Cape Town - Mercedes-Benz South Africa has released pricing of the initial E-Class line-up. The new model will arrive locally in May 2016.
In October 2015, the Stuttgart-based automaker showed off the E-Class interior (see below), but the big news is announcement of its local pricing.
All forced induction engines
The local launch is scheduled for May, with two forced-induction petrols and two turbodiesels, the line up is as follows:
The entry-level E200 is powered by a 2.0 litre turbo engine with (135kW/300Nm), Merc quotes a fuel consumption of 5.9 litres/100km.
The second petrol model is the E400 4Matic (due in fourth-quarter 2016). All four wheels are powered by a six-cylinder turbopetrol engine with (245kW/480Nm).
On the diesel front, the E220d powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel (143kW/400Nm). It has claimed fuel consumption figure of 3.9l/100km fuel consumption figure.
The top of the range diesel is the E350d (190kW/620Nm), it's powered by a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbodiesel. It sprints from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds and has an average claimed fuel consumption of 5.1l/100km.
Plug-in hybrid for SA?
Mercedes is preparing to introduce a plug-in hybrid in 2018, it will be powered by a four-cylinder turbopetrol engine/electric motor producing (210kW/550Nm).
Another petrol turbo and hybrid model will be introduced later on.
Mercedes-Benz E200 - R707 100
Mercedes-Benz E220d - R759 100
Mercedes-Benz E350d - R946 300
New interior
The E-Class has two displays each with a 31.2cm screen diagonal with a resolution of 1920 x 720 pixels. These merge visually to form, the automaker says, 'a wide-screen cockpit'.
Image gallery: 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class interior
According to Mercedes-Benz: "As the instrument cluster, this wide-screen cockpit contains a large display with virtual instruments in the direct field of vision of the driver as well as a central display above the centre console. A common glass cover results in a modern flat-screen look."
Drivers can choose between three different styles for the wide-screen cluster - Classic, Sport and Progressive.