New E Class will increase M-B sales in Ireland
26 July 2002: The latest version of the Mercedes E Class is now on sale in Ireland at a starting price of 49,880 euros. According to sales manager of the Mercedes division of Irish franchisees MDL, Bill Duffy (above), in a full year some 2,100 units are projected to be bought in Ireland.
The average annual sales of the last two years of the E Class here has been some 1,700 units, and the car represents more than a third of all Mercedes-Benz sales in Ireland. It is the top-selling luxury executive saloon on this market.
"We expect to sell around 800 units for the rest of this year, though that will depend on how quickly the 200 Kompressor and the 320D become available," he added.
And MD of the division Matt Fagan said that when M-B customers were given a preview of the car earlier this week at MDL headquarters on the Naas Road, the numbers who came caused traffic chaos in the area.
The new car has a completely new body, with a reinterpreted twin headlamp ‘face’ of what has become a classic M-B styling cue.
Engine choices initially will include three petrol 6- and 8-cylinder units, with power outputs ranging from 177-306bhp. There are also two CDI diesel engines with outputs from 150bhp.
The E240, E320, E500 petrol and the E220 CDI and E270 CDI diesel versions are immediately available. The E200, E55 AMG and the E320 CDI diesel will follow later this year. The new car is more economical than the one it replaces.
There’s a strong emphasis on safety, with Sensotronic Brake Control and the M-B Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard along with newly developed ‘intelligent’ restraint systems including adaptive front airbags, two-stage belt force limiters and automatic weight classification for the front passenger. Sidebags for the front seat occupants, large windowbags, high-performance belt tensioners, automatic child seat recognition and a rollover sensor are further standard safety features.
AIRMATIC air suspension monitors the road condition, driving style and loading of the saloon, automatically selecting shock absorber and spring settings. It is standard in the top-of-the-range E500 V8 model, and is available for all other models.
A wider track and a longer wheelbase improves interior space and ride comfort. The boot capacity has been increased by 20 litres.
The car is available in 15 exterior colours and three design and equipment lines Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde, the latter two with a new combination of wood and chrome trimming.
Options in the new E Class include a multicontour air-cushioned seat with massage function, active seat ventilation, and a solar-powered auxiliary ventilation system to keep the car cool while parked. Other extras include automatic tyre pressure monitoring, telephone systems and four-zone temperature control.
