The 4MATIC powertrain in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is one of the best-performing permanent all-wheel-drive systems on the market. The basic design concept, with the engine installed longitudinally and the integral transmission and transfer case unit, produces a compact, lightweight arrangement that minimises frictional losses, heralding a number of benefits compared to other passenger car systems with a transverse power unit and selectable 4x4. Fuel consumption, for instance, is a mere between 0.2 and 0.6 litres more per hundred kilometres than on a com-parable model with conventional drive, while vibration and acoustic comfort meet the high standards expected of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
