That the design of the new E is evolutionary there's little doubt. If it ain't broke, don't fix it seems to be the underlying theme and with 1.4 million cars to live up to, who can blame Mercedes' product planners. Built on a longer wheelbase, though identical in overall length, the new E-class is immediately recognisable as the successor. The clever use of the projector lamps in canted-over headlamp units however changes the overall character of the E from the old car's stately, almost regal, looks to a fresher, younger and appreciably sportier stance. This is something that's visible throughout the new E's design.

For starters, the silhouette is now lithe and athletic. The nose of the car has a tighter fitting skin, with muscular cuts on the fenders and boot lid that add to the lean character of the car. Also significant is the arched, almost coupe-like, roofline, the very steeply raked rear windscreen and the tightened-up rear that sits well inside the now more prominent wheel arches. 225/55 tyres on larger 16-inch alloys replace the 215 tyres that came standard on the older car. Though the new E is heavier than the old car, extensive use of weight-saving tailored steel blanks and aluminium (bonnet, fenders etc) mean that, as can be expected, this Mercedes is much stronger in areas where it matters most and upto 18 percent more rigid without being heavier.

Yet again, Mercedes with the new E has set the benchmark for the most slippery and aerodynamic shape, with the drag coefficient being a mere 0.26 with the figure having being achieved by enclosing the underside of the engine bay as well as some suspension components. Mercedes engineers have ditched the traditional double wishbone front suspension in favour of a multi-link setup similar to that of the C-class. The sophisticated four-link system has been designed especially with grip and handling in mind and helps reduce tyre roar as well as thump over poor surfaces.

The double wishbone rear suspension design remains relatively unchanged, the basic design remaining true to that first used in 1983.
The most revolutionary change is to the braking system, which now comes with Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) only offered on the SL until now.

SBC is basically a brake-by-wire system that removes the link between the pedal and the braking system. All braking is now carried out electronically with the SBC system aiding both ESP, that controls skids by individually braking wheels, and the ABS system. SBC also delays the interference of the ESP by selectively braking the outside wheels when the car is cornering hard. This is tech at its best.