That said, the power on tap can be quite hair-raising in itself. The E 400 is as elegant as a Mercedes can get, but under the bonnet lies a motor which would put many previous-generation V8s to shame. The 2,996-cc V6 is twin-turbocharged and direct-injected to produce 333 PS and a considerable 480 Nm of peak torque. Together with the 7G-Tronic driving the rear wheels, it spells ‘fun’ with a capital horse and, when those exhaust pipes come on song, it delivers an aural thrill to match.
Acceleration is brisk: 0-100 km/h takes just 6.2 seconds and the limiter will kick in at 250 km/h. It was wicked wet when we went testing, but even so the grip levels from the low-profile 235/45 R17s was commendable and the brakes did a great job of shedding speed in earnest. The drilled discs up front didn’t show signs of fade, and, for a 1.85-tonne car, did a good job of reining it in.
It’s good even when you’re on the move. Overtaking is easy with 80-120 km/h dismissed in barely a couple of seconds and the E changes direction quickly. It’s agile and turns in quickly, and, when the time does arise, the 360° camera makes taking U-turns much less challenging. It doesn’t have a particularly large boot, which, with the roof tucked away, has just 300 litres — about as much as a compact hatchback — which is all right for a few bags, a couple of cameras, towels, and lots of sun-block.
There was no sun on our outing, and the best sun-block — and rain protection — I had was the roof, which came up in just about 20 seconds, quick enough not to be bothered by the rain which then began to fall. The E 400 Cabriolet can be a good tourer if you’re one of those who enjoy views more and spend less time in hotel rooms and pool changing rooms. It’s also got a 66-litre fuel-tank, which, when you consider the engine returns up to 8.5 km/l on the highway, gives you a 500-km-plus range.
The E Cabrio is a striking design, it’s a good handler, and it’s one of the sharper tools in the Stuttgart shed — that’s for sure. Makes it a perfect tool when you want to enjoy the drive; whether it’s a coastal road and ocean drive or a high-street shopping spree, it doesn’t really matter.
For the comprehensive road test results, please refer to the September 2015 issue of Car India.
