New Mercedes Night Edition Brings Out E-Class’s Dark Side

Chrome trim: you either love it and can’t have enough of the stuff or detest it and want to hide almost every last vestige of the fake plastic tinsel that automakers pass off as decorative metal.

And if you’re in the latter camp and are thinking about buying a new Mercedes E-Class, you ought to give the new Night Edition special editions a look. Available in Europe initially on the coupe and convertible, though sedans and wagons will also get the treatment soon, the Night Edition cars benefit from a selection of dark trim accents designed to give a meaner look, and maintain interest in the now elderly E-Class ahead of its replacement next year.

The package builds on the existing AMG Line trim and Night Package, and can be combined with any regular E-Class powertrain and paint finish, but can’t be added to full AMG models. Highlights include a black version of the diamond grille, “Night Edition” badges on the fenders, black exhaust tailpipe trims and AMG-branded alloy wheels finished in…well, it’s not going to be orange, is it? Benz has only released pictures of the coupe and convertible so far but says the trunk lid trim on sedans and wagons is also finished in high-gloss black.

There is something of the night about these E-Class cabins, too, starting with an AMG Line back headliner. The instrument panel is finished in Merc’s Artico fake leather, while the seats (heated in the front) get a covering of Artico and Dynamic microfibre cloth unless you fork out extra for one of the genuine leather upgrades.

Other Night Edition benefits include dark aluminum-look trim, an open-pore black ash wood trim for the console to which is affixed a polished aluminum Night Edition badge, plus Night Edition branding on the floor mats and illuminated door sills.

Mercedes hasn’t confirmed whether the Night Edition cars will be coming to North America, but European customers will be able to get their hands on one from July for an additional charge of between €5,295.50 and €9,22.50 ($5,560-9,680) depending on which E-Class model they’re applying the treatment to.