We caught this lightly masked 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class driving around not-so-sunny southern California. Even in the smoggy light, we can see most of the car's revised shape.
The new E will adopt the snub-nose look seen on the latest C-class and will carry a wider grille flanked by new quad headlamps. Many of the current car's rounded edges have been squared off, and there is now a sharp crease running through the door handles. Other hints of the S- and C-class can be seen through the camouflage as well.
We expect engines to include a direct-injection V-6 in the E350, the E550's 5.5-liter V-8, as well as the top-dog E63 AMG's 6.2-liter V-8. A Bluetec diesel will continue to be offered, and a hybrid model is also rumored, using either a small gasoline or diesel engine.
Though the new E-class won't be unveiled until next year, Mercedes has offered images of a shooting brake concept that will be shown in Paris this fall. The ConceptFASCINATION design study gives a clearer look of the front-end styling that will grace the E-class sedan as well as the CLK replacement, which will be renamed E-class coupe. We should see the production E sedan at the 2009 Geneva motor show.