When the first photos of the 2014 E-Class surfaced, it was instantly obvious that Mercedes-Benz’s mid-size premium model wasn’t a simple nip-and-tuck job, as is customary with mid-life facelifts. Instead, Stuttgart’s designers had gone to the trouble of completely changing the entire front end of the car.
First of all, they ditched the four separate headlamps, an E-Class staple since 1995, in favor of a single one-piece unit on each side that encompasses all lighting elements. Mercedes says that the graphic design of the inner elements retain the “four-eyed” look while both the day-time running lights and the dipped beam have partial LED lights as standard and full LED lights are offered as an option.
For the first time, the E-Class, like the smaller C-Class, will be available with two different front-end designs. The base and Elegance trim levels feature the classic grille with three louvers and the three-pointed star on the bonnet, while the Avantgarde gets the sporty treatment with the star integrated in the grille.
In profile, the 2014 E-Class replaces the pontoon-style rear side panels with a new feature line that runs from the rear door to the elongated, LED taillights and, according to the company, emphasizes the side trim that has been shifted downwards and gives the car a more elongated shape.
