New Mercedes-Benz Diesel Highlights Lighter Weight, More Power

By Tony Markovich - February 19, 2016

mercedes-4-cylinder-diesel

Despite the massive image-hit from the Volkswagen scandal, diesel engines are not going anywhere. As hybrids and electric vehicles continue to gain popularity and rise in sales, the fact remains that using good old-fashioned mini explosions to power a car will stick around as long as there’s oil to burn. As far as that method is concerned, diesel is still a viable option, and Mercedes-Benz is moving forward with its plan to introduce its new set of engines ($3 billion worth of development later).

The first of these engines is an all-aluminum four-cylinder diesel. Codenamed OM654, the 2.0-liter offers 191 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The previous generation put out 167 horsepower and the same torque. The engine is now 13-percent more fuel efficient and dropped 76 pounds, down from 447 to 371. The new tech also includes selective catalytic reduction (SCR), which helps eliminate emission products like nitrous oxide.

The four-D will first pop up in Europe in the E220d E-Class. There’s no word on when/if it’ll come to the U.S.