The new car, which will go head-to-head with the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6, has an edgy, more dynamic, look than its predecessor and takes some design cues from the new S-class and the F700 and Fascination concept cars.
It’s 70mm longer than its predecessor to give more boot space and rear seat legroom and make it easier to engineer in enhanced safety, but has been designed to be 25 percent cheaper to build than the current model.
Among likely engines in the new E-class is the Bluetec diesel with urea injection to reduce emissions.
Other motors will include 2.5-litre, 3.0-litre and 3.5-litre V6s, a naturally aspirated and twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel, and V8s. A hybrid is also said to be in the mix, and the automatic gearbox will be a seven-speeder, and rear- and four-wheel drive models are tipped.