The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has enjoyed great success around the world, with the full-size saloon finding homes in every corner of the world. The estate model, which came about shortly after the introduction of the saloon, was set to be just as popular in the markets where it would be offered, adding a healthy dose of practicality to an already well-packaged product.
However, Australia isn’t a fan of the estate. With sales of estate cars dwindling, Mercedes-Benz has thought it prudent to axe the estate body style for Australia, substituting it instead with a crossover offering in the shape of the E-Class All-Terrain.
David McCarthy, Mercedes-Benz Australia’s senior communications manager, said that “the All-Terrain is an absolute definite.” He said that presently, the marque sells “around 100 units a year currently” of the existing E-Class Estate, and the All-Terrain would seek to improve on that. “I think for someone who’s after an E-Class Estate, this [All-Terrain] will meet their needs, and we hope there can be some incremental volume.”
According to Mercedes-Benz, the E-Class All-Terrain will be offered at launch in a sole E220d guise, with motivation from “probably the best four-cylinder turbodiesel in production today,” which generates 143kW and 400Nm. The century sprint is dispatched in just 8 seconds, and it’ll keep on going up to 232km/h. All of this, while sipping just 5.2l/100km.
As standard the All-Terrain will come fitted with 4Matic all-wheel drive, improved ground clearance (up 29mm), and it’ll float on adjustable air suspension. Like the traditional body styles, the E-Class All-Terrain with be fitted with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Design revisions follow in the footsteps of other jumped-up estate cars, with chunky body cladding, skid plates, and thicker tyres. The interior will come with a variant-unique aluminium-carbon-ish trim, replete with stainless steel sports pedals with rubber studs. Oh, and All-Terrain branded floor mats.
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