Mercedes E Superlight cuts almost half a ton off E-Class’ weight

Mercedes-Benz F125 Concept

Mercedes is known for making a car for every niche, unfilled niches and niches Mercedes has invented in the same way that Apple continues to pull off similar feats. In 2008, if the average consumer were asked if they wanted a huge iPhone that doesn’t make phone calls for more money (the iPad), they would have fired off a resounding no with a condescending chuckle.

Now, many love them; the situation is similar with the new Mercedes E Superlight. Mercedes has taken the reliably selling E-Class and reinvented it, shaving nearly a half a ton off the original curb weight. The cost for this fuel cell powered carbon fiber E is going to be somewhere between the CLS and the S-Class, so don’t expect them to grow on trees.

Cars such as the CLS and the Audi A7 are visually stunning to many, and this most likely translates to their success in ways that the rather foul BMW 5er GT has failed. This new Merc seems to accomplish similar feats if the artist’s rendition is any indication of things to come.

Technically what we are looking at is a four door coupe, which thanks to the carbon fiber, gets away without a B-pillar: think of the current E coupe or the W124 E coupe but with suicide rear doors and an airy feel with all windows rolled down.

When? you say, most likely by 2015, and by 2017 Mercedes expects to move 20,000 examples. Mercedes means for this to be the gateway drug into the fuel cell world; only time will tell as to the feasibility of this many fuel cell cars and of course fueling stations. The car may be beyond concept stage, but if Mercedes chooses to drop the fuel cell in favor of a traditional or hybrid system, it still should be a success given the aforementioned body style.

– By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: CAR