Mercedes-Benz is unveiling the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class at the Brussels Motor Show in Brussels.

The new E-Class will be in the showrooms of Mercedes-Benz dealerships and company-owned sales and service outlets throughout Europe from mid-March.

The German maker says the car will contain a number of technological advances including the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control.

A 'multicontour' seat which automatically adapts to the current driving situation and an enhanced air suspension system also make their debut.

The striking twin headlamps, with which the E-Class first made its mark in 1995 to initiate a design trend, have been redesigned and slightly angled back, characterising the progressive, dynamic appearance of the front-end.

Mercedes says the new E-Class shows its dynamic character with outstanding agility, sportscar-like handling and superb cornering.

Mercedes-Benz also says it has increased ride comfort with an air suspension system, which uses state-of-the-art microelectronics to control both springing and damping.

Sensors monitor the road condition, driving style and loading of the saloon, ensuring that the system always selects the best possible shock absorber and spring settings.

In this way the new system resolves the previous conflict of aims between near-perfect suspension comfort and excellent handling dynamics, thereby meeting very varied customer requirements. This air suspension is standard equipment in the top-of-the-range E 500 V8 model, and is available for all other models in the new E-Class as an optional extra.

In addition to adaptive front airbags the new E-Class is for the first time equipped with two-stage belt force limiters and automatic weight classification for the front passenger. In combination with additional crash sensors these systems provide occupant protection which is even more precise and adapted to the specific accident situation.

Sidebags for the front seat occupants, large windowbags, high-performance belt tensioners, automatic child seat recognition and a rollover sensor are further components of the standard safety features.

Five different engines will initially be available for the new E-Class saloons -- three petrol engines with six and eight cylinders.

At a later date, the range of engines for the E-Class will be extended by a new, supercharged four-cylinder petrol unit and further CDI engines with four, six and eight cylinders.

The multicontour seat is equipped with several air chambers which automatically inflate and deflate according to the driving situation to offer the driver and front passenger the best possible lateral support.

The new E-Class replaces a preceding model whose average sales of more than 200,000 units per year made it the world's most successful luxury class saloon.

The proportion of this market segment accounted for by the E-Class is an average of 24 per cent, and in some countries even above 40 per cent.