Mercedes-Benz E500

The latest iteration of the venerable Mercedes-Benz E500 mid-size luxury car was introduced in 2003, as part of a general redesign of the E-Class vehicles. It essentially replaced the previous year's E430, which was powered by a 275-horsepower, 4.3-liter V8. The E500 improved upon that by offering a new 5.0-liter V8 engine, which Mercedes borrowed from its S-Class cars.

The new V8 produced 302 horsepower, and was linked to a five-speed automatic transmission with the Touch Shift feature, which enabled the driver to upshift and downshift by nudging the shift lever left or right.

The E500 benefited from a redesign of the E-Class for 2003. It featured a stronger body structure than previous E-Class models, making for a safer vehicle, although it weighed no more than the previous year's models. Styling updates for the E-Class in general included new headlights, an arched roof, gently flared wheel wells, and sleeker body lines, all of which were incorporated into the E500's design.

In 2004, Mercedes introduced an E500 wagon, which joined the sedan in the lineup. The wagon was quipped with the automaker's 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, which provided improved handling, stability, and traction in all types of driving conditions. It also came with third-row seating that folded down to provide additional cargo space.

In keeping with their status as the cream of the crop in the E-Class line, the E500 sedan and wagon were well-equipped with both luxury features and high-tech mechanical systems, including a self-leveling system, traction control, and an Electronic Stability Programming (ESP) anti-skid system. They also came with the automaker's TeleAid emergency communication and assistance program.

Other standard features included leather seats with power adjustment in the front, wood interior trim, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, multi-zone automatic climate control, dual front and side airbags, power windows, power exterior mirrors, cruise control, and an AM/FM audio system with a CD player.

A DVD-based navigation system was among the options for the E500 vehicles. Other options included Dynamic Drive seats that adjusted automatically to support the driver under heavy cornering, a twin sunroof with power sunshades, and a smart cruise control system that automatically adjusted the vehicles' speed to maintain a set distance from the car it followed.