear seats folded down.

With its eyes set on the newly unveiled Volvo V90 Cross Country and Audi A6 Allroad, the jacked up wagon will get a selection of the regular model's engine lineup paired to new 9-speed automatic gearbox. The powertrain family could expand with the addition of a petrol-electric PHEV, though it's unknown at the time whether the Germans will offer asportier AMG variant as well.