The man from Mercedes maps out the route

It's one of those fascinating facts that an engineer might throw in during a discussion. So, every road in the navigation system is checked out? "Why wouldn't you," replies Johannes Reifenrath, director marketing strategy and portfolio and powertrain strategy for Mercedes-Benz.

"We pay suppliers a lot of money for these systems so we want to make sure they are accurate. If they are not it is us the customer complains to, not the supplier."

Checking out the sat-nav is not a specific job, however. Reifenrath points out that the new E-Class has undergone some 36 million kilometers of testing, so you might as well make the most of that amount of time on the road.

Some of this new E-Class development work was carried out on British roads with prototypes assessed by "myriad drivers" with feedback and final adjustments made if necessary. We are informed that test drivers included experts and "normal" Mercedes-Benz UK staff.

And if you have 36 million kms to cover, the E-Class is probably a good car to do it in. In fact it will do most of it for you. Ease into a bend and the side of the seat automatically starts to squeeze, keeping you firmly in place as the corner tightens.

On exit (at night) the full beam, which has been looking round the corner, automatically dips in the face of oncoming traffic and the steering wheel pulses to warn you of the presence of the as yet unseen pedestrian.

Similarly that pulse will let you know if you start to lane wander, the blind spot indicator will tell you if someone is trying to overtake. If you are distracted by all these warnings and don't see the car in front braking, then of course the brake-assist radar comes into play and starts to slow you down.

The E-Class will even tell you what the speed limit is (although this will not be instantly available in the UK as it only recognizes European signs). So, nothing to concentrate the mind? Feeling drowsy? Ping! An audible warning and a coffee cup symbol appears on the instrument panel.

This vehicle dates back 60 years and is now in its ninth generation. Some 70,000 have been sold in the UK where it continues to sell at a rate of around 10,000 a year, slightly below the BMW 5 series but comfortably above the Audi A6.

The E-Class of '09 arrives in Britain in mid-June equipped with Mercedes' latest generation ‘BlueEFFICIENCY' diesel and petrol engines with improved fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, the former peaking at 4.4 liters/100 km in the four-cylinder diesel manual and the latter bottoming at 139g/km. Petrol figures are from 5.7 liters/100 km and 159g/km - all manufacturer's figures.

Nick Williams, E-Class product manager in the UK says diesel accounts for 87 per cent of sales here and 95 per cent of all models are automatic. Corporate sales have increased 16 per cent over the past two years and this year Mercedes Benz Business is targeting small fleets.

The range is being simplified from five specification levels down to three: SE, Avantgarde and Sport. The full model line-up will be phased in between June and September.

Mercedes' BlueEFFICIENCY programme extends beyond the E-Class engines and takes in newly-developed tyres with up to 17 per cent less rolling resistance, energy saving alternators, fuel pumps, air conditioning and power-steering pumps - which switch off when not in use.

A stop-start system features on the E 200 CGI manual which will be introduced in late summer. Further down the line Reifenrath said that diesel-electric hybrid models will be introduced in 2011.

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Credits: JRC