DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Aussie issues for new E-Class

Despite being launched today in Detroit with the focus on its new extended autonomous capabilities, the reality is the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class will go on sale in Australia in June with some of the most important and impressive technology disabled.

And it’s a situation Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific believes is unlikely to be rectified before 2017, meaning early examples of the new W213 E-Class sold in Australia may not have the capacity to be retro-fitted with the technology.

Better news for fans of one of Benz’s most famous and traditional model lines is that a full range of models, including the new-gen straight sixes and high-performance AMGs should be on sale by the end of the first quarter of 2017.

And the company says it is doing its best to keep pricing approximately where it is today. The current range kicks off with the $80,400 E 200 and heads all the way to the $250,540 E 63 AMG.

“I don’t expect much change form the current car,” confirmed MBAP Senior Manager -- Public Relations, Product and Corporate Communications David McCarthy. “It shouldn’t rise appreciably, we are working them (Benz HQ in Germany) hard, don’t worry.”

As we've reported, the fifth-generation E-Class comes with a new generation of autonomous capability that is marketed under the ‘Drive Pilot’ name, and is expected to quickly spread to other models in the line-up.

Key features include the ability to run-hands free for extended periods at speeds up to 210km/h on freeways and country roads and to change lanes autonomously.

At the moment in Australia, cars with autonomous capability are required to disable that feature after about 12 seconds and hands-free lane changing is not permitted.

Benz is also boasting about the E-Class’ integrated car-to-X, which uses smartphones to exchange information with other vehicles. This will also not be operational in Australia because of lack of infrastructure.

McCarthy revealed the luxury car brand was already engaged in negotiations with the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services (DoTaRS) about Drive Pilot. Other luxury brands such as BMW and Audi are also understood to be conducting the same sort of negotiations as new high-tech models such as the BMW 7 Series fall foul of Australia regulation.

“The reality is we need to get a car there (Australia) to show them,” he explained. “We can get in-principle approval but they will actually physically want to see it work.

“The regulations are lagging behind the technology. The government is keen on the technology but you have to demonstrate to them that it works and works properly.”

As a first step towards that a demonstration of driver assist capability is planned in combination with Victoria Police at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park. While the test vehicle won’t be an E-Class it will feature some autonomous technology. Vic Police is then expected to trial a Benz with autonomous technology for 12 months.

“If all went well we should be able to have it (fully capable Drive Pilot) in cars by the end of the year, but understanding the way the process works and the various procedures involved I think that is pushing it,” McCarthy said.

The decision on whether the first E-Class will come capable of being retrofitted with full ‘Drive Pilot’ capabilities is yet to be resolved McCarthy admitted.

“It is not a software flash to update it, so we would have to make decision whether we built it with it, or we didn’t. So if you built it with it then it would mean activating it. If you built it without it then it would mean those cars would never be able to have it.”

Back in more orthodox territory, McCarthy confirmed the new E-Class would launch here initially with one turbo-petrol 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, a new-generation 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine and the new inline six 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine.

A full range of seven sedans, including multiple variants of the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and the new inline turbo-petrol 3.0-litre six should reach Australia by the end of 2016. The 350e plug-in petrol-electric hybrid is on the list for 2016 but may blow out. All models will be fitted with Benz’s 9G-TRONIC nine-speed auto and should be rear-wheel drive only.

But the yet-to-be-revealed E-Class Estate, if it continues on sale in Australia, may come only as an 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

“If we take the Estate we will likely take that (all-wheel drive) variant because it will likely add some extra volume,” explained McCarthy. “But we don’t have a timeline on that, although hopefully that will be 2016 as well.”

Two AMG models, the 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 E 450 Sport 4MATIC and the 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo E 63 S (replacing the current 5.5-litre V8) should be in Australia by the end of the first quarter of 2017.

Coupe and cabriolet versions are not expected to break cover for some time.

While the leader in its segment, the E-Class has diminished significantly in sales importance for MBAP. Back in the 1990s it sold around 1500 and 2000 examples and accounted for up to 40 per cent of volume.

Today it sells in the same sort of numbers but is only a minor player for a company that has grown its model range into small cars and SUVs and overall volume more than 700 per cent.

The new E-Class leads an overhaul of large luxury cars by the German big three, with the next BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 due in 2017.

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