The 9th Generation 2011 Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet is finally here, and this is one classy ride. Think of dawn and the quiet peaceful sounds of nature. Then enter the sound of tires gripping the curves through each turn as you drive through the scenic countryside of Maryland.

Four Seats Are Better Than Two

Just when you thought that buying a sportscar, a convertible no less, would limit your ability to bring the family on a weekend getaway. On the contrary, Mercedes Benz engineered the E-Class Cabriolet for four people, it makes the offering that much more enchanting.

Mercedes didn’t cut corners on the rear seats either, they’re made for passengers to ride in comfort. It may even be more fun in the back seat with the wind factor bringing more hair flying in the wind action.

The 2011 MB E-Class Cabriolet model offers a fabric top (opens and closes in 20 seconds) that grants the interior comfort level expected in a luxury vehicle.

The top has there layers and is insulated. With the push of a button the Mercedes Benz AIRCAP system sends heated air on the neck to keep the driver and passengers toasty.

The E350 Cabriolet comes with a V-6 (4 valve per cylinder) engine producing 268 horses and 259 lb. ft. of torque. The E550 offers a 32 valve V-8 5.5-L engine that grants 382 horses and 391 lb. ft. of torque. Both models offer ‘double-overhead-cams with variable valve timing and a two-stage intake manifold’.

Base price for the E350 is $56,850 and for the E550 is $64,900. Option packages start at $4,000.

Mercedes Benz E-Class Cabriolet is sure to make an impression on it’s drivers and Sarah Jessica Parker’s new E-Class Cabriolet for Sex in The City is no exception.

You’re Invited!

Don’t miss our launch party on Friday May 21st at Mercedes Benz of Hagerstown, find details and directions and more on our Facebook Page

Coming to your Maryland Mercedes dealer in late spring to early summer, 2010, is the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec.

BlueTec, developed by Mercedes-Benz, is a technology that reduces diesel emissions. This is achieved by adding Adblue which is a water-based urea solution that is injected into the exhaust flow.

The addition of Adblue converts up to 80% of nitrogen oxides into a safe mixture of nitrogen and water.

BlueTec, clean diesel and allowed in all 50 American states, has been available since 2009 on Mercedes-Benz three SUVs: the R350, the GL350, and the ML350.

The all new e350 comes with a 3.0-L V-6 diesel powertrain which is what is used in the luxury brand’s SUVs. Mercedes-Benz continues to engineer vehicles that grant fuel economy that is good for the environment yet while not comprising performance.

The e350 BlueTec is reported by MB to grant 211 horses and meets the EU6 exhaust emission standards that go into effect in 2014.

Consumers not only get an earth friendly Mercedes-Benz E Class but a safe one as well.

Mercedes offers Attention Assist. This safety feature based on 70 parameters knows when the driver is inattentive or drowsy and alerts the driver to the situation.

Night View Assist Plus with Pedestrian Protection shows the night view image of the highway and alerts drivers to pedestrians by ‘highlighting’ them on an interior display screen.

Lane Keeping Assist knows when you drift over the line and alerts you to this problem by vibrations in the steering wheel.

Blind Spot Assist warns the driver if a vehicle is in a blind spot before the driver pulls out into the other vehicle’s path.

Adaptive Main Beam Assist offers a way to avoid blinding other drivers by adjusting the headlight beam.

Speed Limit Assist picks up on highway speed limit signs as the vehicle passes and advises the driver.

Brake Assist Plus: 1) calculates braking pressure automatically needed to avoid an accident, 2) Upon driver pressing the brake pedal activates calculated level of braking assistance, 3) Should the driver not react to warnings partial braking is begun and then if an accident is imminent initiates emergency brake.

Mercedes-Benz always on the cutting edge of performance technology, safety, and luxury features continues that tradition.

Mercedes-Benz already showing off the race version of the SLS AMG, the GT3, at the 2010 New York Auto Show made another splash in the surprise debut of a curvier 2011 E350 4Matic Wagon to be sold in the United States in the summer, 2010.

The E-class wagon, offering features of a SUV but designed to look like a sedan, can be said to be in a class of its own. Gas powered E350s present 268 horses coming from a 3.5-liter V-6.

Standard on the E350 4Matic wagon is all-wheel drive but having more traction is not the only safety feature that sets the E350 apart.

Other important standard and potentially life saving features are ATTENTION ASSIST which will caution the driver “Time for a Rest”, if software is alerted to erratic driving, Lane Keeping Assist alerts drivers by causing a vibration in the steering wheel should the car move into another lane without indicating that with a turn signal, Night View Assist PLUS grants drivers the ability to see pedestrians up to 300 feet earlier than the previous system. The new system sends an invisible infra-red light from two beams mounted in the headlights, and the E350 offers up to eleven air bags that provide drivers and passengers front and side protection.

Luxury is expected in a Mercedes-Benz E-class vehicle and with that in mind coming standard in the E350 is according to Mercedes-Benz “a premium leather-covered steering wheel with integrated multi-function switches and a Direct Select electronic shift lever mounted on the steering column”. Comfort is always in style as well and 14-way adjustable power seats are included. In COMAND is standard offering many technological features including seven-inch color display screen, six disc DC DVD changer, and Bluetooth interface. The system can also display maps and directions for the GPS navigation system (optional) and has the capability to show Zagat restaurant ratings and Sirius real-time traffic updates.

Mercedes-Benz, a classy brand known for luxury also keeps it’s customers safe and informed which shows in the welcomed entry of the E350 4Matic into the U.S. market.

Comfortable: AIRCAP® automatic draft-stop plus AIRSCARF®
Quiet: sound-dampening soft top as standard
Safe: robust roll-over protection and new headbags

The all new E-Class Cabriolet is the latest addition to the successful Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up. The open-top two-door model, which goes on sale in May 2010, features a classic fabric soft top, making for a stylistically pure cabriolet feeling. Viewed from the side, the new model is an intriguing proposition – with its clear proportions and a flawless cabriolet silhouette.

In keeping with the motto “four seasons, four personalities”, all-year-round suitability was right at the top of the developers’ list of priorities. With the new E‑Class Cabriolet, the cabriolet season lasts the whole year because, while many cabriolets tend to disappear from the roads in the Fall, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (length/width/height: 185.0/70.3/55.2in.) provides driving pleasure and comfort whether the roof is open or closed.

New features include:

The AIRCAP® automatic draft-stop: always on board and easily controllable at the push of a button, it reduces turbulence substantially for all four seat occupants
The modified AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system
The sound-dampening soft top fitted as standard
The soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds – even when driving at speeds of up to 25mph. The cabriolet roof is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft top compartment from the trunk area; it must be closed in order to close the soft top. If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the trunk capacity is increased by 3.17 cu. ft. to 13.8 cu. ft. A through-loading feature is included as standard for the new Cabriolet, as is EASY-ENTRY – a manually operated entry and exit aid for the rear passengers.

The power plants for the new E-Class Cabriolet are equally innovative: the engines combine efficiency with effortlessly superior power delivery. The exemplary, low fuel consumption has been achieved because of a number of practical measures. These include on-demand activation of the steering and fuel pumps, the use of tires with low rolling resistance and an alternator control system which takes account of the current driving situation and the vehicle’s electrical power requirements, plus the crucial factor of outstanding aerodynamics. The Cabriolet’s cd figure of 0.28 is the best in its class, marking a continuation of the E-Class success story in the field of aerodynamics.

An overview of the engines:

E350 Cabriolet: 268 hp / 258 lb-ft.
E550 Cabriolet: 382 hp/ 391 lb-ft.
Less turbulence, easier to use: AIRCAP® is a world-first

In 1989, Mercedes-Benz introduced a world premiere in the shape of a draught-stop for the SL model series, followed in 2004 by the AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system to further enhance comfort in open-top models. Now comes another world-first: the AIRCAP® automatic draft-stop, which can be activated at the push of a button, greatly reduces turbulence in the interior of the new Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, creating a sea of warm air. It is also much easier to implement and use than conventional draft-stops: there is no tricky installation, the two individual rear seats remain free and the Cabriolet’s flowing side lines remain uninterrupted. AIRCAP® is therefore a classic Mercedes innovation: functional, comfort-enhancing, elegant and safe.

AIRCAP® consists of two components: a wind deflector that can be extended by around 2.4 inches with a net in the windscreen frame and a draft-stop
between the rear seats.

The functions of the two components:

Elevation of the free flow above the interior
Net at the front increases the basic pressure in the interior
Draft-stop at the rear reduces the backflow
As well as enhancing occupant comfort and wellbeing, the reduction in draft when AIRCAP® is activated (it can be activated at speeds of up to 100 mph and remains in use right up to the car’s top speed) reduces the interior noise level – so passengers in all seats find it far easier to communicate.

When the standard AIRCAP® is combined with the optional AIRSCARF®, the system functions like an invisible scarf warming the occupants’ head and neck areas. AIRSCARF® is integrated into the backrests of the front seats and provides warm air through outlets in the head restraints.

Mercedes engineers have modified this unique innovation specifically for the E-Class Cabriolet: in this model, an adjustment wheel pivots the outlet nozzle upwards and downwards by a total of 36 degrees over and above the head restraint height adjustment, meaning that the driver and front passenger can enjoy the unique neck-level heating regardless of how short or tall they are.

Quiet, warm and windproof: sound-dampening soft top fitted as standard

Thanks to its sound-dampening soft top, fitted as standard, even the closed E-Class Cabriolet has one of the quietest interiors in the segment for four-seater premium cabriolets with a fabric roof. The soft top’s exceptionally high-quality insulation brings about a clearly noticeable reduction in the interior noise level compared to conventional fabric soft tops. Exterior noise caused by other vehicles and wind noise are therefore absorbed more effectively.

On the road, the difference is audible from speeds of just 50 mph, for example when driving through a tunnel or overtaking a convoy of trucks. At higher speeds, the benefits of the acoustic soft top are even more tangible. For instance, it is possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode even when travelling at a speed more than 125 mph.

The soft top is of course waterproof and windproof. Plus it can be put through an automatic carwash without any hesitation. With a total thickness of .9 inches, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the E-Class Cabriolet is also ideal for use in winter.

Safety: robust structure, anticipatory protection and windowbags

The new Cabriolet offers the wealth of safety innovations one would expect from a Mercedes-Benz model. Highlights of the open-top two-door model include roll-over protection, the A-pillars reinforced by two additional tubes and the plug-in B-pillars. This new model is also the first Mercedes cabriolet to feature headbags.

The roll-over protection consists of two robust bars, each with a diameter of 1.4 inches, which are housed in the rear head restraints in modules behind the rear seat backrests. A tilting cone sensor detects imminent danger to the occupants based on extreme skidding movements or acceleration caused by impact. If this sensor then sends a corresponding signal, pre-tensioned pressure springs are activated by pyrotechnic means, i.e. extremely quickly.

Consequently, both roll-over bars in the rear head restraints are extended. They reach their highest point and are locked automatically within a fraction of a second. In combination with the robust A-pillars, each of which is reinforced with two high-strength steel tubes, the steel bars provide highly effective roll-over
protection.

The plug-in B-pillars are extremely robustly connected as they engage in the side skirts, thus offering highly effective protection in the event of a crash. A shoe made from ultra-high-strength steel braces the inside of the B-pillar against the rear seat crossmember.

With seven airbags fitted as standard, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seats, not to mention crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger, the new E-Class Cabriolet offers the most extensive safety equipment package in this vehicle category. The airbags, which can deploy in milliseconds in the event of an accident, include front airbags and sidebags for the driver and front passenger, a kneebag on the driver’s side, and headbags. The latter, which appear in a Mercedes cabriolet for the first time, are housed in the door panelling in the beltline area. Covering a wide area – around 2.3 x 1.6 feet with a volume of 17 liters when deployed – the airbags provide extremely effective protection for occupants large and small in the event of a crash. The three-part side protection system – comprising headbag and thoraxbag – optimises the level of protection afforded to individual parts of the body. Rear sidebags are available as an option.

Further exemplary safety equipment available for the E-Class Cabriolet includes ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]