Boasting two separate systems for keeping its occupants warm on even the coldest roof-down days, details of Mercedes' new E-Class Cabriolet have been released.
The four-seater, which goes on sale in March and which will be unveiled at the Detroit motor show next month, has a traditional-look fabric roof that opens or closes in 20 seconds and that can be operated on the move at speeds of up to 25mph.
Expected to cost from about £32,000, the new E-class includes both Airscarf and Aircap systems to make topless motoring more pleasurable – provided you specify the Cabriolet Comfort package.
Nicely mixing its metaphors, Mercedes claims that Aircap creates a "sea of warm air", by means of a wind deflector, a draught-stop between the rear seats and a net in the windscreen frame. The system pushes airflow above the occupants' heads and increases air pressure inside the car. The result? Less noise, making it easier to hear the stereo, or to talk.
Airscarf comprises neck-level heating vents built into the underside of the headrests to maintain a pre-set temperature in the cabin, in particular around the driver and passengers' necks and heads, enabling Mercedes to proclaim the car's "four seasons, four personalities" cachet.
Engines for the new Cabriolet include 220 (170bhp), 250 (204bhp) and 350 (231bhp) CDI BlueEFFICIENCY diesel units, 200 (184bhp), 250 (204bhp) and 350 (292bhp) CGI BlueEFFICIENCY petrol units, as well as a range-topping 388bhp petrol engine in the E500.
Mercedes claims its acoustic soft-top creates one of the "quietest interiors in the segment for four-seater premium cabriolets with a fabric roof". The car can also be put through an automatic car wash "without any hesitation".
"With a total thickness of 23.5mm, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the E-class Cabriolet is ideal for use in winter," says Mercedes.
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