WHEN you mention the words “Mercedes-Benz E-Class,” the image that comes to mind is of a town car that one can use to go around urban areas in style, but delivers forward performance that rivals its C-Class siblings.

But when you mix in the word “coupe,” you have an automobile meant for serious traveling, especially when the roads are unknown and time is pressing.

Such is the inherent allure of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe.

Available locally as an E350 Coupe AMG Sport, the car is a serious traveler, not just meant for transport. You see it in the exterior package, which resembles its E-Class saloon sibling front and rear, but with side profiles resembling the CL-Class coupes. You’re aware that there’s no B-pillar to interrupt the arc of this coupe’s roof line, and so the roof seems properly self-indulgent in that daring-the-boundaries-of-physics way.

You can also see the “serious traveler” motif in the cabin. The driving position is full size and the view over the hood is expansive. The squarish dash (derived from the current C-Class) has been carved away to enhance the feeling of interior spaciousness. You can enjoy spirited driving or calm cruising via the Comand (COckpit MAnagement and Navigational Device) system, which is Bluetooth-ready and totes a small screen above the middle aircon vents. The Comand system also has a simple layout for the steering wheel Ice (in-car entertainment) controls, and clarity that can rival the Bose ICE on the Chrysler 300C 3.5L V6. And while the graceful Italian-esque sweep of the immediate precursor E-Class interior style has given way to a more geometric, masculine look mandated by new Mercedes design chief Gorden Wagener, this car’s interior is a very nice place to be.

Perhaps the pinnacle of the coupe’s character can be found in its forward means of self-propulsion. It may not be as hard hitting as its US market-only E550 brethren, but the 3.5L V6 accelerates resolutely from low revs up to its 6,250-rpm redline. The seven-speed slushbox is also up to the task as well, featuring a 7G-Tronic manual mode (with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters) for raised shift points should the driver have a serious speed itch to scratch. The AMG sport steering wheel, Artico leather-lined front seats (with pronounced side bolsters that keep one’s bum in place during hard cornering) and brushed stainless-steel pedals (with rubber studs) add further to the coupe’s thrilling driving experience.

Speaking of cornering, the car’s low stance makes road holding a given instead of an adventure. When it jounces over a bump or rolls into a corner, the body moves once and then settles into position and it’s ready for what’s next. It picks up its feet over any bump, delivering a supple ride. 

The serious traveler will definitely need some punch when it comes to safety features, and this is where the E350 Coupe also delivers. Coming standard is a drowsiness detection system (billed as Attention Assist) that warns the driver (at 80 to 180 kph) as soon as certain sensors within the ECU (electronic control unit) detect signs of drowsiness or inattention. These sensors constantly analyze driving behavior and check for any changes compared with the driver profile individually determined previously. There’s also an intelligent lighting system (that swivels headlight beams five to ten degrees in either lateral direction at night for increased darkness visibility), tire pressure monitors, multiple airbags and crash-responsive head restraints.

The E350 Coupe has a lot of style, yet it fulfills its mission with a satisfying lack of pretense, and makes it a serious consideration for a premium brand car.