It's difficult to talk about Audi or Volvo and not mention their traditional manner of building cars, but Mercedes-Benz has always taken things further in this respect. As a result, while the two carmakers above have been enjoying commercial success on the jacked-up wagon market for quite some time, we are now getting the first rumors of Stuttgart following suit.
As our spy photographers have come across the E-Class Estate, or T-Modell in Benz talk, the rumor mill mentions a second version is in the works, this time with a higher ground clearance.
With the Audi A6 Allroad as its closest competitor (the Ingolstadt model is now at its third generation), the E-Class has been tentatively named All-Terrain, as Motoring Australia writes.
With the E-Class sedan having landed in Detroit, the array of innovations of the new generation, which run from the technical side to the cabin luxuries, are no longer a secret.
As for the market introduction of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, this is expected to break cover online in June, while making its public debut in September.
While the potential All-Terrain (expect the name to change on the path to production) will follow in 2017, don't expect this to reach US dealerships. Not with the American clientele showing little to no love for station wagons.
In terms of positioning, the rugged terrain version of the E-Class will appeal to those who seek the benefits of a GLE without the all-SUV feeling and the dominant presence of the air suspension feeling you get in the latter.
The offroad-ready model is not the only new derivative that will enrich the E-Class portfolio, as a (possibly) Maybach-branded model is currently in the late development phase. Given China's thirst for rear legroom, we're sure the country will be thrilled with the model, but we're talking about more than just the usual long-wheelbase version for the Chinese market here.
This will be a vehicle offered in multiple countries and while some may wonder about its launch being justified, we expect the sales number to be a strong argument in favor of the new version.
You can regard this lavish model as the E-Class for people who enjoy the formula, but want to steer away from the basic forms of the E-Class that have made it so popular with taxi companies.
With the Audi A6 Allroad as its closest competitor (the Ingolstadt model is now at its third generation), the E-Class has been tentatively named All-Terrain, as Motoring Australia writes.
With the E-Class sedan having landed in Detroit, the array of innovations of the new generation, which run from the technical side to the cabin luxuries, are no longer a secret.
As for the market introduction of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, this is expected to break cover online in June, while making its public debut in September.
While the potential All-Terrain (expect the name to change on the path to production) will follow in 2017, don't expect this to reach US dealerships. Not with the American clientele showing little to no love for station wagons.
In terms of positioning, the rugged terrain version of the E-Class will appeal to those who seek the benefits of a GLE without the all-SUV feeling and the dominant presence of the air suspension feeling you get in the latter.
The offroad-ready model is not the only new derivative that will enrich the E-Class portfolio, as a (possibly) Maybach-branded model is currently in the late development phase. Given China's thirst for rear legroom, we're sure the country will be thrilled with the model, but we're talking about more than just the usual long-wheelbase version for the Chinese market here.
This will be a vehicle offered in multiple countries and while some may wonder about its launch being justified, we expect the sales number to be a strong argument in favor of the new version.
You can regard this lavish model as the E-Class for people who enjoy the formula, but want to steer away from the basic forms of the E-Class that have made it so popular with taxi companies.