One of the latest offerings from the three-pointed star is a convertible 2+2 with a seven-figure price-tag. Is it all sunny-sky-and-wind-in-the-hair motoring? We try to find out.
Story: Jim Gorde
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
Mercedes had once shown a very interesting concept called the ‘Ocean Drive’. It was a luxury convertible capable of seating four and feeling like two million bucks. While I reserve that for the incoming S-Class Coupé, this E-Class Cabriolet is the closest thing to the Ocean Drive that one can have today. The magnificent SL-Class was struck off the import list years ago and Mercedes never brought it up again. I, for one, was a huge fan, and that didn’t go down well with me at all. But this, the E-Class Cabriolet, is an interesting prospect. More so because it brings in the ‘350’ V6-replacing twin-turbocharged V6 petrol motor in ‘400’ guise. Yummy!
Like a wine and cheese festival, the E 400 has a little bit of everything. You get a whole lot of wine in the form of 333 PS, and all kinds of cheese – electronic aids, metallic trim finish and multi-way adjustable leather seats – to help balance it all out. Let’s start with the design. The two-door versions of the E get restyled headlamps and tail-lamps, and also are not as long as their four-door saloon counterpart. The soft-top is available in a number of colours and this dark brown one we had went well with the pearly white paint finish. The E Cabrio also gets 17” wheels with rather low-profile tyres – 235/45s – which allow for good ride quality and also afford better handling. Even more importantly, the E Cabrio is something you could drive to a business meeting and then head out into the mountains without so much as the touch of a button. It’s a gorgeous piece of work and it just fits in everywhere.
