The Mercedes E class facelift in long-wheelbase form has been revealed at the Beijing Motor Show, about six months after the German brand took the wraps off the standard model.
As India and China are among the only markets where the E-class LWB is sold – and India is the only right-hand drive market for this version – the model for China gives a good idea of what we’re going to get.
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E class LWB has a 140mm longer wheelbase than the standard car
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Design changes near identical to the standard E-class facelift
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E-class long wheelbase facelift expected to arrive in India in 2021
2021 Mercedes-Benz E-class long wheelbase exterior differences
As its name implies, the E-class LWB’s wheelbase is 140mm longer than the standard model, which measures in at 2,939mm. The long wheelbase version is also slightly longer overall, but is of the same width and height.
The added length gives it a more traditionally luxurious limousine look, but otherwise, there isn’t too much that differentiates the LWB from the standard E-class facelift.
As we saw when E-class LWB facelift images had emerged online earlier this year, it features the new headlight and bumper design, along with a wider three-slat chrome grille and chrome surrounds on the fog light clusters. Sportier versions of the E-class facelift get a sunken, mesh-like grille with the Mercedes logo in the centre.
At the rear, the standard and long-wheelbase E-class share a new set of slim, wraparound tail-lamps, a new boot lid and a tweaked rear bumper design. New alloy wheel options will help to mark the two apart.
2021 Mercedes-Benz E-class long wheelbase interior differences
Mercedes claims that rear-seat comfort has also taken a step up, and has added a new rear centre console touchscreen and two USB ports.
Besides these changes, there’s no way to tell the E-class long-wheelbase from the standard model – the updated MBUX software for the infotainment and the new steering wheel are common.
2021 Mercedes-Benz E-class long wheelbase India launch
In April 2020, amid the first lockdown due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Santosh Iyer, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India, had confirmed that the E-class facelift would arrive in India in 2021. Apart from the steering wheel moving to the right side, the India-spec 2021 E-class is expected to be identical to the model revealed for China.
Expect the same engine options from the current car to continue – the E-class on sale right now comes in E 200 (Rs 59.08-63.30 lakh), E 220d (Rs 60.10-64.32 lakh) and E 350d (Rs 75.06 lakh) form. There’s also the E-class All-Terrain E 220d 4Matic (Rs 77.25 lakh) available in the India line-up, though this CBU import is based on the station wagon or estate body style with the standard wheelbase.
When the E-class facelift launches in India, it’ll rival the BMW 5 series, Audi A6 and Jaguar XF.
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Uday Singh
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