According to a document sent to the EPA, the new wagon is confirmed for the 2024 model year.
A document sent by Mercedes-Benz to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed the arrival of three new models for the 2024 model year, with one being a delightful surprise. Those models are a new E-Class wagon based on the all-new W214-generation E-Class that was recently revealed, as well as coupe and convertible variants of the new CLE with various powertrain choices.
The document was first spotted by Car and Driver, and it's the confirmation that a new E-Class wagon was coming that struck us as happy news. After all, wagons are less popular in this SUV-mad age.
As with the outgoing car, the new wagon will be another E-Class All-Terrain, which means it will come with a slightly raised suspension and some rugged body styling.
We can also see that this wagon will be an E450, which means it will likely share the 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid assistance that develops 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque in the 2024 E450 Sedan. The brand's 4Matic all-wheel-drive system and a nine-speed automatic transmission should be standard. The All-Terrain will likely have all the other available goodies found in the new E-Class, such as up to five interior cameras for features like TikTok and Zoom video calls.
An Off-Road driving mode, as found on the current All-Terrain wagon, will help the driver navigate slippery or loose surfaces, and hill descent control should also be standard. It would have been nice to see a new E-Class wagon in standard form and without any off-road pretensions, but that seems unlikely.
Hopefully, an AMG E63 S wagon isn't off the table, as the outgoing version remains one of the quickest wagons on the planet. The spy shots above are of the new E53, which was spotted being tested earlier this year.
As for the CLE twins, we've known for a while that they will replace the C-Class and E-Class coupe/convertible models as part of the manufacturer's desire to streamline its lineup. As with the E450 All-Terrain, both CLEs will come in 450 guise, so they could have the same outputs. Being smaller vehicles than the wagon, they should be pretty quick, though.
There will also be a base CLE 300 in convertible and coupe flavors, and these models should inherit the 2.0-liter turbo-four from the C300 sedan, which makes 255 hp and 295 lb-ft, also with mild-hybrid assistance. Most intriguingly, there will be an AMG CLE 53 as well, with a 3.0-liter turbo-six. In the current AMG 53 sedan, outputs are 429 hp and 384 lb-ft. We also expect to see a full-fat AMG CLE 63, but based on the information in this document, that will probably only arrive in 2024 as a 2025 model.
While it's hard to get used to the extreme downsizing engine trend at Mercedes, at least the company is still investing in body styles other than crossovers.
Keyword: New Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Will Keep Wagons Alive In America