New E Class

[w124nut]

I've copied the data shown below from Honest John's article on the New Mercedes E class due in this country in June this year.

My question is: Can anyone tell me why do Mercedes Benz designate their cars as being 250 CDI, 350 CDI or E500 when their engine size is nowhere near that? What is wrong with them being marketed nearer to their real engine size?

Engines/transmissions:
220 CDI; 2,143cc four-cylinder diesel, 168bhp at 4,200rpm, 295lb ft of torque at 2,899rpm, five-speed automatic transmission.

250 CDI; 2,143cc four-cyl diesel, 201bhp at 4,200rpm, 369lb ft at 1,800rpm, five-speed auto.

350 CDI; 2,987cc V6 diesel, 228bhp at 3,800rpm, 398lb ft at 2,400rpm, seven-speed auto.

350 CGI; 3,498cc V6 petrol, 288bhp at 6,400rpm, 269lb ft at 5,100rpm, seven-speed auto.

E 500; 5,461cc V8 petrol, 382bhp at 6,000rpm, 391lb ft at 4,800rpm, seven-speed auto.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Then there would be three 200 CDI models. The 200 CDI is coming, the 220 CDI and the 250 CDI use the same engine block, the same displacement. Similarly the 350 CDI and the Bluetec.

 

[imadoofus]

Surely they can call their cars whatever they want

 

[Vectrolosys]

It's a similar trick to what BMW have been using for years. The models are badged up in relation to the amount of power they generate, i.e. the power is nearer to an engine of that capacity.

For example, the E23 BMW 745i was a turbo charged 735i, but developed similar power figures to the then contemporary 4.5 litre engines, hence badging up in this fashion. It also allows you to spread the range apart a bit.

 

[e55]

I think ............Some of the newer engines that MB have built have larger capacity but MB have decided to leave the model number the same even though the engine size has increased. Like the old pre 2006 W211 E500 actually had the M113 5.0, 3 valve engine producing 306 BHP. Mercedes built a new engine to replace this and its a 4 valve 5.5l engine. Alot of people think its the old W210 E55 engine thats in the new W211 post 2006 facelift model, but its not. Its a complete newly designed and built engine.

Looks like MB are takng a few existing engines in the W211 range and just shifting them over to the W212 platform.

I know the new W212 E63 wil have the same engine current E63 engine but tweaked for a few more horses.

Mercedes seems to be carrying over some of the engines in the old W211 to the new W212 platform

 

[Howard]

It's a similar trick to what BMW have been using for years. The models are badged up in relation to the amount of power they generate, i.e. the power is nearer to an engine of that capacity.

For example, the E23 BMW 745i was a turbo charged 735i, but developed similar power figures to the then contemporary 4.5 litre engines, hence badging up in this fashion. It also allows you to spread the range apart a bit.

How does this work with the E500 , being 5.5 litre ?

So its saying that a 5.5 litre is putting out what a 5 litre should ?

 

[Vectrolosys]

How does this work with the E500 , being 5.5 litre ?

So its saying that a 5.5 litre is putting out what a 5 litre should ?

I think in this scenario, it's just be placing it to fit in the range, going back to BMW, the E30 316, actually had a 1.8 litre unit, but was badged as a 316 so as not to confuse matters with the 318i. This was power related though. I can only assume Mercedes are badging the 500 in this manner to allow it to fit into the range.

 

[Howard]

True enough i guess !

If they called it a E550 , it would be competing with the 55 ...

 

[e55]

True enough i guess !

If they called it a E550 , it would be competing with the 55 ...

In the US I think it is called the E550

 

[Vectrolosys]

In the US I think it is called the E550

A similar scenario occured in the 1980's with the (BMW as an example again I am afraid) BMW 525e (E28 shape). In this country, this 2.7 litre economy special, was known as the 525e, but over in the US of States it was known as the 528e, simply to fall in with their model range designations, the more powerful, M30 engined 528, was known as the 528i, same as in the UK........guess it's probably the same scenario here.