SPY PICS: Benz on E Street

It is still a glimmer in the eye of the Australia Benz marketing team, but the next generation E-Class is inexorably heading towards introduction, reportedly at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show.

In the meantime, our spy-pic team Carparazzi has captured a heavily disguised wagon version of the next Benz family-size car -- to be dubbed W212 -- on test in Stuttgart.

What they snapped was a swoopy, curvaceous extension of the themes established in the latest S-Class, along with much of the sedan/coupe flavour of the CLS -- the car Jaguar would be proud to call its own.

One of the challenges faced with the next E-Class is to offer better passenger accommodation than the current 5 series BMW, which currently has the upper hand, and a look at the new one with its discernibly larger dimensions indicates that could well be the case. And, in the wagon, an unashamedly generous rear overhang should provide exceptional loading space.

Although the disguise cladding borders on excessive, S-Class style wheelarch bulges look likely too, although getting a real handle on how the front and rear ends will be treated is a matter of extreme supposition and guesswork.

Expect the usual lineup of Benz electronics, plus V6 and V8 engines -- including a 6.2-litre AMG version, even in the estate model.

Carparazzi reckons we should also expect a lane-departure warning system, an eye-movement monitor, traffic-sign identification, road-condition sensors and stability control that accounts for crosswinds, camber changes and tyre wear.

-- with Carparazzi