From the official Press Release:

Exterior Design

Front End

New lines make the car appear more and imposing than before, lending it added masculinity.

The identity features include the louvre structure of the radiator grille and the twin-headlamp face, which has been a characteristic E-Class hallmark for 14 years now.

Housed in a three-dimensionally shaped chrome frame, the radiator grille radiates presence by virtue of its dynamic V-shape and is also far more steeply raked than previously.

The headlamps – previously always oval in shape -- have been given a more progressive slant, drawing inspiration from cubism and its beguiling geometric forms.

They look like gemstones that have been cut from the car's wings with unerring precision. The result is an all-new look.

Like the headlamps, the bumper blends into the car's body, completing the overall impression of the front section – as if the design were cast from a single mould.

The dynamic lines that flow outwards, the distinctively shaped spoiler edges in the lower area and the bumper's broad air intake make the sedan appear wider and more athletic than before.

Other styling elements also enhance the profile of each of the individual lines: the Avantgarde line features a front bumper with a sporty design, with a large lower air intake boasting a black painted grille with diamond-shaped perforations.

This impression is reinforced by the LED daytime driving lights, which are integrated in the crossmember.

Another distinctive feature between each of the lines is the chromed radiator grille, which has three louvres in stone grey in the standard model, three high-gloss black louvres in the Avantgarde, and four louvres painted in metallic silver in the Elegance line.

Side view

The interplay between lines and surfaces is a key trademark of contemporary Mercedes design. Large, concave or convex surfaces are given structure by taut, clearly defined lines.

These lines emerge from the surfaces organically before flowing back into them equally seamlessly.

They play with light and shade effectively, creating a range of contrasts whilst also making the body appear longer.

The lines of the side section become linking elements which influence the entire body design.

The character line emerges from the muscular form of the front bumper and, from here, rises continuously rearwards to emphasise the dynamic wedge shape of the body.

Above this on each side runs the shoulder line, formed by the hood's joint, which lends the headlamp structure and spans the entire flank, culminating at the luggage compartment, where it gives the appearance of supporting the C-pillar.

The roof emerges from the A-pillars – which sweep into the wings – and rises smoothly rearwards to lend the Saloon a sense of forwards thrust.

The line which spans the rear wheel arch and gives the physical, muscular form of the rear wing a distinctive contour harks back to the famous "Ponton" (three-box-body) Mercedes.

This precursor to the E-Class from 1953 boasted a similarly expressive anatomy – a symbolic feature and hallmark of the E-Class.

The line contour of the rear wing performs an integrating function, bringing together the side section and the rear end, since the line running above the rear wheel arch abuts the tail light which, for its part, is drawn deeply into the car's flank and continues the flow of the line seamlessly at the rear end.

Rear end

The rear section of is characterized by the taut, well-defined edge of the boot lid, the chromed handle and the bumper covering integrated perfectly into the body, which create a stylistic impression of width.

The tail lights with their classic horizontal look can be combined with light clusters featuring LEDs for all the tail-light and indicator functions.

A special technique is used make the LED units, which are activated in darkness, stand out from the hazily illuminated background so that they appear to be hovering in the reflector.

The tail lights therefore produce a night design which makes the new E-Class unmistakable when viewed from the rear in darkness.

Interior Design

The wide look of the body design is reflected in the horizontally oriented lines of the dashboard - with wood or aluminium trim and the integrated ventilation outlets - emphasising the feeling of spaciousness on board.

This overriding impression of width is predominantly down to the distinctive fine-wood or refined aluminium trim and the precisely integrated ventilation outlets.

Thanks to the seamless continuation of form and material between the dashboard and the door panels, the trim elements cocoon the driver and front passenger.

The interior of the E-Class is also characterised by a further key design element: light.

The interior of the Elegance and Avantgarde models features thin optical fibres located behind the trim elements on the dashboard and above the door centre panels, which create a harmonious band of light running around the inside of the car.

(Source: Mercedes-Benz)