2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Press Release

Superlative climatic comfort with the new four-zone THERMOTRONIC With enormous attention to detail and the utmost precision, Mercedes designers have developed a comfortable interior for the new E-Class whose choice of high-quality materials ensures typical Mercedes quality and value impression. Outstanding long-distance comfort is assured by the standard automatic climate control, newly developed seats and state-of-the-art driver support systems. As an optional extra, Mercedes-Benz will install the efficient four-zone air THERMOTRONIC climate control, whose microprocessor individually determines and controls the temperature for the driver and front passenger, as well as the passengers on the outer rear seats. For owners requiring even more individuality in terms of seating comfort Mercedes-Benz has developed the dynamic multicontour seat as a world first. This is equipped with several air chambers which automatically inflate and deflate according to the driving situation to offer the driver and front passenger the best possible lateral support. Three lines with individual characteristics and a full range of standard equipment Individuality has always been a major characteristic of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Three distinctive design and equipment lines meet different customer requirements: CLASSIC, ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE. Even the basic model, CLASSIC, comes complete with a radio, automatic climate control, Sensotronic Brake Control, light-alloy wheels and a host of other safety-related and comfort features. The AVANTGARDE line distinguishes itself with its own dynamically designed bumpers and side skirts, as well as fabric/leather upholstery and cockpit instruments with white dials. Powerful bi-xenon lights are also standard equipment in this model. The latest technical innovations from the entertainment electronics and telecommunications sectors are available in the new E-Class. The Audio 50 APS radio and the innovative control and display system COMAND APS (available from the fourth quarter of 2002) – both with an integral navigation computer – feature a graphics-capable colour display which also enables SMS messages, emails and the online services of the Mercedes-Benz Portal to be displayed in conjunction with a fixed-installation car phone. For the first time the navigation system in the new E-Class can also be controlled using the LINGUATRONIC voice control system. Average worldwide market share of 24 percent The new E-Class replaces a preceding model whose average sales of more than 200,000 units per year made it the world's the most successful luxury class saloon. The proportion of this market segment accounted for by the E-Class is an average of 24 percent, and in some countries even above 40 percent. DaimlerChrysler has produced approx. 1.4 million E-Class saloons since 1995.