Mercedes-Benz E350 CGI : PETROL EMOTION

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Diesel may dominate in executive car land but the Mercedes E350 CGI petrol shouldn't be discounted out of hand. Steve Walker reports.

The motor industry is overflowing with TLAs, that's three letter acronyms to you and I. From official bodies to safety systems, engines and gearboxes, if it's worthy of existence, or so the thinking must go, it's worth condensing down to a nice neat TLA that will comprehensively flummox the general public. One TLA that might ring a bell to non-car geeks is CGI but we're not talking about the `computer generated imagery' that made Hollywood blockbusters like Toy Story possible and ruined Star Wars. CGI in car speak is Stratified Charged Gasoline Injection technology (Yes, I know). It's been developed by those masters of the TLA at Mercedes Benz and it's fitted to a range of models including the E350 CGI, at which point it becomes far easier to understand.

In case you were unaware, the E-Class is Mercedes' entrant in the executive car class. It occupies a key position in the brand's model range between the C-Class compact executive models and the S-Class luxury saloon. Each generation of the E is the subject of painstaking development work designed to give it an edge over its arch rivals, the BMW 5 Series and the Audi A6. There are other pretenders who would like to muscle in and play a more prominent role in the executive car market but these German offerings are tough nuts to crack. In the UK, it's diesel engines that attract the biggest sales volumes but Mercedes will be hoping that its CGI technology can increase the relevance of petrol and help it put one over on the old enemies. CGI is all about the way the petrol is delivered into the engine's cylinders ready for combustion. It can get quite arcane but for these purposes, it's enough to say that the CGI technology delivers the fuel in quantities, at timings and at a pressure that makes the most of every last microscopic droplet. The result is the best possible compromise between performance and economy which is kind of what we'd all like to be going on under our car bonnets. The E350's V6 petrol engine develops 288bhp and can accelerate from 0-60mph in just 6.3s. Rather than straight line speed, it's flexibility that really pays in an executive car because that's what delivers the languid athleticism needed for powerful overtaking and motorway manoeuvres. To this end, the E350 CGI produces its maximum torque of 365Nm between 3,000 and 5,100rpm. That's a good wide band for a normally-aspirated petrol engine but it means you have to rev the engine harder than with an equivalent diesel.

"In E350 CGI form it's fast and flexible with well-weighted steering and a fiendishly slick automatic gearbox"

Past versions of the E-Class have often failed to hit the mark in terms of handling, allowing BMW to corner the market for sporty executive conveyances. The latest model seeks to retain the comfort levels that traditional customers expect form the E-Class while making in-roads into more dynamic territory. The steering is clearly more weighty and direct, lending confidence on twisting roads. The car also features Direct Control dampers which stiffen automatically when they detect that you're wanting to have some fun and remain supple at cruising speeds. The E350 CGI's engine is less dramatic than expected at normal speeds but slip the seven-speed automatic into sport mode and the gears are held longer. At higher revs, the engine finds its feet and displays an aggressive vocal range which is a bit unexpected in an E-Class. Mercedes was never the manufacturer most likely to push the stylistic boat out and come up with a brave new design direction. Instead the E-Class is typically reserved, displaying many of the handsome squared-off elements seen on its smaller C-Class cousin. Inside, the S-Class luxury saloon is the inspiration with quality materials and switchgear in evidence. There's plenty of space in the rear seats and a 540-litre boot should be sufficient for most eventualities. The amount of technology shoehorned into the E-Class really is remarkable and the most eye-opening features are aimed at improving the car's safety credentials. Mercedes likens the systems to an `intelligent partner' who can detect and react to danger, which sounds like an automated back seat driver chiming in every time they think you're going to fast or too close to the car in front. The reality is that the systems are designed to be as unobtrusive as possible until stronger intervention is absolutely necessary. Adaptive High Beam Assist uses a camera on the windscreen to detect approaching vehicles when you're driving at night to modify the headlamps and give an optimum field of vision at all times. Lane Keeping assist vibrates the steering wheel when it senses that the car is drifting out of its lane. Blind Spot Assist warns you when there's a car in your blind spot and Attention Assist measures 70 parameters to detect if you're falling asleep at the wheel. Saloon, Estate and Coupe versions of the E-Class are available and the E350 CGI plays a key role in each range. The trim levels run from the basic SE to Avantgarde and Sport but the E350 CGI is only offered in the latter two guises. Avantgarde models are designed to be more luxurious with leather trim, bi-xenon headlights with High Beam Assist, electrically folding mirrors and LED running lights. Outside the suspension is 15mm lower and there are 17" alloy wheels. Sport models get a package of AMG styling accessories including 18" alloys and an upgraded braking system. Although many of the more advanced safety features are confined to the options list, the E-Class does come with nine airbags as standard and an active bonnet that raises up in the event of a collision to help protect pedestrians. Because the engine adapts its combustion process according to the driver's inputs, it can achieve its strong performance when required but also return decent economy. It's the running costs associated with a V6 petrol car that have always been crucial in pushing executive car buyers towards diesel but the E350 CGI can return a reasonable 33mpg with emissions under 200g/km. This is still a long way behind the 41mpg and 181g/km available from the E350 CDI diesel but the gap is narrowing. All E-Class models except the V8s feature the Mercedes BlueEfficiency technology which comprises a wide range of small modifications that together can deliver a 3mpg economy saving. Weight-saving measures, aerodynamic improvements and low rolling resistance tyres feature among the innovations. The latest E-Class is as smooth an operator as the Mercedes-Benz heritage would lead you to expect but it can also turn its hand to more dynamic pursuits. In E350 CGI form it's fast and flexible with well-weighted steering and a fiendishly slick automatic gearbox. Even if you do have to work the engine harder than you would a diesel equivalent, you're rewarded with a naughty engine note that's quite a surprise in a Merc and running costs should be far from extortionate.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Mercedes E350 CGI
PRICES: £36,320-£37,820 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 199g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 6.3s/ Max Speed 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 22.6mpg / (extra urban) 44.1mpg / (combined) 32.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags, ABS, ESP, Brake Assist, PRE-SAFE.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height (saloon), 4868/1854/1471mm