The sleek lines of the 2010 Mercedes E-Class aren’t just there to look good, though they certainly work brilliantly in that regard, they also permit the big coupe to slip through the air more efficiently. This reduces the amount of fuel consumed and lowers the emissions from the engine. And this new Mercedes-Benz is quite simply the most aerodynamic mass-production car you can buy, with a co-efficient of drag of just 0.24.

The interior styling is exceptionally good, with an impressive combination of elegance and sportiness. The instrument layout is typically Mercedes in its round-dial legibility and logical layout. High quality materials are offered in quite a few different formats. Check with your dealer for full details.

Though the E-Class coupe is technically a four-seater, headroom in the back is somewhat restricted. However, when you remember it's a coupe and not a sedan that lack of vertical space can be forgiven. Access to the back seat, by way of Mercedes’ ‘Easy Entry’ system, is relatively easy and the kids will slip in and out with a minimum of fuss. This Mercedes could be used as a family machine by buyers who prefer to restrict the number of cars they own.

On the road the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe rides well and the sleek body provides near silence on smooth roads such as motorways. On winding country roads with surfaces that have seen better days the car retains a surprising amount of comfort while still giving good road grip. Passengers will love this car just as much as demanding drivers. There's also an AMG Sports package for the extra-demanding driver.

 

The engine in our test car for the past week is the latest development of Mercedes' 5.5-litre V8. In the E500 coupe it produces 285 kW of power, and 530 Nm from 2800 to 4800 rpm. Note that wide spread of peak torque, which results in the engine being at or near its best virtually all the time in normal driving. Thus complementing the aforementioned clean running and low fuel consumption and, of course, adding to driving pleasure.

This Mercedes' engine’s official fuel figure is 11.0 litres per hundred kilometres, a most impressive for a large V8 that can run to 100 km/h from rest in just 5.4 seconds.

On test we found the big Merc coupe typically used nine to ten litres per hundred kilometres during motorway and easy country driving. This rises to 11 to 13 litres around town if you drive with a bit of a sporting bent – as you do! These figures justify all the hard work that has gone into body aerodynamics. Of course the latest in engine and automatic transmission technology play a major part as well.

The E500 V8's exhaust note is simply superb and is guaranteed to bring a smile to the faces of all keen drivers. Even at low revs on small throttle openings it sounds the way V8 drivers like it to sound. And when you do get floor that pedal on the right the engine’s hard-edged note becomes positively vocal in a no-nonsense manner that showcases its genuine sporting characteristics.



AT A GLANCE

MODEL RANGE
E250 CGI 1.8-litre two-door coupe: $94,500 (automatic)
E250 CDI 2.1-litre diesel two-door coupe: $97,500 (automatic)
E350 3.5-litre two-door coupe: $127,500 (automatic)
E500 5.5-litre two-door coupe: $174,500 (automatic)

SPECIFICATIONS (Mercedes-Benz E500 5.5-litre two-door coupe)

ENGINE:
Capacity: 5.461 litres
Configuration: V8
Head Design: Four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.7:1
Bore/Stroke: 98.0 x 90.5 mm
Maximum Power: 285 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 530 Nm @ 2800-4800 rpm

DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Seven-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 2.47:1

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4898 mm
Wheelbase: 2760 mm
Width: 1786 mm
Height: 1397 mm
Turning Circle: 10.95 metres
Kerb Mass: 1695 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 66 litres
Towing Ability: Not supplied

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Three-link, anti-dive, coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, multi-link, anti-squat, anti-dive, coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc

PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 5.4 secs

FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 11.0 L/100km

GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATTINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 8.5/10

STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km