LuxuryCarMagazine En Luxury Car Review and News
Mercedes-Benz was on fire for this edition of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Not only did they present the next gen 2017 E Class, but we also got a peek at the SLK-replacing SLC Class and they completed the trifecta with the barnstorming 2017 Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet.
As cool as that last one is, the most important of the lot has to be the 2017 E Class, based solely on the fact that the current model is one of Mercedes’ biggest sellers. The completely redone E-Class does a good job of blurring the lines between the C-Class below it, and the S-Class above it.
Style-wise, it does a good job of displaying the latest Mercedes styling cues, but might tilt a little too much to the conservative side, especially when compared to entrants from Audi and BMW.
In response to consumer needs, Mercedes is launching three different versions: the E300, E400 and E350e. The first two will make do with traditional gas engines, but the big story has to be the 350e, which gets plug-in hybrid tech. Total power between the 2.0L gas four cylinder and EV motor is 279 horsepower, with an all-EV range of 30 kilometres on a full charge.
Next, we come to the little SLC that replaces the SLK. Like what happened when the GL SUV changed to the GLS, the transition from SLK to SLC form is mostly a refresh, with a few minor changes under the hood. Most importantly, the notable change is the addition of a 3.0L, 362 hp six-cylinder that makes its way to the engine bay of the 2017 Mercedes-AMG SLC43.
Next, wee come to the massively-powerful and massively-priced Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet pictured above. How massive, you ask? Well, under the hood, you’ll find a 6.0L V12 good for 621 hp, all for the Everest-high price of $250,000 or so.
