adoreble fashionable: Mercedes E-Class

If there's one thing we know about German tuners is that they sure love kitting out the domestic market premiums. ATT-TEC's latest object of tuning affection is the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, for which the company has created a new body kit. Priced at a hefty €6,452 or about US$9,250, the aero pack consists of a front grille, side skirts, new front and rear bumpers as well as a new set of exhaust tips and side air-vents.

Add another €3,869 or US$5,550, and ATT-TEC will throw in a set of 20-inch alloy rims shod in high-performance Hankook rubber size 245/30ZR20 or 285/25 ZR20.

And if that ain't enough, buyers may also opt to enhance the interior as well as the E-Class' suspension and engine with numerous performance upgrades.

For those of you that fancy a topless E-Class, Mercedes-Benz has revealed a convertible version of the coupe that will make its world premiere at next month's Detroit auto show. The fourth member of the E-Class family, which essentially replaces the CLK Cabriolet, features a classic fabric soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds at speeds up to 40km/h or 25mph.

Mercedes says that E-Class Convertible's boot capacity with the roof open is 300 liters (13.5 cu.ft.) , raising to 390 liters (13.8 cu.ft.) when closed.

The most significant new feature for the four-seater cabriolet is the AIRCAP system that consists of two components, a wind deflector on top of the windscreen that can be extended by around six centimetres or 2.5 inches and a draught-stop between the rear seats.

As well as reducing wind turbulence in the cabin, Mercedes says that the system also reduces the interior noise level. The AIRCAP can be activated at speeds of up to 160 km/h and remains in use right up to the car's top speed.

Other highlights include the redesigned AIRSCARF system that is integrated into the backrests of the front seats and provides warm air through outlets in the head restraints.

All E-Class Convertible models are equipped with seven airbags fitted as standard and a roll-over protection system that consists of two bars, each with a diameter of 35 mm, which are housed in the rear head restraints in modules behind the rear seat backrests.

At least in Europe, there are plenty of direct-injection engines to choose from, ranging from a 204HP four-cylinder diesel (to be followed shortly after launch by a 170HP E220 CDI model) to a 388HP V8 petrol. Here's the complete range: