New E-Class pumps up the luxury and tech

Mercedes' exec saloon is bigger, sleeker, more tech-savvy and heading upmarket

- GREG KABLE

Mercedes-Benz has unwrapped its sixth-generation E-Class, revealing a significantly more contemporary take on the traditional luxury saloon. It is set to go on sale in September at a price tipped to start at more than £50,000.

The new four-door will be one of the German car maker's last dedicated combustion-engined models before it goes electric-only and has grown in size over the previous model to provide a larger interior.

The Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series rival also offers a revised range of drivetrains. These include overhauled petrol-electric plug-in hybrid systems with a longer electric range of up to 69 miles (WLTP) thanks to a larger 24.1kWh battery, up by 10.6kWh.

As well as the two hybrid options, the new E-Class will initially be sold with a choice of four-cylinder and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with power outputs spanning 194bhp to 375bhp. All are mated to a standard nine-speed automatic gearbox.