Fire and silk: The tale of an ultra-special Mercedes-Benz E-Class

• History of the E-Class dates back to 1936

• The 500 E was a 5.0-litre, 240kW V8 'sleeper' 

• 500 E is now a sought-after collector's item

Mercedes-Benz recently celebrated the digital world premiere of the E-Class Cabriolet and Coupe, following the global reveal in March this year of the comprehensively updated E-Class sedan and estate models.

With over 14 million sedans and estates delivered since 1946, the E-Class is the best-selling model series in the history of Mercedes-Benz, and is perceived by many as the "heart of the brand".

The tenth-generation of the E-Class set new trends in 2016 with a clean yet appealing design, a high-quality interior, and a wealth of innovations, including new driving assistance systems.