Spy Shots: Long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz E Class spotted getting ready for China
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/spyphotos/" rel="tag">Spy Photos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/china/" rel="tag">China</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="www.chinacartimes.c om/2010/03/22/beijing-benz-to-launch-chinese-built-e300l-l-is-for-lengthened/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/streched-mercedes-eclass2-250op.jpg" alt="" /></a>The Chinese market has always had a penchant for stretched-wheelbase versions of luxury sedans, adding a bit of wheelbase to everything from <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/buick/">Buicks</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/volvo/">Volvos</a> to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw/">BMWs</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/audi/">Audis</a>. The most recent vehicle to go on the rack is the 2010 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/e-class">Mercedes-Benz E-Class</a>. Apparently the Benz is lagging a bit in the sales department, trailing even Audi, a company it usually bests handily.<br />
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For that reason, China Car Times is reporting that <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/mercedes-benz/">Mercedes</a> is planning on giving the E-Class some "Chinese characteristics." Beijing-Benz is said to be readying a Chinese-built E300L, pictured here. Audi has had a lot of success in China with its recently introduced <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/17/audi-intros-long-wheelbase-a4-for-china/">A4L</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/20/audi-gives-backseat-passengers-more-entertainment-in-shanghai/"> A6L</a>, while BMW has already released a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/big-stretch-bmw-reveals-long-wheelbase-5-series-for-china-w-vi/">lengthened 5 Series</a> and is said to be planning a similarly elongated 3 in the near future. Being chauffeur driven is a sign of wealth in China, so having a mini limo shows status, hence the longer-wheelbase versions of luxury sedans being so popular. But just like the A4L and stretched 5er, there's no chance that the E-Class L will make it to the States.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.chinacartimes.com/2010/03/22/beijing-benz-to-launch-chinese-built-e300l-l-is-for-lengthened/">China Car Times</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/spy-shots-long-wheelbase-mercedes-benz-e-class-spotted-getting/">Spy Shots: Long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz E Class spotted getting ready for China</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/spy-shots-long-wheelbase-mercedes-benz-e-class-spotted-getting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19426752/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/spy-shots-long-wheelbase-mercedes-benz-e-class-spotted-getting/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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