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Mercedes Preps the Next E-Class: A 500-Mile EV With Old-School Style and New-Age Tech

Mercedes-Benz is deep into development of the seventh-generation E-Class, an all-electric sedan slated to land in the UK in 2027—and positioned as the spiritual and literal successor to today’s EQE. Only this one promises real E-Class practicality, a 500-mile range, and a return to the classic three-box silhouette that Benz buyers have trusted for decades.

But here’s the twist:
Mercedes isn’t replacing the current E-Class. It’s doubling down.

Two E-Classes, One Strategy

The brand’s new split lineup—previewed with the GLC EQ—means the electric E-Class will be sold alongside a heavily refreshed version of the existing sixth-gen model. Same badge. Similar styling. Completely different bones.

Why blur the lines? Simple: the EQE was too weird. Launched in 2022, it never resonated with traditional E-Class customers, who found it a little too moon-lander, not enough Stuttgart sedan. So Mercedes is scrapping the EQE nameplate and rebuilding the electric executive car to look, feel, and function like the E-Class people actually want.

Bigger Platform, Bigger Space

Underneath the crisp, conventional proportions is Mercedes’ new MB.EA platform, shared with the upcoming electric C-Class and GLC EQ. The architecture allows not just a longer wheelbase—internally described as “very status-oriented”—but better interior packaging than today’s car. Expect more legroom, more headroom, and fewer compromises in trunk space, courtesy of a skateboard-style battery layout.

Prototypes caught by spy photographers show a sedan that’s unmistakably E-Class, just sharpened: stretched stance, broad shoulders, and a grille that takes cues from both the GLC EQ and the Vision Iconic concept. It’s bold by Mercedes standards—designed to make sure future EVs stand apart from a sea of wind-tunnel clones.

Electric Comfort, Benchmark Quiet

Mercedes is already boasting that the electric E will deliver benchmark refinement, with noise isolation and ride comfort aimed squarely at beating the Audi A6 E-tron and BMW i5. If the current S-Class is anything to go by, don’t bet against Stuttgart here.

Tech Leap: 800 Volts and Level 3 Autonomy

Compared with the EQE’s 400V electrical system, the new car steps up to an 800-volt architecture, unlocking:

  • 350 kW fast charging
  • Improved efficiency
  • Lower cooling demands
  • Compatibility with Mercedes’ latest driver assistance suite
  • Optional Level 3 hands-free driving (in markets that allow it)

CEO Ola Källenius calls the jump a “significant technological step”—and given the EQE’s relatively modest charging speeds, this one was overdue.

Powertrains and Range

Expect both single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD configurations, mirroring the GLC EQ and next-gen C-Class EV. The battery lineup should also be shared, meaning the top-range variant will likely use the C-Class’s 94-kWh unit to deliver around 500 miles on the lenient European WLTP cycle.

Aerodynamics remain a priority. While early test mules wear open-spoke wheels, production models will switch to slicker, aero-optimized designs to push the drag coefficient toward the EQE’s slippery 0.22—even with the more traditional sedan shape.

One Body Style Only

Unlike the combustion E-Class, which will continue offering saloon and estate forms, the new electric model will launch as a sedan only. No wagon—at least not yet. (Yes, we’re disappointed too.)

2027: The Year of Two E-Classes

When it arrives, the electric E-Class won’t just replace the EQE—Mercedes plans to facelift the current E-Class heavily enough to visually align the pair. One platform for tradition. One for electrification. One badge to rule them both.

The strategy is bold, but logical: buyers still trust the E-Class name. And now, whether they want petrol or electrons, they won’t have to choose between familiarity and the future.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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BYD’s Party Trick Is Over: Rotating Screens Axed as Brand Prioritizes App Integration

For years, BYD’s rotating touchscreen felt like the perfect metaphor for the brand’s rise in Europe: quirky, confident, and not afraid to poke at the Tesla-inspired minimalism dominating the EV landscape. Spin the screen 90 degrees and—voilà—you had either tablet-like portrait real estate for maps or a widescreen display for entertainment and menus. It was a gimmick, sure, but a good one. And it helped BYD stand out.

Now it’s gone.

The Chinese automaker has confirmed it’s retiring the feature entirely as it doubles down on integrating third-party apps and universal software platforms across its lineup. The upcoming Atto 2 crossover is the first model to break with tradition, its 12.4-inch display fixed permanently in landscape mode. The rest of the range will follow.

From Headline Feature to Footnote

When BYD first hit European shores, the rotating screen was standard fare—even on budget entries like the £18,000 Dolphin Surf hatchback. It gave BYD’s cabins some character, especially compared to the spartan, screen-forward interiors of many EV competitors.

The brand’s pitch was simple:

  • Portrait mode for better navigation visibility ahead
  • Landscape mode for broader UI access while parked

And buyers liked the idea—at least in theory.

In practice? Not so much.

According to vice president Stella Li, customer enthusiasm didn’t translate into day-to-day use. “People love the rotating screens, but the usage is very small,” she told Autocar. More importantly, the feature was starting to clash with BYD’s new digital direction.

CarPlay Killed the Spin Star

Li confirmed that the tech roadmap for BYD now leans heavily on partnerships with giants like Google and Apple, and on expanding native support for the apps customers actually use. The Atto 2 will be the first BYD to offer both Apple CarPlay and Google compatibility straight out of the box.

And those platforms, Li suggests, put limits on BYD’s interior theatrics.

“If they want to give the best experience, then a rotating screen will limit their apps’ smoothness,” she said. A moving display complicates UI scaling, touch targets, and screen responsiveness—particularly in apps never designed for a spinning piece of hardware.

A New Era: Autonomous Driving First, Quirks Second

With BYD’s global ambitions widening, the company says it needs a more universal, predictable interface. That matters even more as it invests further in autonomous driving systems, where screen layout consistency is crucial for safety and compatibility.

“We want to make our platforms become more universal in order to fulfill the best experience,” Li said, adding that some partners—like Google—are “a little bit behind” on certain automotive integrations.

In other words: the cockpit needs to be ready for outside software, not built around BYD’s own showpieces.

What This Means for BYD

Losing the rotating screen won’t change the fundamentals of any BYD model, but it does symbolize the brand’s maturation. The early waves of European expansion leaned on clever touches and personality; the next phase appears to be about global tech alignment, autonomy, and platform stability.

It’s the difference between a brand trying to stand out—and one trying to scale.

And while the rotating display will be missed by fans of fun interior tech, BYD seems convinced the tradeoff is worth it.

After all, the best trick in a modern EV might not be a spinning screen at all—but a system that simply plays nice with the apps you already use.

Source: Autocar

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Lamborghini’s Holiday Gift Guide Brings V-12 Energy to Your Christmas Tree

If you think the holidays are all about quiet nights and cozy sweaters, Automobili Lamborghini would like a word. This year, Sant’Agata Bolognese is packaging the same cocktail of sharp edges, Italian swagger, and unfiltered adrenaline found in its supercars—and dropping it straight under the Christmas tree. Call it gifting with downforce.

Lamborghini’s seasonal lineup reads less like a traditional gift guide and more like a curated lifestyle manifesto. Every item—whether built, stitched, machined, or fragranced—leans into the brand’s obsession with design, performance, and the pure emotional jolt of speed.

For the Young (and the Young at Heart): Build a Legend, Brick by Brick

Lamborghini’s ongoing collaboration with LEGO delivers some of the most exciting miniature machinery you can park on a shelf. The LEGO Speed Champions Revuelto and Huracán STO capture the wild geometry of their full-size counterparts with uncanny accuracy, while the remote-controlled LEGO Technic Revuelto lets kids (and unapologetic adults) reenact hybrid-V12 fantasies across the living room floor.

And for budding engineers who consider a torque wrench a stocking stuffer, the Clementoni kits centered around the Urus and Huracán channel hands-on creativity. Think of them as early admission to Lamborghini Engineering 101.

For the Athletes: When Your Racing Spirit Doesn’t Turn Off

Supercar DNA doesn’t stop at four wheels. Lamborghini’s partnership with 3T injects raging-bull performance into gravel and road bikes, blending precision engineering with unmistakably Lamborghini aesthetics. Same obsession with lightweight materials. Same aggressive lines. Same energy—just now delivered through your calves and quads.

If your style skews sustainable, 24Bottles offers a special-edition line inspired by the Huracán Sterrato, geared toward hydration for those who consider “all terrain” a personal lifestyle choice.

And for upgrading your home base, Culti Milano’s Lamborghini fragrances—especially the new Grigio Vulcano—bottle the mood of a supercar lounge: dark, complex, and luxuriously assertive.

For the Style-Driven: Performance You Can Wear

Fashion collaborations are nothing new for Lamborghini, but this year’s pairings feel especially dialed in.

Macron’s activewear collection leans into the brand’s iconic color palette and sculptural lines, translating V12 aggression into gym-ready apparel.
Orlebar Brown, meanwhile, goes full Miami with beachwear inspired by shimmering coastlines, the Countach’s unapologetic angles, and the Revuelto’s futuristic posture.

For something more classic, Tod’s x Automobili Lamborghini serves up loafers and sneakers crafted with the kind of detail normally reserved for hand-stitched interiors. Slip them on and your outfit suddenly gains 100 imaginary horsepower.

For Audiophiles: Turn Volume Into Velocity

Two heavy hitters in the sound world bring Lamborghini intensity to the listening room.

Technics has created a bespoke turntable that marries precision engineering with Lamborghini’s signature design language.
Sonus faber counters with the Cremonese Ex3me – Automobili Lamborghini Edition, a loudspeaker engineered to deliver the auditory equivalent of a 200-mph tunnel run. High fidelity, high drama.

For the Eco-Conscious Enthusiast: Luxury, Responsibly Sourced

In a thoughtful nod to sustainability, Lamborghini’s collaboration with Cartiera transforms recovered leather and fabrics into wallets, key holders, smartphone cases, and tote bags—all stamped with the unmistakable shield. They’re stylish, practical, and carry the quiet confidence of upcycled Italian craftsmanship.

For the Devoted Fan: Sixty Years of Fury in Print

Rounding out the lineup is Automobili Lamborghini. Past. Present. Future., a photography-rich hardcover by White Star that traces six decades of engineering milestones, concept sketches, and design evolution. It’s the definitive gift for anyone who pronounces “super sports car” with an Italian accent—even if they don’t mean to.

Lamborghini isn’t just selling merchandise this holiday season—it’s selling emotion. Each collaboration extends the brand’s core philosophy: that speed, craft, and daring design should permeate everyday life, not just weekend track sessions.

So if you’re looking to ignite someone’s passion—or simply flex your gift-giving game—Lamborghini’s holiday lineup delivers enough style and horsepower to keep spirits revving well into the new year.

Source: Lamborghini

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