First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E Class Cabriolet

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The Anti-Convertible

Mercedes' latest four-seat cabriolet attempts to eradicate that wind-in-your-hair feeling from open-air cars

By John LeBlanc MALLORCA, Spain - When was the last time you felt that cherished "wind in your hair" feeling? My guess, not recently. The desire to save our precious craniums means no one rides a bike in the summer or skates at the local rink in the winter without some kind of CSA-certified protection covering our noggins. And with air conditioning a "must have" in any new car, driving with the windows down is becoming a thing of the past. In today's safety-conscious and climate-controlled world, opportunities are few and far between to have your follicles tussled. But it's exactly these uncontrolled circumstances, experienced firsthand here in Mallorca via some of the older cabriolets Mercedes rolled out from its heritage collection, that make convertibles so desirable.  Open-air car occupants get to experience the elements (the scents, the heat, the breeze) and nature (look at that mountain! look at those stars!) they can't otherwise access in a fully enclosed vehicle. But some convertible customers -- especially those with expensive hairdos -- don't necessarily want the extra rush of air supplied with top-down rides. What they want are the experiences of open-air motoring, without all that messy hair. Cue the new 2011 Mercedes-Benz E Class Cabriolet and its promise of open-air motoring for four passengers, all year round. The German automaker is introducing several new technologies to make the E convertible's cockpit more temperate when its traditional cloth top is down, whether it's a chilly winter morning or a humid summer afternoon. To achieve this, Mercedes is introducing what it calls Aircap, an electronically operated air deflector that raises from the top of the E Cabriolet's windshield header. Helping out with open-air climate control is a draft-stop between the rear seat headrests, which handily does away with those annoying fold-up mosquito screen wind-blockers that block off rear-seat access, and are as easy to erect as a $50 pup tent; the Airscarf system which blows hot air onto passengers' necks and shoulders through a vent in the seat headrest; plus heated and cooled seats. Although it sounds gimmicky, Aircap is the most interesting new feature of the newest member of the E-Class clan that has already seen the introduction of the sedan, coupé, and wagon that's coming in July. When Aircap is activated, a bi-plane spoiler raises from the upper most edge of the windshield frame. Its design changes the flow of air; instead of entering the cabin, it's pushed up and over the passenger cabin. With the wind deflector permanently located between the rear headrests and all four windows raised, driving with the E Cab's top down on the back island roads of Spain's Mediterranean coast was enjoyable, exceptionally quiet, and free of any unwanted wind gusts. With less air intrusion, Mercedes says the climate-control system has an easier time keeping the cabin at the right temperature. And, of course, if you do want to mess up your hair, power down the windows and don't deploy the Aircap spoiler. During our two-day test, it was a comfortable 16 to 21 C and sunny, so a proper Canadian winter testing of Mercedes' "four-season convertible" claim is still on the to-do list. As slick and efficient as Aircap and its ancillary helpers are, the system isn't perfect. Between the Aircap's horizontal fins is a mesh screen. After only a few hours of driving, it quickly filled up with insects and bugs, which, now deceased, promptly fell on the windshield when the system lowered into its resting place. Aesthetically, the Aircap hardware looks odd in use. Total, buffet-free motoring is also relative to your height. Anyone over six feet will have their head pop up into the airflow. Maybe Mercedes should add ball caps to the standard equipment list ... While the E-Class Cabriolet's cocooning cabin may be considered revolutionary, the rest of the new convertible will feel familiar as it's based on the existing E Coupé. Launched last year, it is rides on a lengthened version of the C-Class chassis, wrapped in styling that mimics the bigger E-Class. Four-seat luxury convertible rivals include the smaller and sportier BMW 3 Series Cabriolet, Infiniti G37 Convertible, Volvo C70, and the more luxury-oriented Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet and Lexus IS-C. Like its Coupé counterpart, the E Cabriolet is the roomiest among its peers. Bucking the trend towards folding metal hardtops like Audi, Mercedes has stuck with a traditional cloth top, enhanced with an "acoustic" lining to reduce noise. As such, its trunk can hold up to 390 litres of weekend getaway paraphernalia -- better than all of the abovementioned rivals. In Europe, Mercedes fits seven different gas and diesel engines in its E Class convertibles, including a diesel that sips a hybrid-like combined city-highway rating of 5.4 L/100 km. In Canada, though, customers in this segment want power and performance. (Save the planet? Pah! That's for the neighbours with the Prius.) So as per the E Coupé, there will be a pair of gas engines: the E350 with a 268 hp 3.5-litre V6, and the E550 powered by Mercedes' ubiquitous 382-hp 5.5-litre V8. A seven-speed automatic is the only transmission choice Except for the convertible bits, the E Cabriolets will be equipped almost identically (i.e. loaded) to the Coupés. An AMG-designed Dynamic Handling Package which includes spiffy looking alloy wheels and a firmer suspension setup is standard. Sadly, no word yet on the 6.2-litre AMG V8. Canadian pricing for 2011 E-Class Cabriolet hasn't been released yet. When they go on sale later this spring, expect a $7,000 to $10,000 premium over the $58,600 E350 and $68,200 E550 Coupés. Our seat time in Canadian-bound E Cabs was limited to the top-line E550 model, distinguished by its trapezoidal twin tailpipes - the E350 has oval ones. Needless to say, it drove pretty much the same as an E550 Coupé. Along the twisty roads just outside the city of Palma, the Cabriolet was composed and stable. And the burble from the V8 is a joy. But it's not the sort of car that goads aggressive drivers to push the car's handling limits. Though capable of being hustled, the steering lacks life, the ESP kicks in too eagerly and the V8 and gearbox are slow to come to an agreement. The similarly priced BMW M3 convertible or $10,000 less expensive Audi S5 Cabriolet are more engaging rides. What those Teutonic rivals can't deliver on, though, is the new E-Class Cabriolet's higher levels of room, comfort, and refinement. And maybe more importantly for some of the Benz convertible's customers, winning the battle against bad hair days. 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet Est. base price: $66,600 Type of vehicle: RWD, luxury convertible Engine: 3.5L, 24-valve DOHC V6 Power/Torque: 268 hp / 258 lb.-ft. Transmissions: Seven-speed automatic Fuel consumption (city/hwy., est): 11.9 / 7.6 L/100 km Competition: Audi A5 Cabriolet, BMW 3 Series Cabriolet, Infiniti G37 Convertible, Lexus IS Convertible, Volvo C70 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet Est. base price: $78,200 Type of vehicle: RWD, luxury convertible Engine: 5.5L, 32-valve DOHC V8 Power/Torque: 382 hp / 391 lb.-ft. Transmissions: Seven-speed automatic Fuel consumption (city/hwy., est): 14.0 / 8.7 L/100 km Competition: Audi S5 Cabriolet, BMW M3 Cabriolet PREVIEW SUMMARY PROS Available wind-free, top-down motoring Refined and expensive feeling Class-leading trunk space and cabin CONS Rivals are more sporting Is Aircap tech overkill? Where's the diesel model?

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