A Car for Grown-Ups

We immediately test-drove the Mercedes-Benz "E350 Coupe," which was just announced on August 5, 2013. It is a superb, elegant, and powerful model equipped with a 6-cylinder engine.




The body dimensions of the new E-Class Coupe are 4,705mm in length, 1,785mm in width, and 1,395mm in height. Compared to the previous model, the wheelbase is 2,760mm, the width and height remain unchanged, and the length is 10mm shorter. The visual impression is much more compact than the numbers suggest.

The car we drove was equipped with the AMG Sports Package. Consequently, the front bumper has a more complex design, giving it a fiercer impression. Nevertheless, the coupe's character, emphasizing elegance with its flowing roofline, is (barely) maintained.





Characterized by smooth acceleration from low RPMs thanks to the torquey V6 engine, the initial impression is, again, aggressive yet elegant and comfortable ride quality.

If we had to describe the E350 Coupe in one word, "a car for grown-ups" might be fitting.

A Well-Proportioned Style

The E350 Coupe (¥8.75 million), which has undergone significant design changes. As mentioned, the exterior, including the front, has been revised, and the interior also presents a markedly different impression from the previous model.

The first thing that catches the eye upon opening the door is the newly designed, integrated headrest high-back seats. Their design, reminiscent of the new A-Class, strongly conveys a sporty and youthful image.

The rear seats, offering ample legroom for adults to ride comfortably, also feature integrated headrest high-back seats, again evoking the A-Class. It's a reminder that Mercedes emphasizes rear-seat comfort even in its coupes.





The seating comfort is excellent. While the seat cushion is firm, it effectively absorbs vibrations from the road. The upper body support is good, preventing excessive movement during cornering. As is typical with Mercedes vehicles, it's not designed for aggressive cornering on winding roads, but it performs reliably and competently. While it may lack the thrill of a sports car, a certain kind of enjoyment is certainly present.

The rear quarter windows, which open completely via a complex mechanism, are also impressive as a sign of perfectionism. It's quite stylish to drive a hardtop coupe with the windows fully open. As the name "hardtop" suggests, the origin of this style lies in originally open-top bodies fitted with a rigid roof for convenience, which is the case for the E-Class Coupe. It's a very well-proportioned style.

Mercedes' Character is Preserved

The V6 engine, fundamentally the same as the previous model, is excellent. It produces ample torque from around 1,500 rpm, and while there's a slight dip in torque when the accelerator is pressed firmly, it then revs all the way to the red zone.

Its abundant torque makes for a pleasant drive even at low speeds in the city, but there are further merits. One is the distinct torque band above 3,000 rpm, providing strong acceleration. Additionally, the smooth and refined rotation of the 6-cylinder engine is clearly superior to that of a 4-cylinder.

This perfectly suits the character of the E-Class Coupe, which promises a high level of refinement.





That said, some drivers might be surprised by the weight of the accelerator pedal. This likely reflects Mercedes' philosophy from the 1960s, which still holds: "The driver must consciously accelerate." This approach still sets it apart from BMW's emphasis on actively encouraging sporty driving, which is interesting.

Safety Features You'll Definitely Want

The E-Class Coupe (and the simultaneously launched Cabriolet) comes with the "Radar Safety Package," similar to the recently facelifted E-Class. It is standard equipment on the E350 Coupe. The inclusion of safety features that are becoming essential for modern vehicles is welcome news for customers.





When the "Distronic Plus" adaptive cruise control is activated at a certain speed, the system automatically maintains a set distance from the vehicle ahead, performing deceleration, acceleration, and even stopping. Only restarting acceleration after a stop requires the driver to indicate their intention by lightly pressing the accelerator pedal, after which the following drive resumes. The system also traces curves accurately as long as lane markings are present.

The system can be easily set with a single touch using a lever located next to the steering column. While one might worry about potential rear-end collisions, the system operated flawlessly during our test drive. However, it's probably best to consider it an auxiliary system that may assist the driver in critical situations. Even so, these are safety features you'll definitely want.

Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe｜メルセデス・ベンツ E350 クーペ
Body Size｜Length 4,705 x Width 1,785 x Height 1,395 mm
Wheelbase｜2,760 mm
Tread Front/Rear｜1,540 / 1,535 mm
Minimum Ground Clearance｜135 mm
Minimum Turning Radius｜5.1 meters
Trunk Capacity｜415 liters
Weight｜1,690 kg
Engine｜3,497cc V6 Direct Injection DOHC
Maximum Output｜225kW (306ps) / 6,500 rpm
Maximum Torque｜370Nm (37.7kgm) / 3,500-5,250 rpm
Transmission｜7-speed automatic
Drivetrain｜FR
Steering Position｜Left/Right
Tires Front/Rear｜235/40R18 / 255/35R18
Fuel Economy (JC08 mode)｜12.8 km/ℓ
Price｜¥8.75 million