GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Does The New E-Class Coupe Design Trump Audi And BMW?

GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Does The New E-Class Coupe Design Trump Audi And BMW?
One of the first blog comments during the Geneva Motor Show was, 001 how is the new Mercedes E-class coupe in person?

I wanted to answer right away like I normally do but I knew this article was in the works so I hope it will have been worth the wait.

First, I'll say is that it looks larger and more attractive than the press photos make it out to be.

It has a much larger appearance than the utterly lame last generation CLK, one of the worst looking MB's in my lifetime.



I owned two of the previous generation CLK's (2001 and 2003) and I though that not only was it one of the best looking cars to come from Stuttgart but I also believe collectors will always keep it in high regard.

But in my opinion, they went WAY wrong on this last car.

At best, it looked like an average looking Honda Accord coupe.

So I'm very pleased to say the E-class coupe has brought back elegance and style back into the equation of this car model.

And it was very smart to dump the CLK moniker in favor of the E-Class Coupe.

It just sounds more exclusive and expensive.

But does this new E trump the design of two cars that are aguably the best looking coupes EVER to come out of their workshops, the Audi A and BMW 3 Coupes.

And to those waiting out there in AutoSpies.com land waiting for a yes answer to this question, you won't get it from me today.

After looking intently at all of these cars, this is my ranking on design alone.

1. Audi A5
2. BMW 3
3. Mercedes E-Class Coupe

They are ALL good looking cars but I honestly think the Audi has the goods here, followed extremely closely by the BMW and then the E-Class Coupe.

In my eyes the Audi has the most unique combination...mystique, sex appeal, elegance, youth, freshness, timelessness.

The BMW also has all those attributes but gets nosed out mainly becuause of the fresher face the Audi wears with the LED's. and a little more refined rear.

So where does the new E-Class coupe miss out.

1. It's TOO styled- They are trying too hard here to make a statement and it shows.
2. The lower hockey stick LED's on the front bumper are a direct copy of Audi and look out of place.
3. The rear taillights resemble to many anonymous asian cars from generations past.
4. I don't like all the waterfall style center stacks inside they are using, ala GLK.
5. I also am not fond of the small vent style window at the rear of the coupe's roof.








Where is the E-Class the strongest?

My favorite part of the car is the way they have done the four-place seating inside and how the seats are formed. They look more expensive than the seats in the Audi AND BMW.

And you can also see from the design that the convertible will have a retractable roof.

I think that will excite and conquest a lot of traditional SL customers and convertible fans.




But al that said this car is a BILLION times nicer than the last CLK so it will sell to the faithful.

I like it, I just don't like it more than the Audi and the BMW.

But I COULD get really excited it they made a E63 Coupe/Convertible.

And remember, I'm ONLY critiquing design here, not performance or driving dynamics.

What are your thoughts?

Be sure to check out our photo gallery from Geneva below

2009 Geneva Motor Show Photo Gallery

Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet Photo Gallery






If YOU have photos you want published, email them from your cellphone, digital camera or pc to mobile@autospies.com

2009 Geneva Motor Show Photo Gallery

Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet Photo Gallery



EL34EL34 - 3/9/2009 12:51:16 PM
+1 Boost
The E-Class is a great looking Coupe, but the Audi A7 is coming very soon as is the BMW 5-Series Coupe as well.

Watch for Lexus to ripoff the Germans again.


_43LE_43LE - 3/9/2009 1:41:25 PM
-6 Boost
Don't be bitter my little tart.


yoyo123yoyo123 - 3/10/2009 12:11:19 AM
-2 Boost
This is NOT a 6 Series rival. It is a 3 series rival.


ualluall - 3/9/2009 12:52:22 PM
+2 Boost
I bet the E-class will sell well, even with the strange rear-design.
I read that they have already about 40.000 advance orders.


LexSucksLexSucks - 3/9/2009 12:54:14 PM
+7 Boost
Let's see?
They're comparing an "E" class to a 3-series? Wow! The 3 series coupe must have stepped up its game to be compared against cars that it doesn't compete against price-wise. So now we have a 3-series coupes going up against "E" class coupes? And even then what "E" class coupe will the 335 compete against? The E-500? A car that will at least cost $10,000 more than the 335. All this does is make the 335 look like a bargain. MB and Audi's are ripoffs.


WimmerWimmer - 3/9/2009 1:09:57 PM
+5 Boost
Why must this site always create such trivial topics about ____ vs ____ vs _____ vs ______? Who cares? This is the perfect topic for haters and fanboys alike to light it up again...geez...

The E-Class Coupe looks like a more masculine and muscular version of the former CLK-Class. It retains the basic shape but has become more aggressive slightly but at the same time retained a classic Teutonic classiness to its design.

I also like the Audi A5 and BMW 3er Coupe by the way.


Agent001Agent001 - 3/9/2009 1:23:19 PM
+3 Boost
No one cares, that's why no one comments ;)

Sounds like a Yogi-ism! LOL!

001


HSCenterconsoleHSCenterconsole - 3/9/2009 1:54:59 PM
+1 Boost
TheSailor is on his way to getting banned.


jonmartinjonmartin - 3/9/2009 1:11:35 PM
0 Boost
I like the front and side profile but the rear end is jacked it needs a curtain thrown over it. It's such a fail on the taillight assembly. Also that center console is very mediocre.


Threepoint1415926Threepoint1415926 - 3/9/2009 8:19:44 PM
+5 Boost
Isnt that two words?


shabarushabaru - 3/10/2009 5:28:24 PM
+2 Boost
LOOOOOOOOL... nice..


HSCenterconsoleHSCenterconsole - 3/9/2009 1:20:13 PM
+3 Boost
Like most posters on this site, I have yet to see the new E-Class coupe in person yet. However, here is my take on all three:

E-Class Coupe: Has the most presence of the three due to its crisp and angular styling. Said simply, it really stands out. I think this coupe will attract more male buyers than the current feminine CLK.

3-Series Coupe: The smallest of the three and the most sporty.

A5: The sleekest of the three.


JUGNUJUGNU - 3/9/2009 1:25:26 PM
-2 Boost
The real life pics definitely look better than the debut/offical photos. But i still think the rear is weak and a bit bland. Front is way nicer. Will have to see it in person for better judgement but the side profile and roofline(CL-like) so far look better than the both Audi and BMW.

JUGNU


fatandsassyfatandsassy - 3/9/2009 1:32:16 PM
+3 Boost
i THINK IT IS DROP DEAD BEAUTIFUL!!!!!


_43LE_43LE - 3/9/2009 1:43:38 PM
-6 Boost
I think the 3 series coupe is the nicest of the three.


Hachee2001Hachee2001 - 3/9/2009 3:43:51 PM
-1 Boost
Yonder, you are not wrong about the 3 and the E not really directly competing. Many here will agree. But I think, for now, comparisons are inevitable, because the 3 is a powerhouse and the heart of the lux coupe market. (This is not to say it's the best, but it is the biggest seller.) The E, and the A5 to a slightly lesser extent, are aiming a bit higher, and I think it's to directly avoid competing with the 3. The E has a history in this market, and I think it will do well here.

I see plenty of 335's and I think loaded ones will come close in price to the E320, which will be the bulk of the E sales.


Agent001Agent001 - 3/9/2009 2:16:28 PM
+3 Boost
can't wait to see it in prison?

hope you're not going in for too long and will have net access. ;)

001


StarStar - 3/9/2009 6:02:19 PM
+3 Boost
1995e34 "i can't wait to see it in prison."


LMAO.... I spilled my drink all over the fingerboard...


LexSucksLexSucks - 3/9/2009 2:05:30 PM
-4 Boost
Design wise?

The A5/S5’s design while nice isn’t the design masterpiece that folks are making them out to be.

1) The A5 looks chunky. Although I don’t really mind women being a little chunky, cars are a different matter.

2) The A5/S5’s “C” pillar frame that surrounds the little rear-widows has an angled frame around it. The straight lines of the frame look out of place with the rest of the vehicles curves.

3) The C- Pillar design looks like the Nissan GT-R’s “C” pillar design. It works on the GT-R, not on the A5/S5

4) Blacked out glass roofs do nothing for any car’s design.

5) I like the A5’s interior. I would like it even more if the A6 and A4 didn’t have the same interior design. There’s nothing exclusive about the A5’s interior.

The BMW 3-series. I’m not sure why this car is being compared to an “E” class but here goes.

1) Under tired and under rimmed. BMW’s for some reason use the smallest tire ratios around. If the current BMW’s didn’t have bigger brakes they would still have 17” wheels. The 3-series default rim size is still 17”(going back to 1999). This means that an 18 inch application is considered a +1 application. With the other makes, 19 inches is considered a plus one. The reason I’m mentioning this is because the 18” wheels look small on the 3 –series while 19” looks perfect. However, the 19 inch setup would be a +2 setup on the BMW leaving little or no sidewall (which equals rough rides and bent rims)

2)Too round and soft looking. In standard form the 3-series looks a little generic.

3) The yellow corona rings around the headlights. The rings should have a much higher color temperature. The rings look like they are getting thier light source from a candle. How about super-white?

4) BMW interiors have gone to crap lately. The button-less nature of the interior combined with large expanses of unused panels give the interior a Coffin Like appearance. The 3 isn’t as plain and boring as the 5-series but the interior’s are a weak point for the 3-series, not a strong point.

E-class coupe

1) The tail lights look like an enlarged version of Hyundai taillights.

2)I do like the rest of the design. Especially the interior. Nothing better than high-quality illuminated buttons and knobs to add life to an interior. The current trend towards “removing the clutter” leaves us with cold, stark interiors. Just look at the BMWs.

3) I’m not too big of a fan of the rear fender arches. They look a little contrived.



StarStar - 3/9/2009 2:11:10 PM
+6 Boost
The new E-class coupe is a gorgeous car. That's all that needs to be said.


_43LE_43LE - 3/9/2009 3:00:06 PM
+1 Boost
Starsearch, if only we could be so fortunate...


supermotosupermoto - 3/9/2009 2:17:39 PM
-2 Boost
Nice except for taillights and center console with a million buttons.


LexSucksLexSucks - 3/9/2009 4:28:40 PM
+1 Boost
I like Buttons. Buttons are better to look at than plain unused plastic panels. They also provide more direct access to functions than the stupid Jog-dials do (I-DRIVE, MMI). The Jog-dial systems forces you through a sea of menus just to adjust the bass. The Audi system is better than BMW's because it has buttons. How did BMW make their I-Drive system better? They added buttons.


Agent001Agent001 - 3/9/2009 2:18:18 PM
-1 Boost
Funny, no one has mentioned the hockey stick LED's below the bumper yet.

001


Hachee2001Hachee2001 - 3/9/2009 2:25:33 PM
0 Boost
I won't be at all surprised if my opinion of the E changes when I see it on the road, and even then, these designs often take time. When I first saw the current 3 coupe, I thought it looked too soft and feminine, especially around the rear, but somehow, it's really grown on me and my head still turns when I see one, which is often.

When I first saw the A5 pics, I loved the front, rear and roof line, but I couldn't get passed that flowing character and belt line - I just thought it did fit the Audi design mold that I had gotten used to. But in the metal, this car is gorgeous, from all angles. Almost perfect, and rare too, which makes it even better.

The current E is way too pretty; if ever there was a chick car, this is it. The new one should appeal to more men, but so far, I can't say I love it, especially the rear and the retro rear fender lines. That broad rear fender just overwhelms the tires too. But we shall see....




Hachee2001Hachee2001 - 3/9/2009 5:05:45 PM
0 Boost
Hilarious that I got deboosted for what I said.


Yonder7Yonder7 - 3/9/2009 3:22:57 PM
+2 Boost
Sorry but it is very silly to compare it with 3 series coupe. That car is bigger than the 3 and also fit and finish and size match the 6 series. But even in that case the 6 series do not have space in the back seat to be compared with the new E coupe. Beside all those dimensions the customer is another type: people looking for more luxury and with enough money to forget the budget. 3 series is for the one that do not have money for a an E coupe or CL, or even a 6 series. 3 series looks sportier and it is a lot cheaper than the E, also no budy is so stupid to compare an smoth V8 engine (E500) against a v6TT (335i). May be against the 645, But the E looks better to "ME". Other people won´t mind about the small rear seat of the 6, but if they do not have the money to chose 6 and they are bimmerfans.....then they will pick the 3.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 3/9/2009 3:54:40 PM
+2 Boost
They all look nice.


Yonder7Yonder7 - 3/9/2009 5:35:17 PM
+1 Boost
1995e34: Sorry you are right. But again that´s and stupid comparison.


bmwpowerf1bmwpowerf1 - 3/9/2009 9:11:15 PM
-3 Boost
the back looks like a camery


yoyo123yoyo123 - 3/10/2009 12:10:36 AM
-2 Boost
This is NOT a 6 Series rival, this is a pure 3 Series rival. This is basically the NEW CLK. Mercedes-Benz marketing team Re-badged to pick up sales, to get people to remember the great 80's E Class Coupe which was a significance.


xj13xj13 - 3/10/2009 2:27:16 AM
+3 Boost

The E class coupe is 100% STUD make no mistake about it; I disagree with every point 001 dislikes but it all subjective so I’ll leave it at that. As far as the A5 and 335 are concerned, well both are studs but I have to say the E looks way more exclusive. I feel if I bought one which I will, that I got more for my money in every way.



AudiphileAudiphile - 3/10/2009 9:23:26 AM
0 Boost
I used to own a first-generation Mercedes CLK, and I agree with Agent001 about its looks. I also agree with him about the second-generation CLK (awful). I only wish the electrical system of the CLK that I owned was as good as the styling.

I also agree with Agent 001 about the looks of the Audi A5/S5, BMW 3-series and this new E-class coupe. However, I might add that I'm too tall to fit in either the Audi or the Bimmer coupes. (I'm currently driving an '09 Audi A4 sedan.) As this new Benz coupe is based on the E-class platform, hopefully it will have decent headroom and legroom.

Maybe the new Benz coupe will look better "in the flesh" than it does in these photos.
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