Photo: S.Baldauf/SB-Medien
You can either love or hate the decision, but the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe will be pretty hard to differentiate from its smaller brother, the C-Class Coupe, especially when we're talking about untrained eyes.
That said, there will be plenty of subtle details to make it stand out, and strangely enough, none of them involves the vastly different footprint left by the two models.
As you can see in the adjacent spy photos, Mercedes-Benz doesn't even bother covering that much real estate on the 2017 E-Class Coupe prototypes anymore. In fact, the only design motifs with heavy camouflage on are the soon-to-become traditional third windows.
Speaking of which, the side profile will provide the biggest disparity between the C- and the E-Class Coupe. While the smaller C has a hidden B-pillar, the two-door E-Class makes do without one, thus sporting a classic coupe look when admired from the side.
Since the rear windows would otherwise be too large to be rolled all the way down, Mercedes decided to add a small third window into the mix, and that bit is completely covered on the two prototypes our spies caught in the open.
Another difference compared to the C-Class Coupe will also be the lack of an upward kink, which will make the E-Class Coupe look more like the bigger S-Class Coupe. Unlike both the S and the C, the mid-size E will also feature much slimmer taillights, so you can at least differentiate the three easier from behind.
Despite Mercedes-Benz getting ready to introduce a whole new family of mild-hybrid inline-fours and sixes next year, you won't be seeing them on the E Coupe in the first half of its production cycle. Don't frown too much, though, because, for the first time ever, the E-Class Coupe nameplate will have a full-blown AMG version. Two of them, actually.
With the two versions of the M177, 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 being taken straight out of its bonkers four-door brother, you can expect a lot of performance from the two-door E-Class. Unfortunately, it's presumed that the intelligent 4Matic+ AWD system won't make the switch as well, AMG preferring to infuse the E63 and E63 S Coupe with a lot more craziness.
On the even more speculative side, we're guessing that the designo hyacinth red metallic prototype in the photos is an E43 version, powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 that delivers 401 PS and 520 Nm (384 lb-ft) of torque, while the black one could be an E400.
Expect the new Mercedes coupe to be unveiled soon enough, with the 2017 edition of the Detroit Auto Show being a good hosting contender for its reveal. Ironically, it may not have a direct rival anymore, since BMW has apparently decided to replace the 6 Series with the S-Class-battling 8 Series from 2018.
As you can see in the adjacent spy photos, Mercedes-Benz doesn't even bother covering that much real estate on the 2017 E-Class Coupe prototypes anymore. In fact, the only design motifs with heavy camouflage on are the soon-to-become traditional third windows.
Speaking of which, the side profile will provide the biggest disparity between the C- and the E-Class Coupe. While the smaller C has a hidden B-pillar, the two-door E-Class makes do without one, thus sporting a classic coupe look when admired from the side.
Since the rear windows would otherwise be too large to be rolled all the way down, Mercedes decided to add a small third window into the mix, and that bit is completely covered on the two prototypes our spies caught in the open.
Another difference compared to the C-Class Coupe will also be the lack of an upward kink, which will make the E-Class Coupe look more like the bigger S-Class Coupe. Unlike both the S and the C, the mid-size E will also feature much slimmer taillights, so you can at least differentiate the three easier from behind.
Despite Mercedes-Benz getting ready to introduce a whole new family of mild-hybrid inline-fours and sixes next year, you won't be seeing them on the E Coupe in the first half of its production cycle. Don't frown too much, though, because, for the first time ever, the E-Class Coupe nameplate will have a full-blown AMG version. Two of them, actually.
With the two versions of the M177, 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 being taken straight out of its bonkers four-door brother, you can expect a lot of performance from the two-door E-Class. Unfortunately, it's presumed that the intelligent 4Matic+ AWD system won't make the switch as well, AMG preferring to infuse the E63 and E63 S Coupe with a lot more craziness.
On the even more speculative side, we're guessing that the designo hyacinth red metallic prototype in the photos is an E43 version, powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 that delivers 401 PS and 520 Nm (384 lb-ft) of torque, while the black one could be an E400.
Expect the new Mercedes coupe to be unveiled soon enough, with the 2017 edition of the Detroit Auto Show being a good hosting contender for its reveal. Ironically, it may not have a direct rival anymore, since BMW has apparently decided to replace the 6 Series with the S-Class-battling 8 Series from 2018.
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