Spy shots Mercedes-Benz E-Class limousine

The all-new E-Class was just revealed last month at the Detroit Auto Show, bearing a brand-new face and an updated platform. Today our spy photographers have captured images of a stretched-wheelbase limousine variant in testing.

Clearly sporting the new E-Class face, the limo spied is still in the earlier stages of testing, judging by the mis-matched character line along the side of the car. The car is believed to be a test mule for an upcoming long-wheelbase (LWB) variant.

Little is thus far known about the car, but it can be expected to use the same running gear found throughout the rest of the new E-Class lineup, though likely only paired with the larger engines. Probable candidates include the upper-end V8 petrol engines and the range-topping diesel V8 generating up to 354hp (264kW), found in the E500.

A V6 petrol-electric hybrid powertrain similar to the one featured in the S400 hybrid could also be employed, though that system isn't due to hit the E-Class until after 2010. A previous aftermarket stretch-limo E-Class built by Binz featured a choice of E220, E270 or E350 diesel powerplants, however, indicating that any of the current E-Class crop of engines may be up to the job.

Gallery: Spy shots: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Limousine

2010 Mercedes Benz E-Class ‘Estate’ wagon

The next-generation Mercedes Benz E-Class has just made its debut but we still have several months until the ‘Estate’ wagon version is revealed. A number of prototypes for the Estate have been spotted near the carmaker’s headquarters in Germany, revealing the final shape of the car with only the finer details being masked by the black camouflage material. These new renderings, however, give us a look at what the new model will likely look like.

We can clearly see the design of the grille and some details on the tail-lights. The 2010 E-Class is scheduled to go on sale in Europe by March, with other markets expected to follow soon after. The Estate variant, meanwhile, should be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Like the sedan, the range of engines available for the new wagon will comprise four, six and eight-cylinder units with outputs from 100 kW/136 hp to 386 kW/525 hp – the top end model being the E63 from AMG. The four-cylinder engines are newly developed direct-injection units, which develop a higher output and torque than the comparable V6-engines of the preceding series despite a smaller displacement.

The top model in the new E-Class diesel range is the six-cylinder E350 CDI with an output of 170 kW/231 hp, which uses 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres less fuel than the previous E320 CDI.

Expect the new E-Class Estate to be slightly larger than the outgoing model, with more room for rear seat passengers.

Gallery: Mercedes E

Mercedes McLaren SLR Stirling Moss

It only makes sense that Mercedes would choose Detroit in January to debut the windowless and topless SLR Stirling Moss edition, right? This snow-in-your-hair super roadster will make its first public showing at the North American International Auto Show.

The last and most extreme version of the Mercedes SLR will be limited to 75 units and cost €750,000 (about $1.07 million at direct current rates.) The only thing separating the drive from nature in this speedster is the sleek carbon fiber bodywork, and a tonneau cover that can be applied over the passenger area à la old school topless racers.

The SLR Stirling Moss comes with the 5.5-liter supercharged V8 from the 722 SLR, which makes 650 hp. Without a windshield, this roadster can still hit a rip-your-face-off top speed of 217 mph.

New Car-2010 Mercedes E-Class Official Photos

When it rains it pours. Earlier today we had an almost undisguised image of the 2010 E-Class sedan, now official images were leaked on the web. Now it’s official, the future E-Class sedan will take some cues from its S-Class big brother. This includes a sleeker body than the current model, with harder crease lines and a slightly rising rear-end.

A correction from the earlier post has the E-Class sedan premiering at the Detroit Auto Show in January, the coupe bowing at the Geneva Show in March, and expect the convertible and/or AMG version to make an appearance at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. Mercedes to offer a wide variety of V6 and V8 engines, including a 525 hp 6.3-liter V8 for the E63 AMG model.

Auto News - 2010 Mercedes E-Class caught almost undisguised

There have been a lot of spy shots and renderings of the future E-Class giving a pretty good idea of what the car should look like. Now we’ve got are hands on one that is absolutly clear about what the body is going to look like. This shot car the car almost completely uncovered. The only thing hidden is the front end which has been already almost revealed in the quad-headlight ConceptFASCINATION.

From this shot we can see that the future E-Class sedan will take some cues from its S-Class big brother. This includes a sleeker body than the current model, with harder crease lines and a slightly rising rear-end.

Expect Mercedes to offer a wide variety of V6 and V8 engines, including a 525 hp 6.3-liter V8 for the E63 AMG model. Although the coupe version is expected to be shown in Geneva in March, don’t expect to see this E-Class sedan full uncovered until the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.