Mercedes' new FE models debut

With greater public concern about how cars affect the environment, as well as rising fuel prices, many car manufacturers have released certain ‘lines’ of cars that cater to these concerns. Volkswagen’s Bluemotion range, Renault’s ‘eco²‘ line and Ford’s ECOnetic are all examples of this. Mercedes’ own version, dubbed the FE line (which stands for Fuel Efficient), has just added the A-Class to the range, joining the existing C-Class FE model.

The base model in the FE A-Class line is the A160 CDI, which uses a substantial 0.4L less fuel per 100km than the regular A160 CDI. This gain in fuel consumption is achieved through certain modifications to the car, making it lighter and more economical.
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ghosthunter - 2/21/2008 10:51:28 PM

+4 Boost

for people who do not know how to convert.
a 0.4L/100KM improvement is like you use to get 20 mpg but now you are getting 20.7 mpg.

is it really necessary to call themselves GREEN and create a dedicate line when all they can do is to improve 0.4L/100KM? i think i can easily achieve that 0.7 mpg gain (based on 20 mpg) if i don't drive aggressively.

Bored - 2/21/2008 11:20:20 PM

+2 Boost

Interesting.

chewy - 2/22/2008 2:01:51 AM

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No, it's more like going from 48 mpg (4.9 liters per 100 km) to 52 mpg (4.5)

conneem - 2/22/2008 11:45:40 AM

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Yeah, it's pretty close to a 5mpg improvement.

1stgenaristoTT - 2/21/2008 11:01:31 PM

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i thought thats what BLUETEC was?

S4cabriofoxone - 2/22/2008 11:58:39 AM

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Ah, good question.

Bluetec doesn't improve fuel efficiency. It's a particulate filter. It makes diesels cleaner (lower emissions).

Talli - 2/21/2008 11:06:23 PM

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umm ghost hunter, u have a great point there. i guess this just shows that the badge 'efficient' or 'hybrid' is enough to make people buy it without actually doin the math, the carmakers know that.

Czelinski - 2/22/2008 4:53:02 AM

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"i guess this just shows that the badge 'efficient' or 'hybrid' is enough to make people buy it without actually doin the math, the carmakers know that."

Yeah, no company knows that better than Lexus.

zairnaim - 2/22/2008 8:47:30 AM

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all other companies trying to make money aswell none really care about customers as long as they make money. Lexus makes money off of the ls600h just like BMW and MB make money off of the heritage thing. Now other manufacturers are catching on about the "efficient" scheme of making money. I don't know why we defend our respective brands cause they don't care half as much about us as we do about them. The only reason they do things good for the customers is for brand image.

teuton - 2/22/2008 9:33:22 AM

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My heart goes out to these chaps at Merc and the rest of the automotive world for their relentless pursuit to convince the "anti-car/save the planet" idiots, that their cars are not destroying the planet. If I was a manufacturer myself, honestly I can't stand these "green" jerks!

EnnNorak - 2/22/2008 10:01:39 AM

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All greenies should volunteer to plant trees and other vegetation all over the place so that photosynthesis can be leveraged to suck carbon back from the atmosphere. The Peace Corps should send them to China and India for this work as these countries are polluting the planet orders of magnitude more than cars. Having said that, let me remind all that CO2 is not the mot abundant greenhouse gas -- water vapor is.

VISO - 2/25/2008 12:58:38 PM

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Similar concept as the Audi e-models. Good way to go to balance C02 requirements against future EU mandates. Also, along with the e-models from Audi the ME models of MB will offer a better value than hybrids.

VISO - 2/25/2008 12:59:00 PM

+1 Boost

Sorry, I meant FE models from MB.