The First Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estates Have Arrived in Australia

MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – January 21, 2010: Australian customer deliveries of the stylish and practical station wagon from the award-winning E-Class have commenced from authorised Mercedes-Benz dealerships.

The first Australian 212-series E-Class estate model to be released is the petrol V6-powered E 350. With a Manufacturer’s List Price (MLP) of $138,100 it is priced 2.4 percent lower than the model it replaces and gains $8,400 in new standard equipment, offering Australian customers immense value.

And this value proposition is definitely compelling; the entire first shipment is already sold out.

The new E 350 Estate is the latest model to join the dynamic and elegant new E-Class family. Its Sedan and Coupé siblings were released in August last year. The stunning new E-Class Cabriolet will complete the set when it is released this coming April.

Functional: top marks for load capacity and ease of operation

One particularly special feature of the load compartment management system is the option of opening the standard-fit Easy-Pack tailgate automatically by using the ignition key or pressing the handle if the car needs to be loaded from behind.

The innovative "quickfold" system enables the rear 1/3:2/3-split seat backrests to be folded down by a cable pull from the load compartment. Neither the head restraints nor the rear-seat cushions need to be adjusted or folded down beforehand in order to be able to do this and create a level loading surface.

As another useful feature, either the left or right backrest sections, or both together, can be folded down. This enables the rear seat unit to be used also by passengers even when long and bulky items are being carried. The backrest sections can also be unlocked and folded down from the side, inside on the C-pillar.

It is now also much easier to use the combined luggage compartment cover and retaining net, which is fitted as standard. This has been attached at beltline level for the first time, making it far simpler to install and remove in various positions, both from within the luggage compartment itself as well as from the interior. At the same time, it no longer interferes with the folding forward of the rear seat backrests. When transporting large loads, the combined luggage compartment cover and retaining net can also be secured to the folded backrests, enabling the retaining net and cover to continue to be used.

With a load capacity of up to 1950 litres, the new E 350 Estate (length/width/height: 4895/1854/1512 millimetres) sets the standard in its class. Apart from the load compartment capacity itself, other dimensions of great practical importance, such as the rear aperture, rear sill height or maximum load length, demonstrate the expertise of Mercedes-Benz in estate car engineering.

It is not only in the load compartment that the generous dimensions of the preceding model have been improved even further in many respects. Two examples in the interior illustrate this: the elbow width in the rear has been increased by 51 millimetres to 1505 millimetres. Rear headroom with the large tilting/sliding sunroof installed has also improved by 46 millimetres to 1010 millimetres, and is almost as generous as in versions with no sunroof (1012 mm).

An exemplary load management system is specified as standard; for example, the automatically opening tailgate with automatic lifting of the load compartment cover. When the tailgate is opened, the load compartment cover is automatically raised to allow unobstructed loading and unloading.

Also fitted as standard is the Easy-Pack folding load compartment floor, which considerably increases the usable height of the load compartment. It can be folded up and secured in various positions.

Standard equipment also includes the load securing net, which is combined with the load compartment cover and secured discreetly at beltline level. The optional folding bench seat for the load compartment - designed to accommodate two additional passengers up to 50 kg in weight and 140 cm in height - is also unique in this vehicle segment.