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Spyshots: 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213) Mule Spotted on Nurburgring

Our men with long spy lenses were able to keep up with this interesting looking Mercedes-Benz prototype that was undergoing high-speed testing at the Nurburgring track. At a glance, this looks like just another next-gen C 63 AMG, but if you look closely at its lines you'll discover that it has flared wheel arches.
2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Mule Spotted on Nurburgring 8 photos
Photo: SB-Medien
2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Mule Spotted on Nurburgring2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Mule Spotted on Nurburgring2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Mule Spotted on Nurburgring2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Mule Spotted on Nurburgring2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Mule Spotted on Nurburgring2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Mule Spotted on Nurburgring2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Mule Spotted on Nurburgring
That's because this isn't an AMG C-Class, but the next generation of the mid-size E-Class executive car, due out in 2016. It will ride on a winder and longer version of the MRA platform that underpins the W205 and will come with new powertrains and tech features.

MRA is short for Modular Rear-wheel drive Architecture, but that's just a cool name to give some of Mercedes-Benz's models a sense of commonality. The next E-Class will actually be much larger than the C-Class and will feature even more advanced technologies. It could also be the first Benz in many years to use an inline-six engine that's part of a larger family of modular mills.

Reports suggest there will be at least two versions of the 3-liter inline-six, producing 367 PS and 435 PS respectively. A diesel with slightly less displacement, 2.9 liters, will be offered as a twin-turbo making 315 PS and 405 PS. Plug-in hybrid versions and a couple of AMGs will be part of the rage as well.

Since the E-Class received a major reboot in 2013, costing the company a billion euros to develop, the all-new sedan won't be ready until 2016 or later. Many other MRA-based models could be launched until that time, including the second-generation GLK and potentially even a coupe version of that.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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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.
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