If you’re going to be in the market for a new mid-size executive sedan in the next 12 months, you couldn’t have picked a better year. Both the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class are being replaced by brand new models and of those, its the Benz that we now know is first to arrive.
Mercedes confirmed today that the 2024 E-Class will be unveiled on April 25 and released a darkened profile image of the the new sedan to give us a taste of what’s in store for us in two weeks time. The single image ties in with the spy shots we’ve seen over the past year that suggest the E-Class is going to look like a scaled-up C-Class, but also incorporate some luxury details from its S-Class big brother, like the flush-mounted door handles.
Related: 2024 Mercedes E-Class Interior Revealed With A Superscreen, Built In TikTok And Selfie Cam
Mercedes has opted to show the car with what looks like the Night Package of black window trim instead of the more usual chrome, but the other detail that stands out is the PHEV charging flap on the driver’s side rear quarter. That doesn’t necessarily mean every model in the range will have plug-in functionality, but Merc’s line about “consistent electrification” in the release blurb hints at across-the-board electrification and will, the company says, enable “locally emission-free driving.”
We’ve already reported on rumors that every one of the upcoming E-Class’s four- and six-cylinder engines will have either mild hybrid or full-hybrid assistance to help them meet Euro 7 emissions regulations. But it sounds like the mild hybrids are going to be far more advanced than the ones in the current E-Class, and actually allow electric driving, rather than just boost the combustion engine’s output and efficiency.
Mercedes talks about the new E-Class delivering the same “at home” feeling that traditional customers have enjoyed for years, but also promises “seamless digital luxury” and “groundbreaking technologies.” And if your idea of groundbreaking technologies is having Angry Birds in your luxury car then you’ll definitely be at home in the new E-Class. Mercedes has already given us a look at the new sedan’s dashboard, which features a new take on the Hyperscreen infotainment system from the EQS, but this time the digital gauge cluster is a freestanding unit. An app store will let drivers add different features including TikTok and also Zoom, which works with a new selfie camera, and there’ll also be the option to stream sports, news and other video content.
We’ll be ready with a full story on the new E-Class in time for the reveal on March 25, or you can watch the official unboxing live at 11.00 EST using this link. Don’t expect to see the new six-cylinder AMG E53 or E63 super-sedans though; they won’t be unveiled until later in the year.
