Going off-road in a wagon looks like running in slippers. But the E-Class All-Terrain is just as capable as most crossovers, proving to be a great alternative for those who would go to great lengths to avoid a standard 4x4.
To celebrate the launch of the Audi A6 allroad rival, Mercedes has released several new videos. They detail everything from the way the interior looks to how the suspension lifts itself, like a lady raising her skirt so as not to get it muddy. Air suspension should also prove to be a great motorway companion.
Besides the raised suspension, which can be as high as 156 mm (6.1 inches), the All-Terrain also benefits from protective body cladding in black and silver. However, Mercedes never put that to the test. It would have been nice to see what kind of punishment the car can handle, as Citroen did with the C3's air bumps.
Like most such vehicles, the E-Class has also been fitted with a special off-road driving mode, perhaps the most important feature. We've even seen some GLA-Class models pointlessly spinning their wheels in the air, but not here.
Unlike the regular Estate it's based on or its main rival, the A6 allroad, the E-Class All-Terrain might make do with just one engine. We are talking about the E220d 4Matic powertrain that uses a new 2-liter turbodiesel to deliver 194 PS and 95 pound-feet (400 Newton-meters). Should that not provide sufficient grunt, the company might also drop a 6-cylinder under the hood in 2017, complete with matching 9-speed auto and all-wheel drive.
Why don't more cars come in red?
The styling changes are obviously subtle ones, but in a good sense. The holes on the grille match those in the lower bumper. Meanwhile, the LED headlights project a premium aura as the Merc strolls through the forest. Meanwhile, the rear shows some muscular exhaust pipes integrated into the silver skid plate.
But our favorite feature is the red paint. More German cars should be presented in this manner. Usually, it's reserved for sports cars and hot hatchbacks. But there's no mistaking this for anything other than a serious bit of kit, so why not add a little pick me up to get us through those drab winter days?
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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