Mercedes appears to be testing the next-generation E-Class with a lightly modified test mule high in the German mountains.
The photos, sent to us by our trusty spy photographers, show a dark red E-Class with plastic fender flares, unusual sensors, and a “Brake-Test” sticker on the back. The whole look actually looks rugged and fun but implies that Mercedes is already in the process of getting the W214 E-Class ready for production.
If those fender flares and the seemingly extended track-width are anything to go on, that would suggest that the next E-Class is going to go wider than the current model. Speaking of the current model, although it fits in with Mercedes’ current design language, it’s actually still a generation behind the C-Class and the S-Class.
Read Also: Mercedes-Benz Gives 2021 E-Class A Face And Tail Lift Along With New Straight-Six
The update that Mercedes gave the E-Class in March 2020 didn’t herald a new generation. Instead, it was just a facelift that introduced new design elements, the latest MBUX infotainment technology, fresh safety tech, and a pair of new inline-six-cylinder engines. The gas versions make between 156-367 PS (154-362 HP/115-270 kW) and the diesel versions from 160-330 PS (158-326 HP/118-243 kW).
The current, fifth-generation W213 E-Class, though, launched in 2016 and is therefore getting a little long in the tooth by Germany’s premium sedan standards. A new generation is therefore expected before too long. Whether Mercedes will include the level of electrification that defines the new C-Class remains to be seen, but odds are good.
The AMG version of the E-Class is likely to make use of an electric motor to supplement its engine, too. A trademark application for “E73” may suggest a big hybrid to stand out above the rest of the lineup.
Although we’re still a little far out to know when Mercedes plans on revealing the new E-Class, the recent facelift and this mule would make a 2023 or 2024 debut sensible.