Mercedes unveiled the E-Class for the first time back in the 1977 (W123). Since then the E-Class got several body shapes and different engines and power. The last facelift was unveiled in 2006. Comparing to this one, the 2009 E-Class will be exactly as long as the old one, but the wheelbase will gain 20 mm. The 2009 E-Class will have a more aggressive look as a result of the design cues taken from the CLS-Class. The glass surfaces will get smaller and the flank of the car will suffers from the usual creeping up of sheet metal. The wheels will be at least 18". An important change will be the shape of the 4 headlights: no more will they be round, they will be shaped like squarish teardrops.

Codenamed the W212, the saloon could get similar wheel arches to its S-Class sibling, as well as the same rising character line below the door handles to give it a sporty stance. The highly sculpted grille and air intakes on the front look wider than the current model. The E-Class should be the next model out of Stuttgart to gain access to the technology showcased in the new S-Class range when it was released last year. That means we might see the new mid-sized saloon and wagon include driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, Night View Assist night-vision system and an enhanced Pre-safe crash avoidance system. Other possibilities are a lane-departure warning system, eye-movement monitor, traffic sign identification and road-condition sensors.

The basic power plant will consist of four-cylinder engines with the horsepower rating starting at 175 bhp. The V6 and V8 engine will also be available delivering from 136 hp to 514 hp. The W212 will be electronically limited to 155 mph and will make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 6.5 seconds. An E63 AMG model will be also unveiled powered by a normally aspirated, 500-plus-bhp 6.3-litre V8 engine. All the models will come standard with six-speed manual transmission and the 7-speed automatic will come as an option. Mercedes will abandon SBC in favor of conventional brakes, although they will boast features such as wet-weather disc wiping and wheel-selective cornering brake control. Optional ceramic-composite discs could be introduced top-down, starting with the AMG models.