The current issue of German car magazine Auto Bild reports that Mercedes-Benz is working on a superlight E-Class for 2015 that will be manufactured using carbon fiber. Although the carbon fiber will be super-lightweight, it will be harder than steel. The new E-Class will weigh approximately 1,300 kg (2,866 lbs.), which is 350 kg (772 lbs.) lighter than the current model.
The article states that Mercedes-Benz is thinking about both hydrogen fuel-cell and gasoline-hybrid drivetrains for the superlight E-Class.
Below is an excerpt in the original German, followed by our translation:
Wow, was für ein Hingucker! Mercedes schickt seine E-Klasse zur Diät. Das Ergebnis wird für 2015 erwartet. Der E superlight wird nicht nur super schick, sondern auch super leicht. Lediglich 1300 Kilo soll er noch auf die Waage bringen – ganze 350 Kilo weniger als die aktuelle E-Klasse. Denn der Superlight besteht aus super leichter Kohlefaser. Trotz des geringen Gewichts ist das Material härter als Stahl. Diese hohe Steifigkeit lässt Technikern und Designern ungeahnte Freiheiten. So soll der E superlight extravagente Schiebetüren ohne störende B-Säule bekommen.
Wow, what a looker! The Mercedes E-Class went on a diet. The result is expected in 2015. The E-Class is not only super light, but super smart, too. Only 1300 kg, it should weigh in at 350 kg less than the current E-Class because the Superlight is made of super-lightweight carbon fiber. Despite its low weight, the material is harder than steel. This high rigidity gives engineers and designers unprecedented freedom to add features such as sliding doors (gullwing?) without B-pillars.
(Note: photo is of the current E-Class Coupe.)
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