Mercedes-Benz’s embargo of the 2011 E-Class Cabriolet has been officially broken ahead of its official debut next month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. A svelte drop-top companion to the E-Class range, the Cabriolet will initially be offered with two engine configurations.
Bigger and more elegantly styled than the outgoing CLK convertible, the E-Class Cabriolet features a traditional cloth softop rather than the folding metal roof that is en vogue on many of its rivals. The roof is thickly insulated, according to Mercedes-Benz, to allow for Bluetooth phone conversations at high speeds with the roof up, and it retracts or raises in less than 20 seconds at speeds up to 25 mph.
The E-Class Cabriolet will be offered in both V6 E350 and V8-powered E550 variants when it goes on sale in May of 2010.
Both engines will be mated to seven-speed automatic transmissions. The E350 gets a 268 horsepower, 258 lb-ft. of torque 3.5-liter V6, while the E550 receives Mercedes’ 382-horsepower, 391 lb-ft. of torque 5.5-liter V8.
With a coefficient of drag of just 0.25, the E-Class Cabriolet is the most aerodynamic offering in its class. The body is clearly derivative of the E-Class Coupe, but some changes were made to the rear to accommodate the unique trunk panel.
Inside, the E-Class Cabriolet is again almost identical to its coupe brother. The AIRCAP automatic draft stop system, which debuts in the E-Class Cabriolet, uses a wind deflector and a draft-stop mounted behind the rear seats to dramatically decrease windflow in the cabin when the windows are up to ensure an undisturbed driving experience. Mercedes’ heated AIRSCARF neck-level heating system also makes an appearance in the E-Class Cabriolet.