The W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class may still look
relatively fresh, but at nearly three years old it’s pretty much due for the
usual mid-cycle refresh. It’s just as well, Paultan spy photographers
have caught the facelifted version of the S213 Estate variant, and quite a bit
looks to have changed on the outside.
Despite the disguise it’s clear that this executive
express will have a completely new front end, headlined by the trapezoidal
front grille. These are joined by reshaped headlights with arrow-shaped LED
daytime running lights, a look that appears to have been inspired by the new
A-Class, CLS and GLE. Fewer changes at the rear, but the camouflage around the
tail lights suggest mildly restyled internal graphics.
Don’t expect many changes inside apart from the
usual new trim. The E-Class has already received a few running updates over the
past couple of years, with the latest adding bits from the facelifted C-Class,
such as the redesigned steering wheel and a mild update to the infotainment
system.
No powertrain changes expected, as the
E-Class already gets the latest mills, including a 299 hp 2.0 litre mild hybrid
turbo petrol in the E 350, a 2.0 litre turbodiesel in the 150 hp E 200 d, 194
hp E 220 d and 245 hp E 300 d, and a 3.0 litre straight-six diesel in the 286
hp E 350 d and 340 hp E 400 d. There’s also the new 320 hp E 300 e and 306 hp E
300 de plug-in hybrids, both with around 50 km of pure electric range.
The AMG E 53 and E 63 models should remain unchanged
as well. The former gets a 3.0 litre twin-turbo mild hybrid petrol straight-six
making 435 hp and 520 Nm of torque, while the E 63 is powered by a
fire-breathing 4.0 litre biturbo V8 making 571 hp and 750 Nm (or a whopping 612
hp and 850 Nm in the E 63 S).
