What's all this about?

Mercedes-Benz is readying the fifth-generation, 'W213' E-Class for market next year and we've had a sneak peek at the technology that will be stuffed into this mid-sized executive motor.

What's in store?

Many of the toys you've seen in the S-Class, but here updated and enhanced for the E - Mercedes calls it upgrading the tech from 'business to first class' when compared to the outgoing E-Class model. The two main highlights are a self-parking function and a digital car key.

Can you explain these to me?

Yup. Remote Parking Pilot uses a smartphone app to manoeuvre the E-Class into tight, perpendicular spaces (such as in a multi-storey car park or in that stupidly narrow garage you've got at home, designed for a Ford Anglia or some such tiny classic) with the driver standing outside the car but within three metres of it. The system works with simple circular 'traces' on the screen, the on-board software moving the E-Class at 2mph using radar and a 360-degree camera. Stop swiping the screen and the car comes to an immediate halt. It can park in spaces with just 40cm to either side of it without question, and it'll have a go at even narrower spots too, although it will ask you first if you want to go ahead with it.

How about the digital key?

Using the Mercedes Me online owner portal, you can pair a smartphone to the E-Class and a secure code is sent to the SIM of your handset. Then, using near field communications (NFC), the phone can be held close to the door handle of the Mercedes and it will open - and you can start the car with it, too. No physical car key is needed, meaning you can leave the house with just the smartphone to get to work and back.

What if the phone is stolen or the battery dies?

You can unlink a smartphone immediately via Mercedes Me if a thief gets hold of your device, while NFC allows for wireless charging, so the car can put juice back into even a defunct phone to ensure you're not trapped in an underground car park at night because you forgot to plug in your charger at the office. Assuming you have a suitable phone of course.

Is there anything else added?

Only semi-autonomous cruise control with a mild steering assistance function, 84-LED headlights with individual bulb-dipping for maximum illumination with minimum irritation to other road users (that's significantly more LEDs than Merc's current offerings in this department), Car-to-X communication that utilises the cloud to warn drivers of unseen dangers on the road ahead (including surface issues) and Evasive Steering Assist.

Eh? What's that last one?

Say you see an unwitting pedestrian step out in front of you without looking. Once in the car's line of sight, not only will it assist with braking to avoid mowing down said pedestrian, but once you input some steering torque to take evasive action, the E-Class automatically boosts that torque then cleverly offers some automatic counter-steering to bring the car to a safe halt - rather than it veering off the road as a result of your initial jerk of steering.

What does the new E-Class look like?

At the moment, we can't tell you as we've only seen a heavily disguised version ourselves. But it will get its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in early 2016. We'll bring you full details of the E-Class as and when they're released.