Bar a facelift last year, the current W213 E-Class has been around since 2016.
Although facelifted last year, the current W213 generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class is nearing the end of its lifecycle as evident by first-time spy images of its successor undergoing testing.
More than likely to be called W214, the all-new E-Class is expected to make its world debut in 2023, at which point the W213 will be seven years old.
According to Britain’s Autocar, who snapped the prototype being tested, the W214 will take styling inspiration from the S-Class and move to the revised MRA platform better adapted for electrification.
In a change though, only sedan, estate and the high-riding All-Terrain estate will be offered as bodystyle choices as both the coupe and cabriolet and will phased out in favour of the new CLE, which will serve as additional replacement for the hard-top two-door and soft-top C-Class.
The S-Class influence, and to an extent that of the C-Class, will continue inside where the W214’s interior will get the same OLED tablet-like MBUX infotainment system, as well as the new digital instrument cluster and possibly also the augmented reality Heads-Up Display.
A full array of safety and driver assistance systems will also be offered, some updated and others pinched from the C-Class and S-Class as either standard or optional.
ALSO READ: Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Petrol or diesel?
Up front, the E-Class, according to Autocar, will soldier on with the current range of four-and-six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, though with greater use of the 48-volt mild-hybrid system in order to meet the stringent Euro 7 emissions regulations. Full hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are also being mulled.
All will be mated to the 9G Tronic gearbox with the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system reserved for some models. The all-paw gripping system will be complimented by Benz’s rear-wheel steering arrangement, though not exclusively as it will also be available on certain rear-wheel-drive models.
On the AMG front, the current E53 will drop the mild-hybrid 3.0-litre straight-six for the same unit rumoured for the E63, the incoming C63’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder.
The main difference however will be method of propulsion as the E63 will come with added electrification, reportedly enough for an output of 441 kW, 13 kW more than the current E63’s 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8.
For the E63 S, which makes 450 kW, a potentially greater output will be achieved, but under a different moniker based on claims back in March that Stuttgart had submitted a trademark application for E73.
Despite the rumoured year of reveal, expect more spy images and details to emerge throughout 2022.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
