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2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe vs 2017 Lexus RC

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe 2017 Lexus RC

Mercedes-Benz Press Release Highlights

With its expressive coupe-esque proportions, clear and sensual design and long-distance comfort for four people, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe combines the beauty and classic virtues of a grand tourer with state-of-the-art technology. It also offers the intelligence of the E-Class family with full smartphone integration, Widescreen Cockpit and the latest driver assistance systems with the option of, among other things, partially automated driving. Powerful engines with low exhaust emissions and comfortable suspensions with selective damping provide the guarantee of a sporty and agile driving experience. After the world's most intelligent executive sedan, the Estate and the All-Terrain, the successful E-Class family now welcomes another new member: the Coupe.
Powertrain
Powerful and efficient petrol and diesel engines, all equipped with ECO start/stop and complying with the Euro 6 emissions standard, provide for lively performance and great fun behind the wheel. The available variants include a newly developed four-cylinder diesel engine.

At market launch, there will be an initial choice between one diesel and three petrol engines with a range of outputs from 135 kW (184 hp) to 245 kW (333 hp). Further engine variants and 4MATIC versions will follow. All the models available at market launch are equipped as standard with the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission, which allows fast gearshifts along with lower engine speeds. This has a particularly beneficial effect on efficiency and noise.
Chassis
The significantly larger footprint compared with the previous model is to the benefit of passengers with extra spaciousness and comfort. They profit especially in terms of rear legroom, front and rear shoulder room as well as rear headroom. In each of the four fully fledged seats with coupe-specific individual seat character, the driver and passengers enjoy genuine comfort on long journeys as well as the classic virtues of a grand tourer. The suspension on the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe offers agile driving pleasure on winding roads together with exceptional ride comfort. The Coupe comes as standard with DIRECT CONTROL suspension. The DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL suspension with adjustable damping is optionally available. It, too, is set lower. Using a switch in the center console for the as-standard DYNAMIC SELECT system, the driver can vary the damping characteristics of this suspension. Three modes are available, offering a wide range of adjustment options: "Comfort", "Sport" and "Sport+". Alternatively, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe can be equipped with multi-chamber air suspension, including all-round roll/pitch/heave stabilization. Advantages of this system: three chambers of different size in the spring struts of the rear axle and two in the spring struts of the front axle make it possible to control the hardness of the suspension in three stages.
Technology
The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe embodies the synthesis of sporty emotion and luxurious intelligence. The two optionally available high-resolution and brilliant 12.3-inch displays - unique in this segment - are merged under a single lens to produce a Widescreen Cockpit that appears to float in space. The key design element, it emphasizes the width, as does the fascia-spanning trim, which terminates with a dynamic sweep in the door panel. Positioned in the driver's direct field of vision, the instrument cluster shows virtual instruments, which can be selected by the driver in three different styles, "Classic", "Sport" and "Progressive", depending on which information and views the driver considers relevant.

A new era of connectivity and digitalization is marked by the infotainment system in the E-Class Coupe with COMAND Online. This includes effortless integration of the smartphone into the vehicle's infotainment system by means of capacitive aerial coupling and wireless charging. This means that compatible mobile phones can be charged wirelessly and also connected to the vehicle's exterior aerial. This dispenses with the need to find a plug and connect a cable. If the vehicle is equipped with COMAND Online, it is possible to use Apple's smartphone-based infotainment system CarPlay as well as Google's Android Auto. If a compatible smartphone is connected by USB, the customer can, if desired, switch to the CarPlay or Android Auto interface.
Safety
As a member of the current E-Class family, the new Coupe is significantly more intelligent than its predecessor. It comes with all the features of the E-Class, the most intelligent executive sedan. Active Brake Assist comes as standard. It is able to warn the driver of an imminent collision, provide optimum support with emergency braking and, if necessary, also autonomously apply the brakes. In addition to slower-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles, it can also detect pedestrians crossing in the danger zone ahead of the vehicle. Other highlights include DRIVE PILOT: this system represents Mercedes-Benz's next step along the road to autonomous driving. As Distance Pilot DISTRONIC, it is not only able to keep the car at the correct distance behind vehicles in front on all types of road, but, for the first time, it can also automatically follow them at a speed of up to 210 km/h.

Lexus Press Release Highlights

Engineered as a stand-alone model, rather than as a two-door derivative of a sedan, the RC delivers all the performance, individuality, and unique luxury and technology that its body promises. Lexus expects the RC to attract the next generation of luxury buyers and those new to the brand.
Powertrain
• The 3.5-liter Lexus 2GR-FSE V6 propels the 2015 RC 350 with 306 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque.
• Aluminum block
• Intelligent dual variable valve timing (VVT-i)
• Lexus D-4S system of direct and port fuel injection. With one injector installed in the combustion chamber and a second mounted in the intake port, D-4S combines the strengths of both for maximum efficiency and low emissions.
• Eight-Speed SPDS Transmission
• The SPDS transmission combines the best of both worlds: torque converter smoothness with shifting speed of a dual-clutch unit when shifting manually.
• The SPDS transmission has three driver-selectable modes - NORMAL, SPORT and MANUAL (M)
• Downshifts are made in just 0.10-second in M mode
• Throttle blipping control matches the engine speed to the gear
Chassis
• Front suspension is double wishbone
• Rear suspension is multi-link with a toe control arm
• Monotube dampers offer ideal damping and control
• Most of the suspension components are new
• At the front, the RC gets a new suspension upper support, coil spring, damper, stabilizer bar, stabilizer bar bushing and lower number two bushing.
• The rear coil springs, dampers, stabilizer bar, and stabilizer bushings all are new for the RC.
• RC 350 F Sport - Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system and the Lexus Dynamic Handling system with Dynamic Rear Wheel Steering. Electric Steering, Electrifying Handling
• Electric power steering (EPS)
• RC 350 F Sport - available Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) automatically changes the steering gear ratio in response to vehicle speed and driving conditions
• Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) - variable damper system designed to enhance ride comfort and body lean control, contributing to natural, smooth changes in vehicle attitude
• The RC 350 RWD and AWD variants have 13.15-inch diameter brake rotors front and rear.
• RC 350 F Sport gets its own 14.06-inch diameter two-piece rotors and high-friction brake pads. The rear brake calipers are lightweight aluminum alloy.
Safety
• Lexus RC has eight SRS airbags, including a dual-stage driver's airbag, dual-stage and dual-chamber front passenger airbag, driver's and passenger's knee airbags, front-seat side airbags and first and second row side curtain airbags.
• All RC 350 models have Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM), the Lexus system that coordinates control of the powertrain, ABS, electric power steering, traction control (TRAC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) systems.
• Available Pre-Collision Brake and Pre-Collision Brake Assist systems. Using the radar sensors of the Adaptive Cruise Control, these systems are designed to detect the potential for a collision between the RC and an obstacle or vehicle ahead.
Technology
• A 4.2-inch thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD) at the center of the instrument cluster presents the full-color Multi Information Display (MID)
• Linked to the car's multi-media system, the MID can display vehicle, audio and navigation information.
• Both the standard and optional audio systems play all popular digital formats, whether from CD, iPod®, USB or other device.
• The standard audio system drives its 10 speakers - including a 10-inch subwoofer -- with 256 watts total output.
• Available in the RC, a new Mark Levinson 17-speaker system creates a stunning 360-degree, three-dimensional sonic space. The system produces 835-watts total output while consuming less power than other systems of similar output.
• For navigation equipped vehicles, a new Remote Touchpad uses smartphone-like touch control
• The RC debuts a new version of Blind Spot Monitor with an extended detection area. The system can assist the driver when changing lanes by providing information not only about vehicles in the side mirror blind spot zones. The new system in the RC is able to provide information up to 196 feet behind the vehicle.
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) assists the driver when backing out of a parking space or driveway.

Photo Comparison

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

  • 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Front View
  • 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Front Side View
  • 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Side Front View
  • 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Side View
  • 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Side Rear View
  • 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Rear Side View
  • 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Rear View
  • 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Interior

2017 Lexus RC

  • 2017 Lexus RC Front View
  • 2017 Lexus RC Front Side View
  • 2017 Lexus RC Side Front View
  • 2017 Lexus RC Side View
  • 2017 Lexus RC Side Rear View
  • 2017 Lexus RC Rear Side View
  • 2017 Lexus RC Rear View
  • 2017 Lexus RC Interior

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