Saturday, May 7, 2022

The Porsche's Garage: Ch. 2




Porsche is truly authentic in the sense that their mission statement is completely intertwined into their strategic planning. The company has taking that "not afraid to tread its own path" ideal into providing a car that not only stands on its own but is tailored so you too can tread your own path. In addition, quality is equally as important with individuality to achieve ultimate product competitive advantage. The competitors are one-dimensional while Porsche is multifaceted. Porsche's competitors like Mercedes and Bmw are loosely throwing the terms of luxury and sport around in efforts to say they have created the perfect blend. What's more, these competitors are doing the exact opposite. Porsche, on the other hand makes emphasis on giving equal attention to luxury and sport such as the Porsche Cayman. Porsche's history showed those two aspects is what they aimed for. In the present, Porsche became the brand for it. Now that the company strategically plans for the future to stay relevant, they will continue the same path of luxury and sport with efforts to perfecting it.





This E 220 d in AMG Line trim will reveal all. Prices start from 拢42,870. The E-Class is based on Mercedes鈥?MRA Modular Rear Architecture so conforms to a similar recipe to the Audi in that it uses a scalable platform as its base. There鈥檚 double-wishbone suspension at the front and a multi-link at the rear. Mercedes鈥?Agility Control steel-sprung suspension with adaptive dampers is standard, with modes to choose from to either soften off or firm up the settings depending on the driving conditions, just like the Audi on its optional set-up. Air suspension is available as part of the 拢3,295 Comfort package. Mechanically the two models have some similarities, but there鈥檚 a different feel inside. The Mercedes鈥?interior quality trails here. While it鈥檚 still nicely trimmed, the materials don鈥檛 feel as plush. The technology is strong. You get a 12.3-inch digital dash as standard, while the second 12.3-inch display that shows the nav and radio functions on our test car is part of the 拢2,395 Premium pack. This also adds an upgraded COMAND online navigation system, CarPlay and Android Auto. Of course, like the Audi, you can add even more options to improve the spec and tech inside.





Keyless operation is part of the 拢4,395 Premium Plus pack, which also brings a Burmester stereo and panoramic roof. Keyless operation and a Bang & Olufsen stereo are part of the A6鈥檚 拢1,895 Comfort and Sound Pack. While the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit was new for this generation of the E-Class and improved on refinement compared with the older 2.1-litre Mercedes diesel, it still isn鈥檛 as hushed as the Audi鈥檚 motor. However, there鈥檚 still more than enough performance for this kind of car. The E-Class accelerated from 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds, matching the Audi, but was slightly slower through the gears, taking 7.3 seconds compared with 7.0 seconds for the A6. Yet with more ratios it was quicker than the Audi in gear. The box isn鈥檛 as quick to change, even when taking manual control using the paddles, but importantly it is smooth, so you don鈥檛 make disjointed progress, and this helps comfort. The E-Class needs it because the suspension isn鈥檛 as forgiving as the A6鈥檚. However, this is relative; apart from crashing over the worst bumps, the Mercedes feels fluid and floats nicely over undulating roads.





The steering isn鈥檛 as sharp as the Audi鈥檚, either, but this suits the heavier Mercedes鈥?attitude, so the car feels together and well matched when it comes to how its key components interact with each other. But its practicality extends beyond this, because there鈥檚 lots of room in the rear even though it has a bigger boot. In the front there鈥檚 a similar level of room despite the Mercedes鈥?higher dashboard design and higher-mounted screens. With trays and plenty of other cubbies, storage is similar, although the bin between the seat in the E-Class is larger than the A6鈥檚. Mercedes trailed Audi in the makers鈥?chart of Driver Power 2018, but the brand鈥檚 dealers finished in 13th spot compared with a lowly 22nd for the Audi network. Of course, you can upgrade this tech further still with the 拢595 Lane Tracking package, which adds active lane keep assist. It鈥檚 cheaper than in the Audi.

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