Benz Faqs

Discussing about the changes to the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class only takes five minutes if that, so the German automaker brought in a little help to fill the remaining 20 minutes of its New York auto show press conference. Hanging from the ceiling was a giant Tesla coil along with a handler who helped to conduct its massive bolts of electricity. It was supposed to show consumers the all new “energy” of the E-Class.

With barely noticeable exterior changes, you have to look hard to spot the differences between this E-Class and last year’s version. Up front all models get a new grille, bumper, air dam and headlights while the rear end gets a similar upgrade to its lights and bumper. According to John Shipley, product specialist for the E-Class, the changes add a little more of the bold styling that attracts customers in this segment. “We’re looking to steal a few more customers from brands like BMW and Infiniti.”

Although not distinct models like the entry-level C-Class, the 2007 E-Class will offer both Sport and Luxury styles. Consider the Luxury model the base car while the no-cost change to the Sport model adds features like dual exhaust pipes, additional exterior trim and exclusive interior colors. All models are upgraded with a new steering wheel, shift lever and standard features like PreSafe, a sunroof and the Harman Kardon Logic7 audio system.

Although the base E350 remains unchanged under the hood, the E500 becomes the E550 with the installation of Mercedes’ latest 5.5-liter V8. First introduced in the S-Class sedan, the engine develops 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. In the E550 it’s combined with a seven-speed automatic transmission, and Mercedes says the sedan can accelerate from zero to 60 in an estimated 5.4 seconds. There’s also a quicker steering ratio for more responsive handling.

If the standard models still don’t deliver enough performance for you, consider the new 2007 E63 AMG. It does away with the supercharger on last year’s E55, relying instead on the larger displacement of its 6.3-liter V8. It cranks out 507 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. And unlike the E55, which was stuck with a five-speed automatic, the E63 is able to use the same seven-speed automatic as the E550. This keeps the mileage respectable while allowing it to go from zero to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.