WHETHER you've got £40,000 or more than £100,000 to spend, Mercedes can now offer you the option of all-wheel drive across its E-Class range.

For the first time in the UK, the Germany company is making all wheel drive available on an E-Class diesel, adding 4MATIC four-wheel drive versions of both saloon and estate variants of the E220d with prices from £38,175 for the four door and £40,175 for the load-lugger.

Meanwhile, at the top of the E-Class range, the AMG E63 4MATIC+ is now available to order, with prices starting from £78,935 rising to £106,585 for the E63S 4MATIC+ Edition 1.

The E220d 4MATIC uses the same, all-new four-cylinder, 194hp two-litre, bi-turbo engine as the standard rear-wheel-drive E220d mated to a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox. With a torque split of 45:55 (front:rear), the 4MATIC system offers greater traction, driving dynamics and driving stability in all road conditions.

Standard specifications will match those of the rear-wheel drive E-Class, but Mercedes is offering a number of optional driver-assistance packages including a Lane Tracking Package (£595) that includes Passive Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Assist, and the more comprehensive Driving Assistance Plus Package (£1,695).

AMG E63 4MATIC models are powered by a four-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, producing 571hp in the E 63 and 612hp in the E 63 S. The E 63 can sprint from standstill to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds - only .1 of a second less than the more powerful E 63 S. Both models are electronically limited to 155 mph.

Specifications are comprehensive, as you might expect in cars costing £78,000-plus, but, again, there are plenty of options to push the price even higher including high-performance ceramic brakes (£6,995), performance exhaust system (£1,000), and a carbon fibre package which adds front splitter, side sill panels, and rear bumper finished in carbon fibre for £3,370.

The new E220d 4MATIC models will be available for delivery in April while first deliveries of the AMG E63 models are slated for June.