2010 Mercedes E Class Revealed!

STUTTGART, Germany; Mercedes-Benz doesn't plan to publicly unveil its redesigned 2010 E-Class sedan until the 2009 Geneva Auto Show in early March. But thanks to the wonderful World Wide Web, we now have what appear to be the first official photos of the car.

Three images of the new E-Class provide a fairly detailed look at the car's crisp, angular lines, which appear to draw inspiration from the Concept Fascination shown by Mercedes in Paris two months ago, as well as from the current S-Class.

As is the case with the current car, the next-generation E-Class will offer a wide range of four-, six- and eight-cylinder gas and Bluetec diesel engines, with gasoline-electric and diesel-electric hybrids waiting in the wings. Once again, the range-topper will be the E63 AMG, powered by a more muscular edition of today's 6.2-liter V8, with a price tag likely to top $90,000.

Not too much farther down the road, Mercedes will unveil the new E-Class wagon for model year 2011, as well as a new coupe that will supplant the current CLK.

Inside Line says: Mercedes will provide motoring journalists with a background peek at the new car in January at the Detroit show, but the rest of the world will have to wait until Geneva to see it in the flesh