From November 2009, Mercedes-Benz is launching the Estate version as another highly distinctive member of the E-Class family. Like the Saloon and Coupé, the Estate combines its own, elegant design with leadership in safety, comfort, quality and practicality. A number of technical innovations have been incorporated into the new E-Class which no other car in this class is able to offer — from drowsiness detection to automatic emergency braking when an accident is recognized as imminent, and from Adaptive Highbeam Assist to the active bonnet. Naturally the Estate also features all these innovations. Plus an air suspension with self-leveling at the rear and unique new load compartment management features. This area can also accommodate an optional third row of seats, something unique among the competition.

The E-Class Estate is seen as the progenitor of the premium lifestyle estate segment more than 30 years ago. Since the launch of the first Estate in 1977, more than one million customers have discovered their enthusiasm for this most practical way of driving a Mercedes luxury saloon. This success story is set to be continued by the fifth generation of the E-Class Estate — at the same time following up on the successful launch of the Saloon.

The performance of the Saloon and Coupé in the 2009 AutoBild Design Awards shows how well the striking lines of the E-Class have been received: more than 100,000 readers of the German motoring publication voted the four-door model the most beautiful car in the world, and gave the two-door model first place in the Coupé/Convertible category.

Design: new Mercedes handwriting combined with E-Class styling features

The new Estate immediately makes an athletic and practical, but also serene and safe impression. Its distinctive design character is based on the new Mercedes style, which had its debut in the S-Class and is now also represented in the C-Class. One of its characteristics is the interplay between concave and taut surfaces, which are delimited by dynamic edges and structured contours.

The side view reveals many new features, leaving no doubt about the identity of the new Estate. The B and C-pillars appear to merge into the background thanks to glossy, black trim panels, making the entire side window area look like a single unit. This leads to an expressive arch leading from the filigree A-pillar to the dramatic roof line and the downward-tapering D-pillar, all resting on the athletic shoulder-line of the Estate. The intriguing design of the door sill panels, which are visually understated in the center but feature a prominent light-catching contour towards the wheel arches, accentuates the dramatic overall effect of the side aspect. This is additionally emphasized by the muscular, sweeping line on the rear section in front of the rear wheel.

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Tags: Daimler, E-Class, Estate, luxury, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, midsize, S212, wagon

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