Mercedes ConceptFASCINATION set to Grace the Paris Stage: Previews Next-Gen E-Class

by Clinton Deacon
September 11, 2008 11:02 AM
Filed Under: Concept Car, German, Mercedes-Benz, Paris Motor Show

Mercedes Benz-Benz will enter the Paris arena next month with the ConceptFASCINATION, it previews the design for the next generation E-Class, the first model variant of which will be launched in 2010.

The German automaker is looking to extend the body range of its mid-size luxury car by re branding the next generation CLK as an E-Class coupe, it will join the sedan and estate model variants already offered. It is an attempt by Mercedes to return the E class to the legendary status once achieved by the W124 E-Class, however the new E-Class Coupe will still boast the underpinnings of the current generation C-Class.

A shooting brake body style has been used in the ConceptFASCINATION, but don't let that fool you, a more conventional coupe style will return come production time of the E-Class Coupe. The V shape front end adds to the sportiness of the model and continues the design evolution of the Mercedes brand which has already been seen on the SL facelift. The twin headlight design which has graced the previous two generations of the E-Class remains but the rounded design has been replaced with rhomboid shaped headlamps.

Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, commented: "This design study continues the long tradition of exciting coupés from Mercedes-Benz in impressive style. With its emotionally ap-pealing lines, ConceptFASCINATION offers a completely new interpretation of the coupé. Its aesthetic, dynamic looks and painstakingly crafted details ensure that this study meets the highest design standards."

Mercedes previews a new 2.2-liter four-cylinder Bluetec diesel engine in the engine bay of the ConceptFASCINATION, a production version will make its way to the E-Class range come 2010 possibly carrying the label 250 CDI. It generates the kind of power currently achieved by the 3.0-liter CDI with an output of 204 horsepower (150kW) and its lower displacement means we can expect some pretty impressive fuel economy and CO2 emission figures.

The Mercedes ConceptFASCINATION will be unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show at the beginning of next month when we will present further details and images of the model.

Source: Daimler
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Comments

phobos
September 11, 2008 11:24 AM
the front end looks amazing..i hope the next e class will look like that..but the rear is kind of dull..another beautiful car from MB..cheers

BabyMilo
September 11, 2008 11:32 AM
WOW that is amazing... i hope the next gen E-Class looks like that... jaw dropping design well done mercedes! please please please mercedes make the next E-Class look like that please

Penner
September 11, 2008 11:53 AM
It will look like that... sadly...

SDman
September 11, 2008 11:54 AM
absolutely beautyfull.. never seen a mercedes design look this good.. keep it up! think this will blow the next gen 5 series anytime... for the 1st time the E will look better than the 5..

gorgonzola
September 11, 2008 11:59 AM
nice mazda 6 rear ROFL...

rxlonline
September 11, 2008 12:03 PM
Look like the Lexus GS....and the lexus is way better than MB!!

odysseus
September 11, 2008 2:16 PM
Looks like a Lexus GS … mmh … no, it doesn't!

Kaamraan
September 15, 2008 7:35 PM
He was talking about the front. Which does look like a Lexus GS. Not the back that looks like a Mazda 6. Wtf has happened to Merc over the past 2 years?? It's like they can't come up with anything original anymore. And if it IS original, it's just because nobody else wanted that design.

car.fan
September 11, 2008 12:19 PM
Audi Q7 roof line.Lexus and Mazda detailing. Mercedes running out of Ideas? Yupp

afterace2
September 11, 2008 12:31 PM
that's a sweet car, can't wait to see the CLK

asif
September 11, 2008 12:46 PM
good looking? yes. original? no. merc pays homage to the mazda 6. and whats with the bonnet/hood shutline? its like its bee drawn with a ruler and its 10mm wide! just doesnt do it any favours.

The_woo_factor
September 11, 2008 12:48 PM
Why is the Lexus copying Merc? Hang on...its the other way round..... so sad

mmr66
September 11, 2008 1:44 PM
no bad i dont know why people think it is ugly it looks great to me.

Bristol411S3
September 11, 2008 1:55 PM
It's "shooting break"...

I don't like this. I can see traces of the Cadillac CTS in the front, which is never good.

lucifa
September 11, 2008 2:01 PM
wait, i thought the japanese were famous for ripping off the germans, not vice versa? mix a current mazda 6 with the outgoing lexus range... and you've pretty much got this...

phobos
September 11, 2008 2:13 PM
mazda?..wth are you talking about?...it is beyond mazda..it is simply beautiful, lexus?just because it has twin headlights?...compare it side by side, i bet the merc will look outstanding...

odysseus
September 11, 2008 2:27 PM
Can you all please stop to make comments like «Buh, they have copied from this and the others have copied from then!»? You will find on every car lines shapes and details which reminds you to other cars from other manufacturers. I had an intern at the Mercedes-Benz Design Studio in Sindelfingen three years ago, and I know good enough how these designers are working. This car is a pure Mercedes.

afterace2
September 11, 2008 9:24 PM
actually it's like from the begining of the motor car, that manufacturers were copying each other many times, and only few were true new trendsetters. I think borrowing some desing cues from other good designs is not bad, as far as it's not total copying of everything.

asif
September 11, 2008 4:20 PM
i am sorry to disappoint you Odysseus, you were in fact doing your intern at the Lexus Studios......

alessandro
September 11, 2008 4:50 PM
That way this car will never produced but pretaste is good. Nice job again MB. I personally wait more radical design solutions like E700 for example.

Tuner_Mad
September 11, 2008 6:06 PM
O.o?! I'm speechless.

coopergt
September 11, 2008 8:06 PM
sign me up, just like it is please. reminds me of some aston martin shhoting breaks that they made a few of, or a reliant scimitar (sp)

gadroma
September 11, 2008 9:36 PM
If this is a clue of whats to come in the CLK then please let me know where can I place a pre order for my CLK Convertible

designerr
September 11, 2008 9:54 PM
nice front end.......but too mazda in rear end. but its mercedes, and i love it.

wjaprep
September 11, 2008 11:29 PM
Yes please. AND an E class coupe?!?!?!?! YES. Mercedes ftw.

Ok, now for a comment of mine that makes sense...

I love how people are saying Mercedes is copying Lexus when... 1. Mercedes frist came out w/ double headlamps on the w210, which Lexus stole, so this is Mercedes thing. 2. All Lexus is a rip off(in a weigh) of Mercedes, think about it...

I'm SO glad theyre bringing back the E class coupe, the CLK is nice and all, but just the name adds prestaige(sp?). The w124 E class coupe was one of my fav cars. Congratz Merc.

peterjames7
September 12, 2008 4:08 AM
beatiful peice of design, i agree it has a lot of mazda about it, which is a good thing for mazda, but i really like the aggresiveness of the front. i read on the autocar webiste that the front is the front of the new clk and the rear is that of the estate e, i hope the new e class has a similar front though i think it looks great!

phobos
September 12, 2008 5:52 AM
dead on wjaprep...

muellr
September 12, 2008 5:52 AM
can someone explain the inflationary use of the center crease? I mean c'mon - opel, caddy, merc, acura who else? We know for a century now that cars are symmetric, I don't need to be pointed to the mirror line with a knife edge ... and then those swept rear wheel arches - I once saw an old sketch explaining the RR design philosophy, which came form a boat and the bow wave it greates, that was how they came up with the bow wave swoopy rear wheel arch, but that must have been centuries old and it still looks old today - although I do like the overal car..minus..

muellr
September 12, 2008 6:03 AM
right on phobos and wjaprep, when i moved to the states and saw the last gen lexus LS 430 I first thought: What kind of version of teh W140 S class are they selling in the states? untill I realized it was a lexus copy.. and now the hyundai luxury barge is the same..

darzav
September 12, 2008 8:35 AM
wajaprep is spot on. Dual ligts have been a E-class trademark way before the GS days. This is pure Mercedes design. Everyone else is the copy cat. All these blind haters cant except the fact that Mercedes are superior. Cmon people, just because you cant afford one, doesnt give you the right to bag one. Now go enjoy your Honda's *if thats possible*.

Kaamraan
September 15, 2008 7:42 PM
My dad has the current E Class. It's not that we can't afford Mercs, it's just that they now suck. True, dual headlights have been E Class trademark since forever, but SQUARE dual headlights have been GS trademarks for almost as long. Round lights look way better on the E Class.

nendor
September 12, 2008 9:11 AM
it is a concept like the F700, beside mercedes always release the concept if people like it they release it like the CLS and the Ocean Drive which will go into production in 2011 so maybe they won't release this one who knows...

alessandro
September 12, 2008 4:02 PM
Lover than Avantime and R series with no B pillar will that car be great ride inside out but please with slightly more radical design language.

wjaprep
September 13, 2008 12:03 AM
Also, I think they should offer the E class coupe in luxury and sport trim (like the C class, im in the US) And I read on Autoblog that theyre renaming the CL "S class coupe" Im so glad, all the MErcedes models were making no sense. And The CL class basically is a S class coupe (as is the CLK an E class coupe) Just call them what they are. I'm so glad Mercedes is cleanig up theyre act, Now if they could just close the plant in Alabama...

Lutzie
September 14, 2008 1:05 PM
The CLK has always been based on the C-Class, not the E-Class. The last E-class Coupe was the gorgeous W124.

wjaprep
September 15, 2008 11:45 PM
Yeah, I know, but the w208 looked alot like the w210 thats all I was saying, and I read somewhere that the new CLK was basically like a E class C class baby so yeah...

LMS
September 15, 2008 12:54 PM
"completely new interpretation of the coupé" Completely new as in Alfa Romeo Brerra? Or completely new as in VW Scirroco?

Maybe what they really mean is that from now on, every 3dr hatchback is actually a coupe! That's jolly good news for all those who drive a 106GTi!

BabyMilo
September 15, 2008 2:27 PM
i am in love with the design of this car! it is just sooo nice... please please please mercedes can you make the next gen e-class looks like this... so i guess this is another great looking car from mercedes, well done

ap
September 17, 2008 5:04 AM
im just glad they are back to the sharp angular lines of the original 124 and getting rid of all those curves from exterior and interior, those circ head restraints always looked odd...and yes, the original clk was indeed based heavily on its e-class sibling's styling...i am loving the back to basics approach by mb these days, finally reallising they have lost it over the years...bring on the coupe naming too e-class coupe and s-class coupe, sounds beautiful...and classic.

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