MONTVALE, N.J. — Mercedes-Benz will set a new standard for luxury wagons with the new E320 wagon, which integrates the dynamic look of the highly acclaimed Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan with a sleek yet practical wagon body. With the safety, performance, luxury, ride, and handling that have made the E-Class sedan line such a tremendous success, the E320 wagon is like a sport sedan with room for seven. The E-Class wagon features a folding third-row seat as standard equipment.

Mercedes-Benz first offered a luxury wagon in this segment more than 20 years ago, and finds these buyers among its most loyal. Today, the global presence of Mercedes-Benz gives the company the flexibility to offer both a sport-utility vehicle, the M-Class, and a luxury wagon. Mercedes expects to sell about 35,000 M-Class All-Activity Vehicles in the U.S. annually, and about 3,500 E320 wagons. The dynamic new wagon has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $46,500.

Wagon buyers seeking the maximum safety for their families will find it in the Mercedes E320. All 1998 Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles come equipped with ABS anti-lock brakes, dual front airbags and door-mounted side airbags. In the E320 wagon, there is a three-point seatbelt for each of the seven seating positions.

The Mercedes E320 wagon comes standard with Brake Assist, the only safety system in the world that can actually shorten stopping distances in emergency braking situations. Brake Assist can detect an emergency or "panic" stop by how quickly the brake pedal is applied. With lightning speed, the system applies full braking force faster than a driver could.

Mercedes-Benz urges all owners with children under 12 years old to put them in the back seat. However, because there may be times when this is not an option, the E320 wagon comes with the BabySmart™ automatic child seat recognition system.

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BabySmart uses transponder technology to deactivate the front passenger-side airbag in the presence of a BabySmart-compatible infant, toddler or child booster seat (available from Mercedes-Benz dealers). The system does not require a battery or power hookup, and there is no switch for the driver to push.

For safe driving in slippery weather, ASR traction control is standard on all E-Class models. This sophisticated system detects when one rear wheel is spinning faster than the other and selectively applies the brake to that wheel to restore straight-line stability and traction. Should braking action not be enough, ASR can reduce engine power by backing off the electronic throttle more quickly than the driver can react to do so.

The extraordinary Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which is available for under $1,000 on all E-Class models, can detect an impending spin or slide and apply selective braking on any of the four wheels to keep the car going where the driver is pointing it.

The new Mercedes E320 wagon is equally adept at carrying people, cargo, or both. With the standard third seat row folded, there’s nearly 44 cubic feet of cargo space. With the middle and rear seat rows folded, the space expands to a cavernous 83 cubic feet — more than any other luxury wagon. Room is not sacrificed to carry the standard full-size spare tire, which is mounted inside the car under a cover on the left side of the cargo area.

Careful attention has been paid to making the spacious cargo area versatile and convenient. The middle seat row features a 60/40 split, and the cushions fold forward and can be removed. Removing the right side cushion and folding the front passenger seat forward creates a useful and virtually flat load surface nearly 10 feet long. Overall, the E320 wagon is only 0.6-inches longer than the E-Class sedan.

Operating the tailgate is made easy by a handle below the license plate, fully cladded gas-pressure springs and a power-assisted closing feature. The rear load height is just 22 inches. The standard aluminum roof rails offer sturdy support for the available roof rack system, which can accommodate a variety of objects, including bicycles, skis or a cargo carrier. For added convenience, the rear cargo area features an integrated retractable cargo net and luggage cover, twin retractable cupholders and a 12-volt power outlet. An intermittent rear wiper and heated washer are standard, aiding rearward visibility.

The Mercedes E320 wagon is powered by a new-generation 3.2-liter V6 engine that’s more powerful, more responsive and more fuel-efficient than the inline six-cylinder engine used in the previous-generation (1995) E320 wagon. The new wagon can sprint from 0-60 miles per hour in under eight seconds, yet it returns an admirable 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 27 miles per gallon on the highway (EPA ratings).

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Perhaps more important for the wagon driver is the outstanding low-end and mid-range torque from the new V6 engine. Maximum torque of 232 lbs.-ft. is available from 3,000 rpm-4,600 rpm, which ensures confident and safe freeway merging. Just as significant, 85 percent of peak torque is available at just 2,000 rpm, translating into responsive around-town driving.

Sequential fuel injection and electronic "drive-by-wire" throttle control ensure quick response to accelerator pedal, and a balance shaft ensures smooth operation. The advanced three-valve (two intake/one exhaust), twin-sparkplug cylinder head design is key to reducing emissions by up to 40 percent, especially at startup.

In addition to outstanding performance and lower emissions, the new V6 was designed with reduced operating costs in mind. The platinum-tipped sparkplugs were designed to last 100,000 miles, and a new Flexible Service System (FSS) monitors stresses on the engine oil to determine optimal service interval. The system can tell the difference, for example, between urban driving and highway driving. The minimum service interval is now 10,000 miles (up from 7,500 miles), and FSS will allow as much as 20,000 miles between oil changes. The driver is alerted to the service interval by an instrument panel indicator.

The new Mercedes V6 is teamed to the company’s electronic five-speed automatic transmission that adapts to an individual’s driving style as well as to changes in road grade (delaying upshifts on ascents for climbing power and downshifting on descents for engine braking). The transmission computer adjusts shifting logic for leisurely driving with smooth upshifts for the best fuel efficiency. A driver who frequently encounters highway merging, on the other hand, will find the transmission holds each gear longer for quick acceleration.

The double wishbone front suspension and five-link rear suspension are shared with the Mercedes E320 sedan. Standard automatic rear level control allows the wagon to carry heavy loads without compromising the car’s ride and handling characteristics, and also keeps the headlights level for maximum visibility and safety. Xenon gas discharge high-intensity headlamps are available as an option.

For unparalleled grip in poor weather, the Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon offers a new all-wheel-drive option. This new full-time system uses a 35/65 front-rear torque split and requires no driver intervention. Advanced four-wheel electronic traction control is used to very torque distribution to individual wheels under slippery conditions. Even if three wheels lose traction, the Mercedes all-wheel-drive system can direct power to just one wheel, front or back, left or right, to keep the car moving. The all-wheel-drive system is also available for the E320 sedan, and it retails for $2,750 on both models.

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To the driver, the E320 all-wheel-drive system remains transparent in operation, and even the turning radius is identical to the rear-wheel-drive version. The system is light (under 200 pounds and offset by the reduced engine weight) and compact, so passenger and cargo space are not affected. For the ultimate in vehicle control, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) can be combined with the all-wheel-drive option on the both the E320 wagon and sedan.

The lengthy list of standard features for the E320 wagon leaves no doubt that this is a luxury vehicle. The E320 wagon includes automatic dual-zone climate control, 10-way power front seats and head restraints, one-touch (up and down) power windows, power tilt and telescoping steering column, three-position memory (for the front seats, mirrors and steering wheel), genuine burl walnut interior trim, integrated HomeLink^® compatible three-button garage door opener and high-performance eight-speaker cassette audio system.

For cold weather, the climate control system can recirculate warm air through the interior for up to 30 minutes while the car is parked. Auto-dimming rearview and driver’s side mirrors are standard, making night-time driving safer and more comfortable. Reflecting the more rugged use that many wagons endure, the durable MB-Tex upholstery and trim is standard for the E320 wagon. Leather upholstery and trim is optional, as is a Bose^® high-end sound system.

Automatic rain sensor windshield wipers, first introduced on the S-Class models, are optionally available for the E320 wagon. This system uses a light-emitting diode (LED) to measure rain intensity on the windshield to regulate wiper speed according to rainfall intensity. The optional Parktronic system, also first introduced on the 1997 S-Class line, uses sound waves to detect unseen obstacles in front of and behind the car, warning the driver with visual and audible signals. Parktronic can detect children’s toys in the driveway, pets, high curbs, shrubs and even children.

Mercedes-Benz is advancing the science of auto theft prevention with a new system called SmartKey, standard on many models, including the E320 wagon. The key fob contains a radio-frequency unit to lock and unlock the doors, and a separate system to start the car. However, there is no conventional ignition key that could be illegally copied. Instead, when the driver inserts the pointed tip of the key fob into the "key" portal and turns it, an infrared data exchange unlocks steering column and engages the starter motor.

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For maximum security, the code needed to start the car is changed each time the car is used. Convenience features include selectable locking (driver’s door and fuel flap or all doors), a trunk release and a "panic" button. Drive-away locking locks the doors and trunk as the car moves away from a stop. A metal key hidden inside the unit can be used to lock the glovebox and trunk before turning the car over to a valet.

All 1998 Mercedes-Benz models come with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty, which includes tires, batteries and adjustments for the full coverage period. In addition, all Mercedes cars, regardless of model year, are covered by the 24-hour Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance program. This peace of mind can include a free jump start, mounting the spare tire or a few gallons of fuel, even for those driving a decades-old Mercedes.

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