Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain 4×4² – Engineers gone slightly mad

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Great projects are born from madness! Jürgen Eberle has put his wildest dreams into the E-Class All-Terrain and installed portal axles, a 1.5-inch suspension lift and gigantic tires on it. And this is how the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain 4×4² came into the world.

The portal axles are the company’s pride and joy, fitted in the G500 4×4² and in the totally insane 6×6. The choice was made in order to give the vehicle some extra ground clearance and apparently, it turned out too much, as it got some 16 inches (40 centimeters, from the standard 16 of the E-Class All-Terrain), proudly standing higher than even the Mercedes G500 4×4². Six months ago when he started the project, Eberle initially lifted the car by just 40 millimeters, but still thought it wasn’t enough. He called in some colleagues from Mercedes-Benz, asked his managers for a budget and this is how it turned out.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain 4x4² (9)

For the off-road toy, the fun begins where the road ends. Auto Bild claims that the results determine an approach and departure angles of 35.8, 35.6 degrees, respectively, stellar figures for the extreme off-roaders. The figures translate into easily going over enormous rocks, fallen trees, rivers and other kinds of obstacles that it may come across. It seems unbeatable and unstoppable.

Well, ground clearance, huge carbon fiber fender flares and an almost 8-inch wider track can tell lies in terms of capabilities, because Jurgen Eberle has failed to fit in the E-Class All-Terrain 4×4² locking differentials and a low-range gearbox, while the independent suspension doesn’t seem able to stretch enough to keep those gigantic 31-inch tires on the ground, so they lift up in the air one by one. So the there is a limit defined on how far the vehicle can venture into the off-road.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain 4x4² (3)

Inside, the extremely big-footed E is just like any other Benz: you get the ventilated leather seats with massage programs, the 12.3-inch displays and the precious aluminium.

The off-road E toy-concept is powered by a 3.0-liter turbo petrol V6 engine with 328 horsepower, borrowed from the E400 wagon, the only in the range not sporting a diesel engine.

Will the concept ever turn into a production series model? Considering that it comes from the company that built the outrageous G500 4×4² and the 6×6, never say never!