Presenting the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class to the Philippine motoring press was Jürgen Banken, project head for the development of the substantially revised model. motioncars.com was able to chat with Mr. Banken on the numerous improvements made on the car, what he thinks of copycats, and which E-Class is his personal favorite.
motioncars.com: Can you describe the design philosophy of the E-Class?
Jürgen Banken: The E-Class is a car for successful people. These are confident customers who do not need to impress other people, or call undue attention to themselves. The E-Class has always been known as a superb business limousine. Our challenge was to make it more dynamic and sportier, without detracting from the qualities that make it a recognized leader.
The biggest advance we have made on this model is in safety. Technology such as Pre-safe, Neck-Pro, Adaptive Brake, and Intelligent Light System are exclusive to this class, and were adopted from higher models such as the S-Class. We are proud to say that the E-Class offers a big advance in both active and passive safety technology. The safety level of this car is the highest in its class.
On the outside, the visible changes are the new grille, which has a pronounced V-shape, the chrome louvers on the headlamps, and the outside mirrors.
motioncars: What about run-flat tires? Did you consider equipping the new car with this technology?
JB: To be honest, I am not a fan of run-flat tires. Our tests show that they result in poor comfort and are not yet up to the standard expected of the E-Class. Most of our customers are not looking for this feature. Perhaps they are also aware of the higher replacement cost for these specialized tires. One day perhaps the technology will allow us to achieve the comfort and economy that we require. For now, we have equipped the E-Class with a tire pressure monitor as standard, and this will warn of a sudden or gradual loss of tire pressure.
motioncars: Do you think that all the electronic aids present on cars somehow detract from the fun of driving?
JB: (Smiling) That depends if having fun includes going off the road. It is not a bad thing if the electronics allow the driver to have more control of every situation. Our electronics can also allow a driver to push to the limit, perhaps if needed in an emergency, and still stay as safe as possible.
Our cars are designed to work on normal roads and not on a track. (motioncars recalls our drive in torrential-rain on the Batangas Racing Circuit with an E 240 and it’s our turn to smile.) But even on our sportier models, the various safety devices will help keep the driver out of trouble.
motioncars: Have you personally experienced Pre-safe? The system sounds potentially unnerving.
JB: We have tried Pre-safe on the track. The system activates without disturbing the concentration of the driver. In a potential accident situation, you are concentrating on avoiding the accident, and will not notice the system activating. It prepares the occupants for an accident by primarily tensioning the seatbelt, but it is not in an uncomfortable way. This is unlike the tensioning of the seatbelt when the airbag is deployed; this has to be more aggressive. But the Pre-Safe system does not make you
An accident does not happen in an instant. There are behaviors that indicate an accident might take place, such as heavy braking and skidding. Pre-safe gets its signals from the ESP system and takes the needed precautions. Pre-Safe is completely reversible, and its activation does not require you to make a trip to the dealer.
motioncars: With Pre-safe installed, does this affect how the airbags are deployed in an accident?
JB: The airbags are not changed.
motioncars: How did it feel to head such an important project?
JB: It was an impressive task for me and my team. It was the feeling I could imagine from conducting a large orchestra, where everybody is a dedicated professional. We had the challenge of making a good thing even better. Fortunately a lot of new technology had become available, and we wanted to introduce them to benefit the safety and comfort of our customers.
motioncars: What happened to the Sensotronic Braking System from the previous E-Class?
JB: The Sensotronic Braking System had to give way to the next generation, which is our new Adaptive Brake system. This is a conventional hydraulic system taken from the S-Class. It uses electronic control to increase safety and comfort.
motioncars: After driving an E 240 for 18 hours in a local driving event (the Dodo Ayuyao Rally), we can say that the E-Class is one of the most comfortable cars we have driven. This contrasts with our experiences in some other “top of the line” sedans where we stepped out quite sore after just several hours. What is the secret of the E-Class?
JB: (Smiling): We are always happy to hear customers who say that they arrive at their destination feeling rested and refreshed. Comfort is a function of many things inside the car. The seats are very important to comfort, but it’s not only the seats. The steel suspension and tires are also quite important in giving a relaxed atmosphere inside the cabin. The car body’s rigidity is also significant in reducing vibrations and giving a stable ride. The E has always been designed as a comfortable long-distance touring limousine.
motioncars: How do you reconcile comfort with the increased sportiness of the new model?
JB: The challenge is to increase the responsiveness without removing any of the comfort. For example, the new car’s steering is more direct by 10%, but we were careful not to produce excessive kickback through the steering wheel.
The tires are also sportier, but they are compensated by adjustment in the bearings and damping of the shock absorbers.
motioncars: The E-Class is the European market leader. Do you experience much pressure from your competitors?
JB: It is always a tough job to maintain a leading position. In the new car, for example, we have installed new engines which provide better performance with no penalty in fuel economy. We are proud enough to go our own way when it comes to innovation and design. At the same time, we have to listen to customers and know what they need from a car.
motioncars: Can you tell us more about the lighting technology on the E-Class?
JB: The car features adaptive lighting technology at both the front and rear. The Intelligent Light System adjusts the light beam depending on road and driving conditions, increasing the driver’s vision, especially around bends.
The flashing brake lights warn drivers more effectively than conventional brake lights, and the LEDs light up quicker than conventional bulbs. LEDs work well also in locations where there is not a lot of space. For example, in the side mirror (turn signals).
We are also the first to feature LEDs in the front park lamps. This is important given the car’s four-headlamp design. The LEDs give the car a more attractive look by giving a uniform color between the (HID) headlamps and the park lamps.
motioncars: Speaking of LEDs, a lot of other car companies now have these side-mirror mounted turn signals. It’s become a much-copied luxury cue.
JB: (Smiling) Well, we have to acknowledge that other companies are finding our solutions to be effective for them. We are not worried, though, because we have many more improvements and innovations coming.
motioncars: What about hybrid drivetrain technology for the E-Class?
JB: I cannot make a definite comment about hybrids at this time. As you know, our company is working with several others on the technology and we may or may not see such applications in the future.
motioncars: In your presentation of the car, you said that the new Bluetec ultra-low emissions diesel engines are not suitable for the Philippines because of our diesel fuel. Can you tell us more about that?
JB: The diesel in the Philippines has a high level of sulfur and this will affect the emissions of the engine. You might see the result in other European diesels being sold here—the smoke coming from the tailpipe. It is not really a question of performance, because the engines will work. But we want to promote diesel as a clean fuel, and having vehicles that emit smoke from the tailpipe is not the proper way to introduce this technology.
motioncars: What is your favorite E-Class variant?
JB: You have to experience the performance of the E 500 with the 5.5-liter V8. The engine alone is worth the price. We have even topped that with the new AMG model, the E 63 with 514 hp.
If it were to involve my own money, then I would choose the E 200 Kompressor. This offer a quite practical solution with excellent everyday performance, thanks to its high torque.
motioncars: The car market has become more diverse, and we’ve seen a lot of new products, even from Mercedes-Benz: offroaders, hatchbacks, and MPVs. What is the future of the E-Class model?
JB: (Smiling) Perhaps you mean especially from Mercedes-Benz. Yes, we have come up with new concepts like the CLS, the B-Class, the R-Class. They have gained acceptance with a new group of customers who have unique requirements from their car.
We have those models to address the new demands of customers. Still, there is always the need for a supremely comfortable limousine, and the E-Class will be there to address that need. The E-Class is the heart of Mercedes-Benz. Customers know this car as the Mercedes-Benz.
By Jason Ang and Ulysses Ang | Photos by Jason Ang and Ulysses Ang
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