The essence of Benz

"I'm going to buy a Mercedes-Benz!" If a young man says he must buy a mansion or a Mercedes-Benz when he is so successful, or accidentally won the lottery jackpot, he must be referring to "big "Ben" -- Mercedes-Benz's S-Class. Because in China, Mercedes-Benz is synonymous with luxury cars, but most of people's understanding of Mercedes-Benz is based on the impression of the S-Class. In fact, although Mercedes-Benz has A, B, C, E, S, R, M, G, GL and other types of cars today, only the most advanced S-class still keeps the Mercedes-Benz The most luxurious and classic characteristics, it can be said that the S-class can best represent Mercedes-Benz.

However, the domestic Mercedes-Benz this time is an E-class that is one level lower than the S-class. People's understanding of it is believed to be far less profound than that of the S-class. The E-class is positioned as a mid-to-high-level sedan. This generation was launched in 2002 and underwent a minor facelift two years ago. We also tried imported versions of the E200K and E240 at the time. I remember testing the C-Class, an entry-level Mercedes-Benz sedan one level lower than the E-Class. Compared with the E-Class, the C200K looks a bit crude. It feels that it is not a Mercedes-Benz. To be precise, it is "not enough Mercedes-Benz". In contrast, the comfortable and luxurious E-Class can reflect the stronger Mercedes-Benz characteristics, and even contrast. The highest-end S-Class doesn't lose its color either.

E-Class is also very Mercedes-Benz

First of all, it is the momentum of the model. Although it is not as wide as the S-Class in size, the stable posture of the E-Class is also slightly domineering, especially the wide front grille , as well as the erected three-pointed star logo, if you see an E-Class in the rearview mirror, it can always give people a pressing momentum, and you will feel strongly: "Mercedes-Benz is coming".

Entering the E-class compartment, you will still feel very "Mercedes-Benz", which is closely followed by the S-class. In terms of image, the S-class compartment is like a luxuriously decorated mansion, while the E-class's car is like a luxurious mansion. The carriages are of the same quality, but with a slightly lower size and material.

The strange thing is that during the test drive, although I was in the E-Class for a long time, the cabin did not leave a deep impression on me, except for the double sunroofs on the roof that are open and comfortable, and the fine leather and mahogany. I really can't think of any distinctive features of this E-Class. Are you used to seeing luxury cars with aesthetic fatigue?

Maybe it's a model issue. Break your fingers, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is already the second-to-last model in the Mercedes-Benz camp today. The first is the C-Class. A new generation should be launched in the coming year, and the E-Class is also facing a period of 6-7 years for the replacement of German cars. , Is it wise to introduce domestic products at the end of the paragraph? Of course, if you don't come at this time, you may miss the opportunity.

Leading equipment and technology

Although it is a last-generation model, its technology and equipment can still stand out against other cars. The engine of the E280 is the newly developed 3.0-liter V6 model, and the most prominent one is the 7G-Tronic transmission. box and SBC electronic induction braking system, as well as that variable shade of the sunroof.

The seven-speed automatic transmission engages the gears as tightly as possible with a continuously variable transmission. Controlled by the depth of the accelerator, the gearbox can jump between several gears in an instant, which is intelligent and sensitive, and the impact degree is also the softest.

It is the SBC electronic induction braking system that gives the driver the least impact Not a direct connection to the brake pump at all, but a clever set of pedals by wire. This is a braking system that is more advanced than the BA braking force assist system. It can prepay the braking force in advance according to the driving situation, so that the braking response of the body is much faster than the general BA system. After you buy back the E-Class, what you may need to worry about is not whether you can stop yourself in danger, but how to avoid the rear car from kissing your ass.

And the most worry-free thing is the large opening sunroof above your head, which automatically controls the color depth according to the light intensity outside the car. If you like, you can also choose the set of active inflatable seats on the S-Class, but it needs to import accessories from Germany, and it may take a lot longer to order a car.

Driving this not the latest E-Class, we can still feel that Mercedes-Benz is the most active car manufacturer in the world to develop car technology, especially in the pursuit of comfort and luxury, even if the E-Class is in the 4th It has been launched years ago, and its technical content is still on par with many car manufacturers in the world.

I don't want to control

Perhaps my friends from the depot were influenced by the popular movie "Initial D" not long ago, and the test drive was mainly arranged on a mountain road called Mangshan - similar to Qiu Mingshan. After some intense exercise, the chassis power frame of the E-Class can't help but be admired. First of all, the conventional gameplay is used to attack the corners. The E280 under the seat seems to be of little interest. The steering is very neutral. The overall performance showed a calm momentum.

After feeling that it has a lot of power, I decided to give it a try, brake hard before cornering, downshift, and the gearbox did not execute commands quickly. This is caused by the limited-gear gearbox, which emphasizes comfort over performance. Then I entered the corner at a very fast speed, thinking that this would be an embarrassing scene for "Brother E". Who knows the reaction of the car body, including the twisting of the frame and the grip of the tires, are telling me that it is facing Such a control, how calm the performance.

Although the cornering limit of the E-Class is so high, the more corners are conquered, the more peaceful the mood, the more and more want to slow down the speed and go slowly, in the end, the mentality simply develops to no longer. Going to the corner, this is the character of the E-Class and the family character of the Mercedes-Benz luxury sedan series.

I dare to say that Mercedes-Benz, like most of Toyota's sedans, does not contain much passion in character, and is essentially just a means of transportation, especially the E-class. With it, you can comfortably get from point A to point B without thinking about any mechanical or driving maneuvers. Of course, Mercedes-Benz is much more expensive than Toyota, and the enjoyment is naturally much more advanced. Driving it feels very high-end, very tolerant, without the slightest arrogance, and some have a sense of identity.

At this point, I also seem to understand why I find the E-Class compartment to be bland. In fact, its cabin atmosphere and handling characteristics are unified, and both create a very "Benz" feeling - peaceful and generous, it is not like the BMW 5 Series that surrounds the whole body with a mechanical feeling, which makes your blood boil or even draw swords; Not as silky smooth as the Lexus GS, deliberately quiet, and not as flamboyant and popular as the Audi A6. Mercedes-Benz is Mercedes-Benz, and it has the demeanor of a luxury car big brother. Even in this "sub-advanced" model, it also shows a calm and generous taste.

The price is high but not expensive

BMW 5 series, Audi A6 and Lexus GS are all the rivals of Mercedes-Benz E-Class in the world, and also the main rival of E-Class in the Chinese market. When it comes to taste and comparison of handling, in a word, the E-class does not have a lot of fun in handling, but it is very tasteful; the Lexus GS300 is just the opposite of the Mercedes-Benz, it has fun in handling, but it does not seem to have formed a unique taste; and the BMW 5 series is very There is control fun and taste, but this taste is different from Mercedes-Benz, it is very "material", not as "spiritual" as Mercedes-Benz; finally, Audi A6L, although it has certain control fun and taste, but new The group targeted by the generation of domestic A6L has been much more popular.

About the price of the domestic E-class, the E280 is priced at 620,000 yuan. This price is not much different from the price of the fully imported model of the same model, but we think this price is completely OK. One is because everyone knows that although Mercedes-Benz is made in China, there will be no less imported parts in the whole car in a short period of time. No one will pay attention to the problem of localization. It is believed that most of the parts are imported originals, so even the domestic quality must be guaranteed. Second, the current production of E-Class is not much. The plan for 2006 is only 20,000, and the actual number is estimated to be even less. With the appeal of Mercedes-Benz and people's admiration, this number will definitely be digested soon, even On the contrary, there will be a shortage of supply; third, high prices are more conducive to building high-end brands, "not seeking the best, but seeking the most expensive", which is a fact in China's national conditions. Since it does not care about sales, it is understandable that the price is higher.

Here I would like to talk about Audi, the traditional luxury car leader in China. The new A6L model launched not long ago made consumers ecstatic and applauded, but the price was surprising. Also in terms of 3.0 displacement, A6L The price is 530,000 to 630,000, almost close to the E-class.

For almost the same price, would people buy a Mercedes-Benz or an Audi? The answer is in your heart. Of course, some people will choose Audi, because some people do not like to show their wealth, and maintenance will be cheaper. But why buy an Audi instead of a Mercedes if you don't like to show your wealth? It is precisely because Mercedes-Benz has a higher image than Audi.

In China, although Audi has dominated the Chinese luxury car market for many years, its reputation is still not as good as that of Mercedes-Benz BMW in the same country, and the price of the domestic BMW 530i is only about 600,000! Let’s argue that the high price of the A6L is related to Audi’s commitment to enhancing the global brand image, so I won’t talk about it too much here, and the A6L has launched a variety of models with low and medium configurations, such as 2.0T and 2.4, etc. The entry price is also as low as Below 400,000, it will not make people feel how expensive the A6L is. From 400,000 to the highest-end 4.2 Quattro's 840,000, our biggest impression of the A6L is that the product line is very long.

No complaints

Therefore, although the price of the domestic E-class is not much different from that of the imported car, it has not attracted many complaints, which may be the reason for the above.

However, it is not entirely a good thing that no one complains. There is such a proverb in the West: "No news is bad news". Is the promotion of the Mercedes-Benz car factory not enough? The low-key nature of domestic Mercedes-Benz makes people feel as if Mercedes-Benz casually brought the E-Class to China.

Just like the test drive activity organized by the domestic listing, the scale of the activity is there, but the preparation and itinerary are sloppy. We have been invited to participate in the test drive activities of Mercedes-Benz abroad many times. I feel like it's actually child's play. One is that there is no high-speed experience, and the other is that on the way to Mangshan, the public relations company arranged for a full-time driver to drive, and we can only ride. That's just a very ordinary county road. It's a road that Mercedes-Benz E-Class owners often encounter when they go to the suburbs for vacation on weekends. Don't let us try to feel these. Do you think Mercedes-Benz owners will run wild on Qiu Mingshan Road all day long?

The innocence at the beginning of this promotion is reminiscent of BMW. Looking at the early stage of BMW's domestic production, the promotion was not rushed, and the publicity was also very low-key. The lack of enthusiasm for consumers has caused BMW to suffer a slump in sales for a long time after it was made domestically. With the lessons of the former "horse" of BMW, we hope that Mercedes-Benz will not repeat the same mistakes and take this detour again.

After all, what can be successful in China today should be an all-round good car.