Much of the talk about the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon is that it has returned to its roots and this is especially noticeable when sat inside the vehicle, a review has noted.
According to CarPages, the dashboard is the area where there is a return to days gone by, "where the almost regimented lines could look old fashioned, if it wasn’t for the modern switchgear and crisp digital graphics".
A broad textured-aluminium strap separates the upper and lower sections of the fascia, while Artico leather graces much of the rest of the interior.
The man-made leather can be seen on the seats, which are heated and electronically controlled, and on the adjustable steering wheel.
CarPages rates the car highly in terms of its interior styling and through the levels of detail that have been strived towards across all elements of the car.
"It is the attention to detail and on-board goodies that makes the Mercedes Benz E-Class worth every penny. It is smart, stylish and easy to live with and worthy of a smug expression," the review noted.
The model that was tested was the Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI SE, which can accelerate from still to 62 miles per hour in 7.7 seconds.
Meanwhile, the diesel engine allows motorists to travel 64.2 miles on a gallon of fuel through the extra urban cycle.
Nico Rosberg has quashed any suggestions that Mercedes GP PETRONAS will not be challenging at the head of affairs during the 2010 Formula One season.
The 24-year-old and team-mate Michael Schumacher gained the opportunity to sample the MGP W01 for the first time during the three days of Formula One testing to have recently taken place in Valencia.
Rosberg finished the final day with the ninth quickest time in Spain, with seven-time World Champion Schumacher finishing two spots higher.
However, Rosberg told the German newspaper Bild that improved results can be expected when the next stage of testing takes place later this week in Jerez.
He said: "At the Jerez tests the veil will continue to be lifted and a more detailed picture will emerge. We will certainly be at the top."
Meanwhile, Schumacher recently revealed that the main aim of the testing in Valencia was to get some mileage under the new car’s belt and for both driver’s to develop the balance of the vehicle.
The Formula One testing in Jerez begins on February 10th.
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The smart fortwo cdi remains the optimum choice for motorists looking to be as eco-friendly as possible due to its record low emissions.
Engineers at smart have managed to cut the quantity of emissions generated from 88g/km to 86g/km through an improvement in vehicle aerodynamics and a reduction in ride height, which has improved its rolling resistance characteristics.
Furthermore, the environmental-friendliness of the vehicle is enhanced by the fact that it can travel 85.6 miles on a gallon of fuel through its combined cycle.
Dermot Kelly, Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars, highlighted that smart is preparing to go to the next step in eco-friendly motoring in the coming years.
He said: "We have been working hard to make our smart models even more environmentally friendly. As a trendsetter we have to live up to the standards we set. The next level of sustainable drives is ready to go - the smart fortwo electric drive.
"From April this year, 100 drivers in London, the South East and West Midlands will be selected to take delivery of the latest-generation smart fortwo electric drive and from 2012 the dream of motoring with no local emissions will become a reality for everyone."
However, the iconic two-seater vehicle is more than just a car to be driven in a busy urban environment, after recently completing a 15-day test drive across the Arctic Circle in Canada.
Discover all the big benefits of the smart at thesmart.co.uk
A quieter and more peaceful drive offered in busier urban environments is one of the advantages held by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon over the BMW 5-Series, according to Autocar.
The magazine has been testing and comparing the two executive saloons for numerous years, with Mercedes-Benz recently taking the title for the first time since 1987.
Writing for Autocar, Andrew Frankel highlights that the lack of noise present in the Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI enhances its luxurious appeal over the BMW 530D.
He said: "At a steady cruise its advantage extends only to slightly lower levels of wind noise, but when you are stop-starting in town or pressing on down a country road, you hear a lot less of the engine.
"This is a phenomenon that helps bolster the sense of opulence and luxury that so distinguishes the E-Class."
The Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI features a V6 turbodiesel engine that has a top speed of 155 miles per hour.
Mr Frankel also remarked that the E-Class was the better car in terms of its steering and the balance it possessed on the road.
This year has started far more brightly than 2009 for Mercedes-Benz as the manufacturer posted a 24 per cent rise in worldwide sales.
Some 67,000 vehicles were sold by Mercedes-Benz last month, which was substantially more than the 53,900 that were delivered during January in 2009.
A month-on-month growth of 30 per cent was witnessed specifically in the UK market, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon was especially popular worldwide, as it doubled its sales figure from last year.
The new generation S-Class and the C-Class were other vehicles that were well-liked among worldwide motorists, while the Chinese and Pacific markets saw strong growth on last year.
Dr Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: "We started the new year successfully with a strong increase in sales. That was due to … the continuing success of our new E-Class and S-Class.
"In the coming weeks we will be building on this excellent start. We expect to see significant growth in the first quarter."
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is particularly suitable for long weekends away and business trips than previous vehicles in the range due to it having increased exterior dimensions and greater passenger space on the inside.
Nick Heidfeld is fully committed to the job at hand as he intends to help Mercedes-Benz make a winning return to Formula One as the manufacturer is to have its first works team in the sport since 1955.
Heidfeld was recently announced as the test and reserve driver at Mercedes GP PETRONAS, where he will provide experienced support for both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.
The 32-year-old is preparing for his tenth season in Formula One having debuted in 2000 and in this time he has accumulated 167 race starts and gained 219 career points.
He said: "While I would of course have preferred a seat as an active driver, I am really proud to be part of the new Silver Arrows team.
"I have seen how committed everyone at the team is and I feel the same. I will be doing my very best to support Michael and Nico this year."
Heidfeld also represented Mercedes-Benz in his junior days and was supported by the manufacturer when triumphing in the German Formula Three Championship in 1997.
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Ross Brawn feels that the new points system that will be introduced into Formula One this season is a good thing and will encourage drivers to go all out to win races.
The Mercedes GP PETRONAS Team Principal believes that in prior seasons, some drivers were often happy to settle for finishing second as they gained eight points compared to the winner’s ten.
However, with a race victor now receiving 25 points, seven more than he who is the runner up, Brawn is convinced there is more motivation to try to pull off an overtaking manoeuvre at the front of the grid.
He told the BBC: "There is a much stronger incentive for the person in second place to try to beat the guy in front.
"The argument is if there’s only two points, it’s not such an incentive. If it’s seven it’s much more attractive."
Meanwhile, the new points-scoring system extends to a driver finishing in tenth position, rather than he who ends the race in eighth spot.
Mercedes GP PETRONAS driver Michael Schumacher currently holds the record for the most Formula One points in a season thanks to his total of 148 across 18 races in 2004.
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Nick Heidfeld has been confirmed as the Mercedes GP PETRONAS reserve and test driver for the 2010 Formula One season.
The 32-year-old learnt his trade on the Mercedes Young Driver programme in the late 1990s and has since gone on to compete for a host of teams in the last decade, starting 167 races and achieving 12 podium finishes.
Mercedes-Benz Team Principal Ross Brawn is especially pleased to be able to call upon a driver of Heidfeld’s experience if either Michael Schumacher or Nico Rosberg are unable to compete in a Grand Prix.
Brawn said: "Nick has more than ten years of experience in Formula One working with established teams and he will be a great asset to Mercedes GP PETRONAS.
"I am confident that his input into the development of our MGP W01 car will be invaluable."
Despite never winning a Grand Prix, Heidfeld has finished in second spot on eight occasions, while his consistency is backed up by the fact that he completed all 18 races during the 2008 Formula One season.
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With Autocar revealing that the Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI is a marginally better vehicle than the BMW 5-Series in its latest edition, it is additionally noted that there is a more substantial gap between the manufacturers in the estate market.
Reviewing the Mercedes-Benz E350 Estate for the same publication, John McIlroy highlighted that BMW will "need to work miracles" to mirror the qualities of the vehicle with its next 5-Series Tourer to hit the market.
This is because it is hard to find a downside to the estate and it is so good in many departments, including its "cavernous" load bay, cruising refinement, fine body control and its simple and effective cabin.
Space for rear seat passengers is specifically highlighted as there is comfortably enough room for four adults that are over six feet tall.
Meanwhile, there is the additional choice of opting for two leather-trimmed, rear-facing child seats in the load bay, which can be folded into the boot floor when they are not required.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate was crowned as the best vehicle in the business class category by motoring journalists from Switzerland, Germany and Austria at the TOPauto 2010 Awards.
Superior steering and a better balance on the road are some of the aces that the Mercedes Benz E350 CDI holds over the BMW 5-Series, according to Autocar.
The magazine recently compared the two vehicles across all areas and revealed that the Mercedes-Benz E-Class vehicle was a marginal victor over its executive saloon rival for the first time in 23 years.
Writing for Autocar, Andrew Frankel noted that the handling of the BMW provided a slightly artificial feel, but this was not the case with the E-Class.
He said: "The Mercedes’ steering feels smooth and almost liquid by comparison, free of friction and wonderfully linear and precise."
Meanwhile, the BMW also suffered with some understeer problems on the road, while the E350 CDI "flows beautifully" around corners and offers a significantly better ride quality to motorists.
Among the features of the E-Class which ensure that it performs strongly on the road are multi-link, coil springs and an anti-roll bar on both the front and rear suspensions.
