2009 E-CLASS COUPE: PICTURES AND ENGINES REVEALED

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the brand new E-Class Coupe just two weeks before it appears at the Geneve International Motor Show. The E-Class Coupe is a two-door car that replaces the CLK. Merc has dropped the CLK name. Initial pictures of the E Coupe were leaked last month.

Daimler says the E-Class Coupe is the most aerodynamic series-production car in the world with a measured drag co-efficient of just 0.24 Cd. Fuel efficiency is said to be down by up to 17%. Mercedes-Benz has fitted Agility Control as standard in the E Coupe. As expected of a coupe the car sits four, two in front two at the back.

Engine models available at the European launch will be an E250 CDI Coupe turbo diesel with 150kW and 500Nm. Next up is the E350 CDI Coupe making 170kW and 540Nm in torque. The three petrol choices are the E250 CGI Coupe worth 150kW and 310Nm, followed by the E350 CGI of 215kW and 365Nm. Lastly there is the E500 Coupe sporting a V8 that produces 285kW and 530Nm.All these except the E500 Coupe come with BlueEfficiency technology.

We suspect the top-of-the-range E-Class Coupe AMG will use Mercedes-Benz’s next super engine, a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 spewing out around 350kW. That’s the same as the old 5.4-litre supercharged E55 AMG.

There is no word yet coming from Mercedes-Benz South Africa regarding the local introduction of the E-Class Coupe. But from the CLK's 6-year cycle we can expect it to be in Mzansi before the end of 2009 following the launch of the new E-Class sedan.