CGI appears at the end of the model designation of the four-cylinder engine for the new E-Class, signifying that Mercedes-Benz uses direct petrol injection for this powerplant - a technology which allows further advances when it comes to reducing petrol consumption.

Compared to conventional port injection, direct fuel injection allows higher compression and, therefore, improved thermodynamic efficiency, saving motorists money at the pump: the new four-cylinder direct-injection powerplant for the E-Class consumes up to 18 percent less fuel than the comparable engine installed in the previous model. In the E 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY model (135 kW), Mercedes-Benz has replaced the previous 4-cylinder KOMPRESSOR engine with a four-cylinder 1.8-litre unit yet still manages to increase torque by over ?? percent. This result reveals a further Mercedes strategy for the future: the use of turbochargers in small-displacement engines. Mercedes-Benz equips the E 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY model with a five-speed automatic transmission.

The E 300 and E 350 models are equipped with the six-cylinder powerplant developing 170 kW and 225 kW respectively, and providing a peak torque of 300 and 350 Nm from 3000 r/min.

The eight-cylinder unit in the E 500 model - the flagship powerplant in the new generation of Mercedes-Benz V engines - incorporates an extensive technology package to create a blend of high output and torque yield with exemplary refinement and effortlessly superior agility. The extent of the powerplant's capability is highlighted by the performance figures for the new top-of-the-range E-Class model, which is equipped with the 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission as standard: 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds.

Mercedes engineers use an intelligent valve-timing concept, achieving a level of progress that is a major factor behind the excellent torque and output characteristics. An optimum supply of fresh mixture for the cylinders is assured thanks to four-valve technology and, above all, continuously variable and continuous intake and exhaust camshaft adjustment. The valves are always opened at precisely the right moment in any driving situation, significantly improving the gas cycle in the combustion chambers and reducing energy losses.