It's well built, makes a good taxi and has moves well on the autobahn - the S213 E-Class T-Model is one of Daimler's unsung heroes. And despite being only a couple of years old, it's getting a facelift.
This is all part of the update for the entire E-Class family, which came out in 2016. We've already seen numerous prototypes, but not this one. It appears to be an elegant new plug-in hybrid, which may also boast distinctive styling.
We're not talking about the fake double-spoke design of the wheels, but rather the shape of the front bumper. This could be a direct replacement for the current E 300de. The 2-liter diesel making 194 HP and 400 Nm might remain the same, but the electric motor could upgrade its current output of 122 HP. Also, Mercedes is working on new battery technology.
Depending on what you read, it will either double the current model's 13.5kWh capacity or give the car a pure electric range of 100 kilometers or 62 miles. We think they will settle for a 20 kWh pack, considering there's not a lot of leftover space in the trunk.
As you can probably tell, some serious cosmetic changes are also happening, which might be revealed around the time of the Detroit Auto Show in January, but won't make it into dealerships until the 2021 model year. At the front, we're dealing with a completely new grille and narrower headlights, which remind us of both the GLS-Class and the CLS four-door coupe.
Around the back, upgrades will be limited to some longer taillights which wrap around the trunk lid and a refreshed touches to the bumper. As the prototype passes our cameraman, spotter WalkoArt, we also catch glimpses of the interior. It's pretty obvious that those screens belong to the MBUX infotainment upgrade.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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