Mercedes-Benz W210

The Mercedes-Benz W210 is an executive car which was produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz from 1995 through 2002 (production of the wagon variant (codenamed S210) carried over to the 2003 model year). They were sold under the E-Class model names in both sedan (saloon) and station wagon body types. In 1988, W210 development started 3 years after the W124's introduction. The W210 E-class appearance, which was designed by Steve Mattin under design chief Brüno Sacco between 1989 and 1991, heralded a brand new design idiom for the Mercedes 'face', which would continue until the C209 CLK. This design cue was previewed on the 1993 Coupé Concept shown at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1993. This idiom was the mainstream fashion used by Mercedes-Benz for a long period, and later appeared on other models such as the CLK (C208, C209), C-class (W203), CL (C215), and the SL (R230). When the CLK was replaced, it had been 14 years since this characteristic twin-headlamp design was introduced. Design patents for both the Coupé Concept and the W210 E-Class were filed on February 25, 1993 in Germany and August 25, 1993 in the US.

On July 21, 1998, design patents were filed on an updated W210 (designed in 1997). As a result, for the 2000 model year, a new multi-function information system was incorporated into the instrument cluster below the speedometer, and the introduction of steering wheel controls for the audio/navigation/phone system. In addition, the 5-speed automatic transmission introduced "Tiptronic," which used the +/- gate positions for manual control of the gearbox allowing the driver to pre select gears as one would do with a manual gearbox. Exterior changes included a revised front with a steeper rake, similar to the CLK, and restyled bumpers and lower body trim. The final W210 production included the E320 and E430 special editions released in two exterior colors - quartz silver (limited edition), obsidian black, and with Xenon lights, 17-inch alloy wheels and black maple walnut trim.