2013 Mercedes Benz E350 Review

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302 horsepower? Check. All-wheel drive? Check. Perfect combination for the winter storm we just had in the Northeast. We’ve been driving the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 for the past week and we have got to say — it’s a pretty awesome car. Granted, the vibrating steering wheel when you change lines without a signal or the seat belts that tighten when you turn on the car might scare you, but that’s all in the name of safety.

Our E350 had a 3.5L V6 producing 302 horsepower and 273 ft.-lbs. of torque, perfectly mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The suspension rode beautifully over bumps and hills, the turning circle was massive and the steering made it a real treat to drive. At almost 16 feet long, you knew you were riding in style.

If you’re a tall person like myself, you know that any passenger sitting behind the driver has to be a small child or very petite person. Not in the E350. Ample rear legroom allowed for a 6-foot tall passenger to sit behind me with room to spare. The options in our E350 included the Premium 1 package which comes with the Harmon Kardon audio system, iPhone connectivity, Sirius radio, heated seats and a backup camera with an amazingly clear picture, among other things.

Recommended? Absolutely. Much better than the 2011 E350 we’ve driven, which had the sport suspension and the smaller engine. The 2013 E350 is a great car for families and businessmen. Our test vehicle, with the Premium 1 package and 4MATIC system, had an MSRP of $55,900. Grade: A-

*During the coming days, we will be working on an appropriate rating system for our test drives.*

TRAILER REVIEW! Fast & Furious 6

Super Bowl Sunday left us with some memorable moments — partying with friends, watching the commercials and laughing at the blackout. But none left us more speechless than the first look of Fast and Furious 6 in the trailer they debuted during the big game. Remember at the end of Fast Five when Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) says to Toretto (Vin Diesel), “I’ll see you soon” and Toretto quips “Nah, you won’t”? Well, they’re back and within the first twenty seconds of the trailer, they’re seen in the same frame together.

The trailer starts off with some explosive action, where Hobbs is asking Toretto for his help. A team of people took down a military convoy, but Hobbs knows Toretto and his crew are not responsible for it. Who is a part of it will surprise you though — but to find out, you’re going to have to watch the trailer!

Throughout the whole trailer, all we see is massive amounts of speed, punches being thrown, cars being flipped, people getting shot, tanks crushing cars and a plane being pulled to the ground by an Alfa Romeo. Nothing has gotten us more excited before, and we can’t wait for the movie to come out!

Fast and Furious 6 comes out May 24, 2013. Check them out on Facebook and subscribe to them for awesome photos and updates about the movie: http://www.facebook.com/FastandFurious

The AUTOcracy

We are The AUTOcracy. Greg and David–two gearheads who are here to bring you the latest in automotive news, trends, test drives, shows and more. Both recent college graduates, we have been infatuated with the automotive scene since we could count our age on one hand. Having driven countless cars, attended many shows, read dozens of magazines and watched thousands of hours of automotive shows on TV–we will be your one stop source for anything automotive.

Questions? Email us at: theautocracyblog@gmail.com

Accompanying post with what YOU want to know (what we drive, of course!) will be posted later this week.