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2018 Mercedes Changes
  
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2018 Mercedes Model Changes

Just to keep everyone guessing, Mercedes tweaks its nomenclature... again. Now letter number combinations have a space between the lettered model name and the numbered suffix, i.e. E400 is now E 400.

Bookmark this page to keep abreast of all the Mercedes changes for the 2018 model year!

Edited 9/12/2017: CLS, C-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, S-Class.

Edited 12/26/2017: Teasers about 2019 G-Class.

AMG GT

2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster

The big news is a Roadster version of the GT joins the Coupe.

Other improvements: standard horsepower is up 13 to 469. Standard peak torque climbs to 465 pound-feet, up 22. AMG Ride Control suspension with adaptive shock absorbers is now standard.

The GT S is also more powerful: 515 horsepower and 494 pound-feet.

Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist is now standard on the Coupe.

B-Class Electric Drive

B-Class Electric Drive

Shorted out.

C-Class

Mercedes C-Class Sedan

A new 9-speed automatic is standard on the C 300 RWD or 4MATIC and the AMG C 43.

On the AMG C 43 and C 63 a new Track Pace App can record your track times and other performance statistics to an iPhone App for analysis. It can even include video from a GoPro camera.

Sun visors now have extensions to make blocking the sun further back easier.

Rear seat side airbags and a sunroof are now standard on the sedan. A backup camera is standard on the coupe.

A newly available smartphone integration package includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A heated steering wheel is optional, only on the C 300.

CLA

 Mercedes CLA

The 2018 CLA got refreshed bumpers, grilles, lights and fascia as well as a new interior for 2017. For 2018 merely a couple of special editions: CLA 250 Ice Edition and AMG CLA 45 Performance Studio Package.

CLS

The bargain basement CLS 400 is no more, so all CLS luxury coupe 4-doors (oxymorons supplied by Mercedes-Benz) are back to V8 power, only.

Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard.

Infrared night vision is no longer offered.

A fully redesigned CLS is on the way for the 2019 model year.

E-Class

Cabriolet

2018 Mercedes E400 Cabriolet

All-new for 2018, the Cabriolet comes in E 400 guise, only... at first. 369 horsepower from a 3.0 V6 and new in a first, the E 400 will offer 4MATIC all-wheel-drive. Among other new conveniences, the steering wheel features touch controls that can be manipulated with pinches and swipes. Reserve judgement until it can be determined that this doesn't strain driver attention.

To help make up for lapse in driver attention, options such as Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Distance Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, and finally, Active Emergency Stop Assist help make up the difference. The last one will detect if the driver hasn't been steering for a while, warn him, and then gradually bring the car to a complete stop if the driver doesn't actively steer.

Coupe

2018 Mercedes E400 Coupe

The sedan was all-new for 2017, the coupe carried over. Now the 2018 E-Class Coupe is all-new, following the road laid by the E-Class Sedan. Offered in one variant at the start, E 400, with the same engine as before (369 horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged V6), but a new 9-speed automatic with two more cogs than before.

The E 400 Coupe offers the same optional 4MATIC all-wheel-drive, blind spot warning, active steering assist, active distance assist DISTRONIC and every other thing as the E 400 sedan, minus the available 3-zone a/c and dual flap visors.

Sedan

2018 Mercedes E-Class Sedan

Backup camera and rear seat side impact airbags are now standard.

Three-zone climate control with separate rear fan and temperature control is now offered.

Wagon

2018 Mercedes E-Class Wagon

Rear seat side impact airbags are now standard.

Three-zone climate control with separate rear fan and temperature control is now offered.

G-Class

2018 Mercedes G550 4x4 Squared

Two solid axles, up to a 621-horsepower twin turbocharged V12. Why mess with perfection? No changes.

2019, however, will bring the first redesign since 2002. Among other things, the analog dash gauges will be replaced with a single, continuous LCD screen. Touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons will replace the conventional switches. Every interior seating dimension will increase, rear legroom by almost six additional inches.

The shape will remain a box and the headlights round.

GLA

2018 Mercedes GLA45

The 2018 Mercedes GLA also gets refreshed inside and out: new bumpers, fascias, grills, taillights, instrument cluster, etc. The optional bi-xenon lights have been replaced with LEDs; halogen reflectors are still standard. A new 360 degree camera system is optional with a birds-eye view among others available. A hands-free tailgate is now optional: kick your foot under the bumper and it will open or close.

The cargo area grows for 2018: 17.2 cubic feet (previously 14.9) or 43.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded (previously 41.8).

Other newly standard equipment: backup camera, front passenger 4-way power lumbar.

The GLA 45 continues with its 375-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, but its visuals get powered up (see picture above). Rear spoiler, front air dam, chrome front air splitter and other features scream boy racer. Just in case you need more cargo space than a Honda Civic Type R.

GLC

2018 Mercedes GLC63 S Coupe

A new Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 comes in three variants: GLC63, with the blocky regular body and a 469 horsepower 4.0-liter twin turbocharged V8, 9-speed automatic and 4MATIC all-wheel-drive; GLC63 Coupe, with the same powertrain, but in the swoopy "coupe" variant of the GLC, with less cargo capacity; and finally, GLC 63 S Coupe, with 503 horsepower. This marks the first "full" AMG treatment of the smallest Mercedes SUV (no the GLA doesn't count).

GLE

Mercedes GLE

The GLE300d diesel is gone (probably forever), the GLE 550e plug-in gas-electric hybrid that is two years old replacing it for good.

The GLE 400, with the mild-mannered (relatively) 329-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0 V6 is eliminated, effectively replaced by the AMG GLE 43 engine of the same displacement but more horsepower introduced for the 2017 model year. Speaking of more horsepower, the GLE 43 is bumped from 362 horsepower to 385.

The larger 13.8" front brakes from the AMG GLE 43 are now standard on the GLE 350.

GLS

Mercedes GLS

The GLS350d Diesel is cancelled.

Previously standard equipment is now optional: dual zone automatic climate control, third row power vent widows, heated and cooled front cup holders and 10-way power front passenger seat.

S-Class

The S-Class gets a facelift including new headlights, grille (last year's V12 grille), bumpers and taillights. New wheels, a new steering wheel and new upholstery choices round out the refresh. Maybach models get "MAYBACH" in chrome letters within the grille.

The S 450 is the new entry S-Class, carrying a 369-horsepower twin turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 and a nine-speed transmission. S 560 replaces the old S550, reflecting a 14 horsepower increase on essentially the same engine. The 560 should get higher fuel economy due to cylinder deactivation: it can run on as few as four cylinders while cruising.

AMG S 63 gets a tune-up: 603 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, by replacing the 5.5-liter twin turbo with a 4.0-liter with cylinder deactivation. A nine-speed automatic replaces the old seven-speed.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist are now standard.

DISTRONIC with Active Steering Assist is now optional. The system is improved, now utilizing the GPS to predict curves and adjust speed accordingly.

Among new features, one that sounds dubious: Touch Control Buttons on the steering wheel. Just when a feature is invented to keep the driver's attention on the road, its modified to distract him. These buttons respond to touch, swipes and controls the multimedia (radio).

The Maybach S 600 becomes the S 650 and gets the engine from the AMG S 65, with 621 horsepower from its 6.0-liter V12.

SL

Rearview parking camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard.

SLC

Mercedes SLC

RedAlert special additions get specific paint and trim. Blind Spot Assist standard on AMG SLC43.

 
 

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