- by Brian Byrne
E-Class estate for Ireland in July
19 February 2003: The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class estate will arrive in Ireland in July, with a price tag probably around E3,000 or so more than the equivalent saloon version.
Prices have not yet been announced for the car, which follows on just a year after the introduction of the current saloon that is 'the heart of Mercedes-Benz' and which enjoys a global 25 per cent share of the luxury car market.
But sales manager for Mercedes-Benz in Ireland Bill Duffy said today that the the estate will probably have a 'similar differential' as was between the variants in the old versions.
And he suspects that the new car could open up the estate share of sales in Ireland compared to the 5 per cent or so that the previous estate held of E-Class sales.
"We're already getting a lot of enquiries from dealers, who have customers expressing strong interests in the car," he says.
The new E-Class estate is significantly better looking than its predecessor, with a very stylish emphasis on the rear quarters giving the car a much more 'coupe' look, but without sacrificing practicality.
Daimler-Chrysler's design studio director Stephen Mattin said the distinctive styling of the 'D' pillar, the converging curves of which sweep down to the end of a slightly-descending 'shoulder' of the rear side panels give the vehicle its own unique look.
The car also has a number of interesting features to ease the work of the owner in terms of loading and storage, many of which will be standard on the upper specifications of the E-Class estate.
Among them is a full-width storage box accessible behind the rear seats which can hold long narrow objects such as camera tripods. Another is a proprietary strapping system to restrain items from falling around in the luggage area.
And one of the most intriguing is a 'flip-out' tow-hitch operated by a handle in the underboot.
The cars as driven by us at the European launch this week also had rear doors which open and close electrically, eliminating any effort on the part of the driver. I understand this is an option, but it is one that I would look for if I was ordering one.
Options are a key part of the Mercedes-Benz in Ireland, and Bill Duffy says that of around 5,500 vehicles sold last year, less than 20 were exactly the same.
"The average lead time for a Mercedes is three to four months, because almost all the cars are built to order, and every owner has their own particular preferences."
Driving impressions were very positive, and will be the subject of a more detailed report soon on IrishCar.Com.
©2003 irishcar.com