Mercedes-Benz E 320 BLUETEC begins the Diesel campaign in the USA

To coincide with the conversion of up to 76,000 US filling stations to clean Diesel fuel with a sulphur content below 15 ppm, Mercedes Benz is commencing sales of the E 320 BLUETEC in the USA and Canada in one week’s time. Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) allows the use of trail-blazing BLUETEC technology, making the E 320 BLUETEC the world’s cleanest Diesel car.

The E 320 BLUETEC is the first and only Diesel vehicle worldwide able to better the American BIN 8 exhaust emissions standard, which is extremely stringent – particularly in terms of nitrogen oxide emissions. The E 320 BLUETEC will be available for sale in the USA (45 states) and Canada, and uses up to 30 percent less fuel than comparable petrol-engine vehicles in North America. Owing to its enormous operating range of up to 1200 km on one full tank, the E 320 BLUETEC is exceptionally well cut-out for US driving conditions.

The latest J.D. Power study "Global Outlook For Diesel" forecasts that Diesels will account for more than 15 percent of new registrations in North America by 2015. In the light of this, Mercedes-Benz will systematically expand its BLUETEC range. The company has announced that it intends to offer three further BLUETEC models in the R, ML and GL-Class - meeting the even more stringent BIN 5 standard - in all 50 US states as early as 2008.

BLUETEC is a modular emissions control system that reduces nitrogen oxide levels. These are the only exhaust components from Diesel engines which, due to the principles of Diesel engineering, still exceed the levels in petrol units. Mercedes-Benz has developed two versions of BLUETEC: in the E-Class an oxidation-type catalytic converter and particulate filter are combined with an improved, extremely durable NOx trap system and an additional SCR catalytic converter. The second BLUETEC version is even more efficient. Here, AdBlue, a non-toxic aqueous solution, is injected into the exhaustgas stream, causing ammonia to be released. In the downstream SCR catalytic converter the ammonia then converts up to 80 percent of the nitrogen oxides into the harmless natural products of nitrogen and water. The specific vehicle concept and weight as well as the deNOx requirements determine which BLUETEC system is used.

From October 21 this BLUETEC technology will be subjected to an endurance test of a very special kind, when 33 E-Class cars including three E 320 BLUETEC models embark on a journey from Paris to Peking. Over the course of 26 days each of these vehicles will cover 13,600 kilometres under extreme conditions on a journey which will take them across eight national borders.

BLUETEC: Highly successful in commercial vehicles – the result of a clear strategy

The BLUETEC technology developed by Mercedes-Benz benefits from the company’s extensive know-how in building low-emission commercial vehicles, where this technology has already proved highly successful since early 2005 and is meantime available in all model series. A total of 33,000 Mercedes-Benz trucks and buses from the brands Mercedes-Benz and Setra have already been sold with BLUETEC.

Mercedes-Benz first demonstrated the potential of this new emissions technology for passenger cars in June 2005 in Washington when it displayed the Mercedes-Benz bionic car, a concept vehicle based on findings from bionic research.

From January 2005, DaimlerChrysler began a public dialogue on the subject of this innovative technology when it introduced a total of 6 BLUETEC showcars in the E, CLS, R, ML and GL-Class, as well as a Chrysler Grand Cherokee BLUETEC. In 1936 Mercedes-Benz introduced the world’s first series production Diesel car into the market, and has continued to set standards in this field with numerous innovative Diesel technologies.

BMW530i - 10/10/2006 1:25:48 PM

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The E 320 BLUETEC is the first and only Diesel vehicle worldwide able to better the American BIN 8 exhaust emissions standard, which is extremely stringent – particularly in terms of nitrogen oxide emissions.
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This alone is an achievement. Kudos to MB.

rocker - 10/10/2006 2:45:00 PM

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Ohmy god, more Eurotrash.

Rupert - 10/10/2006 4:23:14 PM

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as opposed to trailer trash.
i know who i'd move away from.

S4cabriofox - 10/10/2006 5:33:13 PM

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LOL...

The updated E-Class is so much nicer, and I don't know how...

Black E550 Sport is the best-looking, by far. Not that it looks any different from an E350 Sport, but it's just better.

rocker - 10/10/2006 4:31:01 PM

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US economy keeps the European Union afloat.

Rupert - 10/10/2006 6:14:32 PM

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umm...no it doesn't.
the us current balance currently has a huge deficit of 6% of gdp, due to the huge amount of chinese made things being bought there.
it means you lose 6% of what the country earns on imports/exports.
the eu is a very strong economy, comprising many countries, natural resources and people. the eu has over twice the population of the us and people earn 50% more money here!
america is being held up by japan (car manufacturing, electronics) and oil states.
you produce like no consumer goods!
america, while (self titled i might add) the most "powerful", is by no means the most developed. your car companies are failing, your manufacturing industry has been stolen by china, japan and taiwan, tourism is near dead (thanks to ridiculous immigration policies, (my arab friend, age 16, was held for 4 hours and my white, iraq-born but eton educated friend has so much trouble in the us).
you have a lot of unskilled labour, you have terrible gun crime and drug smuggling, you are the fattest nation on the planet, you are a compensation nation, what makes america so great? nothing.

anyway, back to cars.
you'd prefer a cadillac over this technological tour de force? (that means it's got lots of advanced electronics, not a pushrod)

mdalle,
many americans refuse to believe that anyone else in the world helps them or is better than them. china/eu/japan are nothing compared to america, apparently.

BMW530i - 10/10/2006 6:25:44 PM

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Rocker, you're so full of shit. Get lost.

kart1 - 10/11/2006 1:43:46 AM

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You guys like to think that you are all Self-sustained and nothing helps you guys. Talk about misinformed. European Union is Self-sustained. That is a really dumb comment - especially since you were making fun of rocker.

S4cabriofox - 10/10/2006 11:19:10 PM

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Okay, now I'm getting a little pissed.

Rupert, have you ever been to NYC, Chicago and/or Los Angeles?

Three of the best cities on the planet.

London is beautiful, but if I really wanted a city, I'd want less "traditionalism" and a city that's a touch more contemporary.

I'm not saying America is self-sustaining, by any means. That was a stupid comment.

But it's a wonderful country. We have cold places, tropical places, and infinite places in between. We're the most diverse nation on the planet, and most races live in harmony. Although our cars suck, some companies stand out- Cadillac has improved by 200% in the last five years, Chrysler is making a comeback (guided by the powerful hand that is Mercedes-Benz), and I'd rather have an Escalade than a GL (but not a Range Rover).

America may have its weak points, but it has more strong points than not, and I'm a patriot, dammit! Even if I buy Eurasian cars!

S4cabriofox - 10/10/2006 11:20:02 PM

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And there's more fit people than you think.

Look on the streets of New York. There's too many beautiful women.

kart1 - 10/11/2006 1:47:31 AM

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We all know the British problem with America don't we.

TLOTR - 10/11/2006 4:40:53 AM

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As i've said before Diesel is the future in cars, where that V10 Tdi VW Touareg at?

rocker - 10/11/2006 10:57:03 AM

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Rupert and BMW530i, I am sorry we pissed you off. The USA is a great country and I am sure that other countries are just as wonderful. Unfortunately, there are tons of misconceptions both for and against the USA. I love my country and support it wholeheartedly. USA produces half the oil consumed in the USA. If the USA stops being dependent on oil, most oil producing countries would be 3rd world countries. Iran knows the USA needs them but they also realize they need the USA. Myself, I have a 325i. It has given me constant problems but it still has a good resale value so until I can exchange that will a vehicle of equal resale value I will keep it. But I will not buy another BMW, ever.

Rupert - 10/11/2006 1:23:21 PM

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i never said self sustaining.
i don't hate america, but it's that "all american" attitude that gets me. it's always "we're the greatest", "america rules!", "we solve everything!". and you picked dubya bush as your president. that annoys me A LOT, gore would have been so much better. bush gives off the classic "lazy" attitude, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". guns, they annoy me to. why are you allowed them?
i'm not saying america's terrible, or that britain is better, but america is not invincible. not to be rude but it's like a rotten apple, dying on the inside but still shiny on the outside.
one thing, if any of you live in the suburbs, do you live close enough to a shop to be able to walk there? just looking at google earth on the suburbs, it seems like it is exclusivley residential, no commercialisation at all.

s4cabrio, "most races live in harmony".
deep south, kkk, detroit. ghettos seem to be fairly prevalent, isn't east LA one?

S4cabriofox - 10/11/2006 11:51:05 PM

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"and you picked dubya bush as your president. that annoys me A LOT, gore would have been so much better. bush gives off the classic "lazy" attitude, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". guns, they annoy me to. why are you allowed them?"

I voted for Kerry... neither were especially great. Bush is continually disappointing.

And I live in a suburb of Chicago (Glencoe, look it up, we're full of ostentatious BMW-driving yuppies), and although it is mostly made up of $1 million+ houses, we have a small, charming downtown area with a bagel shop, numerous breakfast and lunch shops, clothing stores, an inevitable Starbucks, a library, a train station, etc.

My home is about five minutes away from "downtown", and Glencoe is about two square miles (and about 9K people, tiny). It's much easier to drive or walk than to bike into town from my house, because there's a steep hill you have to overtake to get there.

rocker - 10/11/2006 2:30:03 PM

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Nice anology. I disagree on some points but they are your views and you have a right to them. Everyone should be proud of their country or if not then try and change it. I disagree with Gore is better. If Gore was on duty when 9/11 happened, there probably would have been no response. You do not negotiate with terrorist or turn a blind eye. And anyway the UK kicks, they gave us Led Zeppelin and many other splendid things, especially freedom.

Rupert - 10/11/2006 3:23:17 PM

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i don't think there would have been "no response" to 11/9 (brit style date rules! ;)), but i think he would have got more intelligence on afghanistan and osama, and would not have detained those guys in guantanamo.

the iraq war isn't a repsonse to 9/11, its just bush's war on terror extended. and anyway, he must have had an ultierior motive, as why isn't he getting rid of mugabe or sorting out sudan?

will, the "too much pride" thing is great, but excessive patriotism leads to extreme nationalism, hostility to foreigners, and eventually political extremism and terrorism. one could say al-quaeda have "too much pride" for the nation of islam.

other than that, hearing "america rules" gets grating after a while.

rocker, be thankful we saved you from being french!

Rupert - 10/11/2006 3:24:41 PM

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"but i think he would have got more intelligence on afghanistan and osama".
i mean i think bush rushed into it. 5 years and they haven't found him, and afghanistan is a small country.

S4cabriofox - 10/11/2006 11:54:04 PM

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"rocker, be thankful we saved you from being french!"

Oh, THANK GOD!

Those snooty French piss me off... they're banning everything that's even remotely related to English in their language... saying they're "Americanizing" their culture... they wish.

French cars suck.

rocker - 10/11/2006 3:39:17 PM

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So what do Brits think of Mr. Tony Blair in general?

Rupert - 10/11/2006 3:52:05 PM

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i prefer him to gordon brown.
other people don't, it's divided.

rocker - 10/11/2006 4:03:51 PM

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We already harbor terrorism(sleepercells), any country should be able to profile to capture anyone that might harm a citizen of that country.

Rupert - 10/11/2006 4:14:57 PM

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american grown terror.

the kkk.
they are a terrorist organisation.
they are american.
they are white, christian and probably go to church.

based on the last 2 lines, they sound rather nice, don't they?
but they're not.
things happen in the most unlikely of places.

Rupert - 10/11/2006 4:12:42 PM

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will, excessive patriotism could cause that. think about the ira, they are a terrorist group who developed to do something about their country.
nazis did the same, the bolsheviks wanted to "save" russia from the tsar, home, heartland etc.
in britain there is currently a political party called the bnp. they want to rid this country of all none-whites. they are yet to win a constituency, but they are getting more seats on local councils because the idiots that voted for them believed their propaganda (that immigrants get 30000 pounds to come here, that immigrants are "stealing" their jobs, that all black people do is murder eachother) and they think britain has been "ruined" by "all the blacks, indians, poles, russians, africans" and of course "muslims, what do they do? come here and blow themselves up".
not my words, i hasten to add, but in a crisis, people vote extreme.
thats what happened in gemany, wall street crash, ruined economy, people voted nazi because they were led to beleive that jews were responsible and because they thought "hitler will fix it".
in japan, they accepted japan invading china because japan's economy was ruined (in a crisis, would you buy silk, japan's main export?) and they needed chinese materials. so what if japan slaughtered all those people, it was for their own good. the japanese people didn't vote, but they didn't exactly protest too hard.

think about it will, imagine if north korea suddenly is able to make proper nuclear bombs. they are making missiles. america is under severe threat, there is more terrorism, many people die and an airport close to your home is blown up. the police force dissolves, schools close, crime soars, looting begins, national disater and your son/wife/daughter/parents are stuck in china/vietnam/cambodia etc. who do you vote for? middle of the road parties? no, you'll vote for the "strongest" and most aggressive, patriotic and hardline and tough talking party. sure, they may not like jews/gays/muslims (delete as appropiate), but if anyone can save america and your family, they can.
desperate times call for desperate measures is an often followed policy. think about britain. london gets attacked, and the govt makes an act of parliament that allows suspects of terrorist ativities to be detained INDEFINITELY.

and i'd be careful about "democracy".
i've just been learning how ridiculously undemocratic my country is.
one thing, what about the american families association (is that the right name?) think of all the contraversial stuff they do, they're pretty close to terrorism.

rocker - 10/11/2006 4:18:15 PM

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all good views, now back to this diesel mercedes

Rupert - 10/11/2006 5:55:32 PM

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as of yet, american's have not terrorised other nations.
plenty of "wars", but no international terrorism. (to my knowledge, but of course i have a friend who believes every conspiracy theory going, have any of you heard of chemtrails? on planes?)
all i'm saying is that it COULD happen. and in very patriotic/right wing nations, perescution of certain groups is more likely.

kart1 - 10/12/2006 2:10:25 PM

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Here is what I think about this political discussion. I was just having fun before, but now I want to say something.

There are freaks, idiots, racists, geniuses, etc in all societies. This is what you have to understand to know that the world is pretty much the same when it comes to people and how they act. There are good things and bad things about each country and we must acknowledge that there are somthings that are not good about America, while there are plenty of things that make this a great place. Same goes for other countries as well. We can fight forever, but the truth is that the world is moved to an era where every country needs some other country, and every person needs another of another race. If a person is an idiot and doesn't realize this - they will never understand the true meaning of being a human.

kart1 - 10/12/2006 2:12:39 PM

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Have you ever seen how in pretty much all the movies about space and future always show the Earth as being one nation, rather than many. This is most likely going to be very close to reality. Look at the EU now.

rocker - 10/11/2006 4:41:33 PM

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You dudes are fun. I enjoy the witty banter, intelligent conversations and the opposing views. IF everyone thought alike, it would be a boring world.

rocker - 10/11/2006 5:41:54 PM

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The Audi diesel that won LeMans, now that kicks. All diesel should be like that. What the hell is bluetec?

Rupert - 10/11/2006 5:50:51 PM

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it's technology.
that's my limit of information about it.

rocker - 10/11/2006 6:08:47 PM

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Sorry dude I just watch ESPN and the Cartoon Network so I cannot comprehend that last statement.

Rupert - 10/11/2006 6:28:55 PM

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bluetec turns bad gas into good gas! it uses ammonia, which is a component of urine. (also of some cleaning fluids).

is that simple enough for you? ;)

rocker - 10/11/2006 7:10:50 PM

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Nothing as of yet is perfect. Hybrids or Electrics, you have the batteries to dispose of eventually(very, very bad for the environment), diesel, too many negative images(big clouds of smoke, lnocking noise and now diesel fuel is higher than premium in the US), gasoline(global warming, which doesn't bother me, I live at the beach and it is always hot)