Lightweight Mercedes E-Class in the books?

If reports are indeed accurate, then we might be living in a future that includes a lightweight Mercedes E-Class.

The news was first reported by German car magazine, Auto Bild, saying that Mercedes is in the process of building a new variant of the E-Class that will carry a sturdy yet lightweight structure comprising mostly of carbon fiber.

The use of carbon fiber on this lightweight E-Class will cut down the car’s weight by around 350 kg/772 lbs, thanks in large part to the carbon fiber’s 1300 kg/2,866 lbs weight.

On top of its drastic weight savings, the new E-Class will also carry a new styling language that will be strongly influenced by the new CLS-Class and on top of that, the expected use of carbon fiber on the mid-size luxury car will open the doors - literally speaking - to the possibility of the new car losing its B-pillars, or better yet, carrying gullwing doors.

As far as the engine of the car, Mercedes is looking at using either a hybrid or a hydrogen-fuel cell powertrain as it attempts to lower its fuel economy and emission levels across the board.