2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class revealed as official images leak

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has leaked out ahead of its scheduled unveiling at the Detroit motor show next week.

In total, 31 interior and exterior images have been revealed, showing a car that is close in execution to both the Mercedes S-Class and Mercedes C-Class.

Official details remain scarce: unconfirmed reports suggest the new E-Class is codenamed W213, is 65mm longer in its wheelbase than the outgoing model at 2939mm, with the overall length stretched by 43mm to 4923mm.

The drag coefficient is also said to be an extremely low 0.23, which would help aerodynamic efficiency.

Rumoured engine details are scarce, with reports revealing only that there will be range of four- and six-cylinder units, plus a E350e plug-in hybrid option. More details on likely engine options are below.

You can see the full picture selection in the gallery below.

New generation of engines

The E-Class will have a new generation of four-cylinder diesel engines, codenamed OM654, alongside existing four-cylinder petrol units. The new 2.0-litre diesel is expected to be offered in two states of tune.

Mercedes will extend the line-up during 2016 with a new generation of 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesels. New six-pot petrol engines are also planned.

The new six-cylinder petrol engine (codenamed M256) and diesel engine (codenamed OM656) are undergoing pilot production at the company’s factory in Unterturkheim, near Stuttgart in Germany.

They share elements of their architecture with Mercedes' existing four-cylinder petrol engine, the M274, including their 90mm bore centre spacing and 500cc individual cylinder volume.

All three units form part of a new modular engine family that, sources say, also include a three-cylinder petrol engine and a new generation four-cylinder diesel (codenamed OM654).

The three-cylinder petrol is scheduled to be offered in future generations of the A-Class, B-Class, CLA, GLA and possibly other front-wheel drive models in combination with an electric motor.

The new four-cylinder diesel, which replaces the OM651 unit in use today, gains the latest in piezo-guided direct injection. It is planned to be used across the Mercedes line-up in models ranging from the A-Class to the S-Class.

Both engines are considered crucial to the German car maker’s efforts to meet the 95g/km fleet average CO2 emissions regulation due to come into force in 2020.

An E350e plug-in hybrid, with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and an electric motor, will join the range within a year of launch. It’s said to have an electric-only range of 20 miles. 

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