Building on themes established by its immediate predecessor, the current E-Class arrived in the U.S. for 2003 more voluptuous than the W210, proudly displaying Mercedes’ new styling direction. The E320 received the now familiar 3.2-liter, SOHC V6 making 221 horsepower, while the new E500’s 5.0-liter, SOHC, 24-valve V8 knocks out 302 horsepower. It is also the first E-Class since 1985 to have two windshield wipers. Among the interesting new features on the W210 generation are electronically controlled brakes, an adaptive suspension (standard on the E500, optional on the E320) that continually adjusts spring and damper rates for the benefit of ride quality and handling, four-zone climate control and optional Drive Dynamic seats that alter cushioning in response to cornering forces.
For 2004, a new station wagon comes, 4Matic is back and the E55 sedan returns with a supercharger atop its 5.4-liter V8 to produce a walloping 469 horsepower. That’s nine times as much as that first Ponton 180 in 1953.
