CAR CRAZY

To have gone through 4 years of production, this must surely be a Benz that is totally different. What could be the new gadget’s found on this marvel of a car? Well to be realistic about the whole issue, there’s about 2,000 parts, which according to the people at Mercedes-Benz, are under the skin of this new beauty.

The cosmetics, suspension and brakes on this car were all revised to keep the much loved E-Class well in competition. The only thing that the new Mercedes-Benz E200 Kompressor doesn’t have is a new drive-train if compared to it’s bigger brother’s the E230 and E280.

The super-charger in this 1.8L four cylinder runs on a much higher boost instead and eventually it generates a considerable 184bhp @ 250Nm, that’s an increase of 21bhp @ 10Nm respectively. All this power is channeled through to the rear wheels via the existing five-speed automatic.

If you’re wondering, what’s it like, driving the new E200K? Well, if you put the increase in horsepower aside, the new Mercedes-Benz E200 Kompressor does not feel that much more alert of the mark compared to the previous one. The performance is perfectly adequate however, and as long as the engine isn’t revved till the last available revolution, the lack of refinement won’t rear it’s head, but drive-trains from rival luxury makes are slicker. That said, the E200K is a lot more agile as a luxury saloon, with a noticeably sharper and more feel-some steering. Good thing is, there’s no penalty on the originally supple ride.

Time to ask yourself if you should go out there and buy one? Why not, especially if you think the three-pointed star still has the appeal/image other brands can’t quite live up to. Though the drive-train is unchanged, other improvements have made the E200K a better drive, a weakness rivals seized on previously. And it looks a tad more interesting inside and out.