Coupe C207 Series 1

MERCEDES-BENZ dropped the CLK name for C207 E-class coupe when it released the C-class-sedan based E-class Coupe range in July 2009.

It also introduced its first diesel-powered coupe in the guise of the E250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Coupe in November of that year.

Prices rose, but then so did equipment and technology levels.

The latter include variable-ratio ‘Direct Steering’, a reverse camera as well as a visual guidance icon, 18-inch alloy wheels, “intelligent” Bi-Xenon High Intensity Discharge headlights, and nine airbags including a knee airbag device.

Built in Bremen, Germany, the C207 shares no exterior or interior panels with the W204 C-class that begat it.

Compared to the old CLK, the body is longer and wider by 46mm, but adopts its twin-headlight visage, albeit in a W212 E-class sedan fashion. The rare 1955 ‘Ponton’ S 220 Coupe served as a design inspiration for this car.

Pillarless side windows and an almost two-box fastback roofline are the C207’s signature profile elements, while all-LED tail-lights are incorporated.

This car has undergone 34 million kilometres of testing involving some 1400 development prototypes.

Some of the sedan-sourced safety innovations include “Attention Assist” driver fatigue detention, the Intelligent Light System, Adaptive High-beam Assist, ‘DISTRONIC Plus’ radar-guided cruise control and the PRE-SAFE Brake device.

Engines are compatible with the W212 E-Class sedan.

The base unit is the E250 CGI is powered by a 150kW at 5500rpm/310Nm at 2000-4300rpm 1796cc 1.8-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder engine, and uses a five-speed automatic gearbox.

Next is the 200kW at 6400rpm/350Nm at 3000-5100rpm, 3498cc 3.5-litre V6 petrol available now, mated to Mercedes’ 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission.

The final petrol Coupe variant for the time being is the 285kW at 6000rpm/530Nm at 2800-4800rpm 5461cc 5.5-litre V8 in the E500. It also adopts 7G-Tronic.

Mercedes-Benz says that as an AMG version is unlikely, this will be the performance flagship E-class Coupe for the foreseeable future.

On the diesel front, only a single 2143cc 2.2-litre four-cylinder twin turbo-diesel will be made available in the E250 CDI Coupe, offering 150kW at 4200rpm/500Nm at 1600-1800rpm. It too drives the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic gearbox.

Underpinning the C207 is a wheelbase that grows 45mm over the CLK to 2760mm. At 1538mm and 1544mm, the front and rear tracks are 33mm and 70mm wider respectively.

The three-link front suspension employs MacPherson struts and a front anti-roll bar, while the rear axle uses a multi-link independent design and an anti-roll bar.

Steering is via a variable ratio powered rack and pinion set-up Mercedes dubs ‘Direct Steering’.

On the brake front, the ventilated front disc brakes vary from 295mm to 344mm up front depending on engine size, while the solid rear discs are 300mm in diameter.

BlueEFFICIENCY, meanwhile, are the numerous measures the company has devised to decrease consumption and maximise efficiency.

These include the aforementioned leading aerodynamics, a more efficient alternator, direct fuel injection, turbocharging, smaller engine displacements, an on-demand power steering pump and fuel pump, lower rolling resistance tyres, and an optimised air-conditioning compressor.