So, What Does The Connoisseur Think鈥?
A, B, C, D, E鈥?The letter E in Mercedes-Benz speak stands for 鈥渂read and butter鈥? Culinary references aside, the E-Class is the centerpiece of the German marque鈥檚 lineup. This has historically been their most identifiable and top-selling model. When Mercedes revamps the E-Class, they need to get it 鈥渏ust right鈥? Sort of that Goldilocks principle. Otherwise, all hell may break loose in the halls of the Mercedes鈥?Stuttgart HQ. They鈥檙e a proud bunch, those German engineers. And here we are now at the W213, factory production code for the 10th generation of the E-Class. Due in showrooms this summer, early press information has been released and previews are under way. So, what does the Connoisseur think鈥? In all honesty, if you bought an E-Class this past year, you are going to kick yourself for not waiting! The redesigned interior is THAT good. The recently remodeled C-Class took a giant leap for interior design in the entry-level luxury sedan class, and the E has followed suit and gone another wrung up the luxury ladder.
With several different design options available, this will be one fine place to wile away the hours when blasting down the interstate, or more likely, stuck in stop-and-go traffic on the drive home from work. As for the exterior, Mercedes-Benz has now completed a one-design-fits-all remake of their C, E and S-Class sedans. From a distance the casual observer would be pressed to tell a difference between the three. Luckily for Mercedes, the form works well on all three sizes, as lines and proportions were well thought out. None are stunning, but they look like a Mercedes, with just enough freshness thrown in to keep the style arrow pointing upward. The E300 will get a 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder motor attached to a nine-speed G-Tonic transmission. An E450 model will bring a turbo 6-cylinder motor under hood, and surely a hotrod AMG E63 will have a stonking V8 with something in the neighborhood of 600 horsepower. All manner of suspension control systems, automated driving and safety aids and interior tech will be along for the ride. You even get an ambient interior lighting system with 64 different available colors. By the time you figure out which one you want, it till be time for a new Benz鈥? Driving the new E-Class will still provide that famous Mercedes solidity, but don鈥檛 be surprised if the overall experience feels a smidge lighter and nimbler. Credit weight reduction, improved aerodynamics and more granular chassis tuning for these sensations. So there you have it, the new Stuttgart 鈥渕eat and potatoes鈥? due at a grocery鈥?er鈥?showroom near you this summer.
For transmissions, you can row your own gears with a 6-speed manual or opt for the brilliant PKD. Updates to the interior and exterior are more of the nip and tuck variety. Improved electronics and navigation are present and accounted for in the cabin. Externally Porsche claims every panel is new except for the hood and decklid behind the driver. You will be able to spot the new Boxster by the aero strip between the taillights on the rear, as well as the "718" badging. 鈥?As Porsche is wont to do, this is a historical reference. In the late 50s and early 60s, the Porsche 718 race car prowled tracks the world over. This happened to be a 4-cylinder car, thus the reference. There you have it, the latest beauty from Porsche. 69,450. The hard-topped Cayman prices are not released yet, but in a change of pricing structure, they are reported to be lower than the convertible Boxster. Sure to be a hit, I like what I see.
Published on June 24th, 2019 | by Barry A.F. June 24th, 2019 by Barry A.F. Last week I wrote about why Tesla should advertise. That stimulated plenty of discussion, some pro, some con, and a fair amount of pushback. This article is meant to address the many points raised by commenters and add extra perspective to the first article. The top comment makes the point that Tesla is already advertising with the referral program and that a change in strategy could end this. As we know, this program has been modified countless times, but its end may or may not be a good thing. It would cost Tesla less in Supercharging credits or future Roadster 2.0 giveaways, which means a reduction in future costs, a point that doesn鈥檛 get much attention. We can expect the referral program to change no matter what Tesla decides to do in regards to advertising, but as long as the program remains, it is indeed an advertising cost Tesla bears now and increasingly in the future. Many have questioned why Tesla should advertise, since it is still supply constrained. Early impressions can make a lasting impact.