This Mercedes has eyes on you, says RAY MASSEY

Smile. Your next new Mercedes-Benz is blessed with a plethora of cameras, including a selfie feature, so you can be beaming your heroics on social media in no time.

The new E-Class’ central display entertainment system has the option of a smart, wide, digital dashboard super screen, with pre-loaded apps such as Angry Birds, Zoom and, more controversially, China’s TikTok, widely banned due to security fears .

In addition, Attention Assist uses a camera in the driver display to check if the driver is getting drowsy or off the road and warns them.

Half of the six powertrains offered are green petrol plug-in electric hybrids.

The executive car is the latest version of an upper mid-range model whose name dates back to 1993, but whose origins go back many decades.

Of the six 2-litre turbocharged engine combinations offered at launch, one (E200) is a 204 PS petrol mild hybrid (0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds to a top speed of 240 km/h), and two are diesel mild hybrids (E220d and E220d 4Matic all-wheel drive), supported by an integrated starter generator. The latter sprints from rest to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds.

The three plug-in hybrids consist of more powerful gasoline-electric combinations: an E300e (rest to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds to 230 km/h); a slightly slower E300e4Matic all-wheel drive; and the most powerful E400e (down to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds from idle to 155 mph) with CO2 emissions of up to 20 g/km and an electric range of up to 109 km.

The executive car is the latest version of an upper mid-range model whose name dates back to 1993, but whose origins go back many decades

The new E-Class’ central display entertainment system has the option of a smart, wide, digital super screen on the dashboard

With a length of less than 5 meters and a wheelbase of almost 3 meters, it promises plenty of space for driver and passengers

All are mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox.

Mercedes-Benz said: “With a pure electric range of more than 100 kilometers, the models will in many cases drive on the road purely electrically, without using the petrol engine.”

With a length of a fraction of less than 5 meters and a wheelbase of almost 3 meters, it promises a lot of space for driver and passengers, with a luggage compartment of 540 liters.

Sales in the UK will begin this summer with first deliveries in the autumn. Prices expected from £50,000.

Kia named car manufacturer of the year

Korean car manufacturer Kia has been named car manufacturer of the year in the UK’s automotive ‘Oscars’.

The judges of the annual Autocar Awards were won by models such as the EV6 and the electric Niro, while UK President and CEO Paul Philpott was honored for his role in leading the transformation of the company’s UK arm, which is the first sold more than 100,000 copies. year.

Award: Korean car maker Kia has been named car manufacturer of the year in the British automotive ‘Oscars’

Ferrari’s 296 GTB and the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS both achieved top five-star performance; the Porsche 911 GT3 was named ‘best driver’s car’ and Toyota’s GR86 a ‘future classic’.

Other best cars were: Hyundai Ioniq 6 (commercial vehicle); Honda Civic Type R (fun car); Range Rover Sport (SUV); BMW M3 Touring (dream car); MG 4 (electric); Dacia Sandero (budget) and Jeep Avenger (small car).

McLaren unveils latest model

Supercar firm McLaren has launched its latest model: the 206 mph 750S.

Powered by a 750 hp twin-turbocharged V8 engine and a 7-speed automatic gearbox, it accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and to 200 km/h in 7.2 seconds.

Hot stuff: Supercar firm McLaren has launched its latest model: the 206 mph 750S

Expect from £250,000 for the coupe and £275,000 for the spider version.

Adorned with lightweight carbon fiber in the cabin and beyond, the 750S is the lightest and most powerful production McLaren, and 30kg lighter than the existing 720S, its benchmark.

Decorated with lightweight carbon fiber in the cabin and beyond, the 750S is the lightest and most powerful production McLaren

Powered by a 750 hp twin-turbocharged V8 engine and a 7-speed automatic gearbox, it accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds

Thanks to the lightweight carbon fiber upper structure and the composite retractable hardtop (RHT) of the Spider version (open roof), it is only 49 kg heavier than the coupe.

McLaren said the rear-wheel drive 750S is “unashamedly a supercar for the purist,” noting: “About 30 per cent of the parts are new or modified.”