2018 A238 Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet Stars in New Spy Video

Although the last E-Class Cab was based on the CLK and not the greatest machine in the world, Mercedes have been making this style of car for a very long time.

1991 was the year the 124 series came out, a four-seat convertible. The first E-Class Cabriolet was in production until 1997, with about almost half the buyers opting for a four-cylinder engine.

Fittingly perhaps, the next generation of the E-Cabrio will also make extensive use of four-bangers. If you want a fruity sound, there's the 300 model with an optional Sport exhaust, as we saw in the GLC. And for frugality, Mercedes will offer at least one 2-liter diesel version based on the tech found in the W213 sedan.

When you consider that going from 4-door to roofless adds a lot of weight, the benefits of the extra torque provided by something like a 220d become evident. There should also be a 6-cylinder diesel model, most likely to adopt the inline-6 configuration from the S-Class facelift. Oh, and let's not forget that virtually every model will be sold with a 9G-Tronic transmission.

Pretty much every technology from the W213 sedan will be available in the Cabrio model. It is expected that the four passengers will still be protected by the fancy AirScarf and AirCap systems, though not in all markets. However, that won't be enough to make it the most exotic roofless model, a title reserved for the newly released Maybach S650.

We can't confirm a powerful V8-powered AMG model will be offered either since the market is too small and no such prototype has yet been spotted. But a V6-powered E43 Cabrio is likely, as the mass-produced engine and trim pieces will transform this into a money maker for Mercedes.