Test drive Mercedes Benz E-class w211 2002-2006 sedan

The mess of perfection

In April, in Russia, sales of the Mercedes of the New E-class begin, in the development of which two billion euros were invested in 48 months.
Less, but more!
Quickly overtaking me in the left strip of xenon, suddenly, as if stumbled, they slowed down - taking to the right, the eyes of Mercedes buried my stern. Then, having forgotten about European scrupulousness to the rules, he caught up on the right. Again, he fell behind, a little ahead of the left - a driver who looked like Michele Placido, with a boyish curiosity, looked at my car. However, I was not too surprised, because while driving the new E-Class already managed to get used to the delightful-rugging views of the owners of other Mercedes.
And to see what. Unlike a respectable, but still a little heavy predecessor of the W210 model, the new car has visually easier, more dynamic and because of this, as if, as if decreased in size: the racks were leaned stronger, the roof was blown up, relief substetricians on the sides appeared, eyes. -Faram acquired a slight Asian slanting. But the beginner not only did not decrease, but with the same length even slightly grew (12 mm), it was heard in width (23 mm), received an increased wheelbase (21 mm) and instead of the previous 16, now it flaunts 17 -Inch wheels.
By the way, despite the increased frontal area, the aerodynamics improved due to a decrease in the resistance coefficient to 0.26 (in the previous model CC \u003d 0.27). Naturally, the already considerable salon increased - not one of my almost ninety kilograms was infringed on either expanse or comfort. And moving the chair back in the parking lot, I just lost the pedal.
Yes, and Schildik E500 at the stern of my Mercedes-Benets says a lot-now the 5-liter engine has ceased to be the property of only the S-class. By the way, with it, acceleration to 100 km/h takes 6.1 seconds, which is half a second faster than the top modification of the previous generation E430.
  Smarter than smart
Michele Placido enthusiastically protruded his thumb and, flashing an enviable width with a smile, sped forward forward. Letti-chip, handsome, and I still need to get comfortable with this miracle of technology. After all, the new E-class is confused by innovation at the very tip of the antenna. For example, on my five hundreds in standard configuration, and for the rest as an option, an air suspension is installed with the Air Matik-Duel Control system, which first appeared on the S-class four years ago. Double control means an automatic change in the characteristics of stiffness and damping, depending on the quality of the coating, speed and driving style. Moreover, reconfigure occurs almost instantly - in just 0.05 s. It can also be adjusted manually, choosing one of the three modes of the suspension - from normal to sports. Of course, there is an automatic and manual regulation of a road clearance, despite the load, but in accordance with the speed. Say, at 140 km/h, it decreases by 15 mm and then restored at 70 km/h.
Electronics rules not only a suspension. On all gasoline versions, the adaptive pedal of the accelerator changes the response of the engine depending on the temperament of the driver. And the brake pedal only sets the SBC (Sensortonic Brake Control) electrolyword system, the desired degree of slowdown, and then the brake fluid pressure battery comes into operation, and 140-160 bar provide 3% of the brake route at a speed of 120 km/h. Previously, the braking in a dangerous situation will also help the Dister system that has migrated from more expensive models will also help - it not only supports a safe distance to the in front of the running machine, but its radar hidden under the radiator is able to be narrow, only three degrees with a beam and in the darkness to detect An obstacle at a distance of up to 150 meters.
The frontal airbags, like the gas pedal, take into account the speed of the collision, and the right one herself weighs the front passenger: for a lightweight lady, he is inflated for half, and if the face is installed against the passage there, it will turn off at all. The car will take care of the call of help, sending a SOS to the service center in the event of an accident.
     
Not the five hundredth one
In addition to the flagship version of the E500, the NOAVA model is available in modifications of the E240 and E320, with V-shaped gasoline sixes, a volume of 2.6 liters and 3.2 liters, as well as in economical performances of E220CDI and E270CDI with in-line four- and five-cylinder turbodiesella, volume of 2 , 15 liters and 2.7 liters. Until the end of this year, 200 thousand cars should leave the conveyor in Zindelfingen, the next-250 thousand. The cost of the most affordable Mercedes-Benz-E240 with a 6-speed mechanical gearbox in Russia will be 45 thousand euros.
In the gamut of the new E-Class there is no station wagon, all-wheel drive modification of the fir-maker and the charged sports version from the AMG tuning studio. But from the experience of the previous generation, one can expect their appearance in the next year and a half.
Take care of adrenaline, gentlemen!
Meanwhile, the navigation system takes to the mountains. At the congress from the highway, instead of turning on the turn indicator, I mistakenly grab the handle of cruise control - they are located nearby and confused from habit. A winding path with perfect coating provokes - and I do not mind! Having pumped a five -speed automatic selector a couple of times, I force the tachometer arrow, and at the same time my own pulse and pressure, jump into several divisions up and, in anticipation of strong emotions, rush into the turn
What kind of nonsense? Where is the fight against the laws of physics, where is the taming of a mechanical horse, where is adrenaline? Well, let not a controlled skid - this is too much, but the squeak of rubber, trembling of the steering wheel, a fragile sense of balance - where is all this? As if mocking me, the Mercedes-Benz reliably and without the slightest tension, except for the muffled Reva of the three-hundredth eight, writes one after another mathematically verified, even arcs. Even the ESP stabilization system will never grunt, inhibiting one of the wheels. And only a well -tangible side overload confirms - everything is correct, the speed is really high, and the turn is cool, and you yourself are well done. But the limits of the capabilities of the car are much further, and I am simply not ready to explore them.
Warning desires
While he was practicing, he fully appreciated the dynamic multi -circuit seat: to prevent displacement of the body, one of the rollers of lateral support on the back is inflated to the side, fixing the driver and providing him with additional side support. It is worth saying about the chairs: in addition to the numerous electrical regulations with memory, they also built the ventilation systems (with separate filters!) And even massage.
It is understandable - the status of a business class car makes it be particularly attention to comfort. Here, for example, in the cabin you can create four climatic zones - two in front and two behind. And when entering the tunnel, to prevent possible poisoning with exhaust gases, automation will turn on the ventilation recirculation mode, having previously closed the windows and hatch. The command-band system combines the radio, DVD player, TV, navigation system and phone, and it is duplicated on the multifunctional steering wheel. Even in a simpler standard configuration of audio-50-PS, it is possible to control the voice and receive messages by e-mail. Yes, yes, the new Mercedes-Benz found all those incredibly smart systems that a couple of years ago were the exceptional property of representative limousines. So in the family he is the youngest only by age, but not by his abilities.
Returning to the hotel in the evening, I thought that although the previous e-class turned out to be the most successful model of the company (since 1995, 1,374,409 cars have been released), the newcomer seems to be able to break this record, he has all the data. In any case, in Russia, success is provided to him, even though the price of E500 begins with 75 thousand euros.
 
The interior of the new E-class carries obvious similarities with the predecessor

A tachometer watch clearly shows that this is a car of a business person, not an athlete

       
As befits a Mercedes, the salon of the new E-class meets the comfort of genuine leather and expensive wood, affecting the accuracy of the finish and the thoroughness of the elaboration of each part.

   
 
Mercedes-Benz E500
common data
 
Body
5-seater sedan
 
Equipped mass, kg
1725
 
Complete mass, kg
2250
 
Length x width x height, mm
4818x1822x1430
 
Wheel base, mm
2854
 
Front/back, mm track
1567/1560
 
Maximum speed, km/h
250
 
Acceleration 0100 km/h, with
6.1
 
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
11.5
 
Fuel supply, l
80
 
Engine
Location
The front is longing
 
Design
8-cylinder, V-shaped
 
The number of valves per cylinder
3
 
Cylinder diameter /piston stroke, mm
97.0 / 84.0
 
Working volume, SMZ
4966
 
Compression ratio
10.0
 
Power, L.S. (kW) at rpm
306 /5600
 
Torque, kgsm (nm) at rpm
46.9/ 2700-4250
 
Chassis
 
Transmission
rear -wheel drive
 
Transmission
5-speed automatic
 
Suspension:
 
independent pneumatic
with variable characteristics,
collected on subframes
 
front
 
four -leaf
 
behind
 
mollycent
 
Steering
 
rack with an amplifier of a variable performance
 
Brakes:
 
electro -hydraulic ventilated disk
with device Break Essist, ABS and ESP
 
The size of the tires
245/45 R17
 
Yuri Nechetov, photo Yuri Nechetov
 
 

Source: Magazine "Limousine" [04/02]