The model line is available with various six and eight-cylinder petroleum gasoline and diesel engines. The E stood for Einspritzung, which is German for fuel injection, which was a very new feature at the time the "E" first appeared in the 1950s. The E-Class is the bestselling Mercedes-Benz model worldwide. It is famous both as luxury or executive transport, and as taxis in countries like Germany and Singapore. In Germany the E-Class is also commonly used as a police interceptor vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz W211 cars entered production in 2003. They are sold under the E-Class model names. The W211 models replaced the W210 E-Class models.
The W211 E-Class continues the line's push upmarket. The W211-based W219 CLS-Class was new for 2005. In 2002 Mercedes made a facelift for the W210 which begun the launch of the W211.
2006 update
The W211 E-Class was facelifted for 2007, although a new model is less than two years off. Mercedes-Benz called this a "new generation" in their press release, but the changes are mainly superficial and engine-related. The Pre-Safe system was made standard in sedan and wagon models, Neck-Pro safety headrests are added, and Mercedes' blinking brake lights, provisionally approved for use in the United States, are also new. The "Intelligent Light System" is an adaptive headlight system with five different lighting combinations rather than the two found on most cars.
Six of the ten engines available on the W211 were also changed. The four-cylinder Diesel engine in the E200 CDI and E220 CDI was substantially modified for more output. The E320 CDI is updated with Bluetec technology. Mercedes-Benz introduced their Bluetec Diesel system to the E-Class at the 2006 North American International Auto Show as the E320 Bluetec. This system with 'AdBlue' injection uses urea to clean Diesel emissions, the E-Class however only uses an oxidising catalyatic converter and particulate filter combined with nitrogen oxide reducing systems, this alone makes the E320 45-state legal in the United States (The 'Vision GL320 Bluetec' will be 50-state compliant, as it uses 'AdBlue').
The Mercedes-Benz W211 cars entered production in 2003. They are sold under the E-Class model names. The W211 models replaced the W210 E-Class models.
The W211 E-Class continues the line's push upmarket. The W211-based W219 CLS-Class was new for 2005. In 2002 Mercedes made a facelift for the W210 which begun the launch of the W211.
2006 update
The W211 E-Class was facelifted for 2007, although a new model is less than two years off. Mercedes-Benz called this a "new generation" in their press release, but the changes are mainly superficial and engine-related. The Pre-Safe system was made standard in sedan and wagon models, Neck-Pro safety headrests are added, and Mercedes' blinking brake lights, provisionally approved for use in the United States, are also new. The "Intelligent Light System" is an adaptive headlight system with five different lighting combinations rather than the two found on most cars.
Six of the ten engines available on the W211 were also changed. The four-cylinder Diesel engine in the E200 CDI and E220 CDI was substantially modified for more output. The E320 CDI is updated with Bluetec technology. Mercedes-Benz introduced their Bluetec Diesel system to the E-Class at the 2006 North American International Auto Show as the E320 Bluetec. This system with 'AdBlue' injection uses urea to clean Diesel emissions, the E-Class however only uses an oxidising catalyatic converter and particulate filter combined with nitrogen oxide reducing systems, this alone makes the E320 45-state legal in the United States (The 'Vision GL320 Bluetec' will be 50-state compliant, as it uses 'AdBlue').