E300 DIESEL Hybrid Unveiled

[jspira]

Mercedes-Benz Unveils E300 BlueTec Hybrid 56 mpg Sedan Many diesel enthusiasts have wondered why mainstream automakers such as Mercedes-Benzhaven’t built a diesel-electric hybrid, bridging the best of diesel efficiency on the open road with hybrid in-town economy. The Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec Hybrid will go on sale next year. It is available in the standard E-Class sedan body as well as in a wagon. Under the hood, the 2143 cc four-cylinder diesel engine produces 204 hp (150 kW) and 368 pound-feet (500 Nm) of torque, (This engine is also found in the new SLK 250 CDI sports coupe, the automaker’s first diesel sportscar.) The electric motor produces an additional 27 hp (20 kW) and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm) of torque and is integrated into the gearbox, a modified seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic. <SNIP> … Read the full story »

To remove this ad, register today or login if you already are registered!

[WEBSRFR]

Hopefully they will add 4MATIC to this...

[Tomshark]

Originally Posted by WEBSRFR

Hopefully they will add 4MATIC to this...

+1 no 4matic = no sale for me.

[alsyli]

Originally Posted by Tomshark

+1 no 4matic = no sale for me.

The relatively insignificant difference in MPG means no sale for me. The hybrid gets a combined 27 mpg, while the "regular" diesel gets 26.5 mpg (vs. 23 mpg for the gasoline car). How much more will the hybrid cost, compared to the other two? And how much more economical would the regular versions be if they also had stop/start and low-rolling resistance tires? ::shrug::

I'm awfully confused why they didn't hybridize the 4-cylinder gas engine from the C-class....

[Wig]

Originally Posted by WEBSRFR

Hopefully they will add 4MATIC to this...

The majority of MLs and GLs sold in Canada are diesel.

It is impossible to understand why MB Canada have not added a 4Matic diesel to the E-Class.

I'm sure I'll be corrected by someone with a better understanding of engineering, but wouldn't the higher torque of diesel somewhat negate the added fuel consumption of 4Matic?

[listerone]

550 ft lbs of torque? Interesting!

[listerone]

Originally Posted by Wig

It is impossible to understand why MB Canada have not added a 4Matic diesel to the E-Class.

I'm probably in the minority of those living where *real* winters occur but I can't understand the fixation on AWD.In slippery going all one must do is keep the speeds down and anticipate your next move (braking,turning,etc) and you'll be fine.I do recognize,however,that driving in the Rockies or where 18 inch snowfalls are commonplace (for example) might be different.

[Tomshark]

Originally Posted by listerone

I'm probably in the minority of those living where *real* winters occur but I can't understand the fixation on AWD.In slippery going all one must do is keep the speeds down and anticipate your next move (braking,turning,etc) and you'll be fine.I do recognize,however,that driving in the Rockies or where 18 inch snowfalls are commonplace (for example) might be different.

Speaking strictly for myself, the AWD is not just for winter. I have been driving an AWD vehicle of 1 sort or another for the last 8 years and i much prefer it to a rwd or fwd vehicle. I just like the way it feels better, totally subjective, i know.

[fingroupb]

Originally Posted by jspira

Mercedes-Benz Unveils E300 BlueTec Hybrid 56 mpg Sedan

…
Read the full story »

This thing looks like it's jacked up a little, like a 1970 Chevelle or something.

[jspira]

Originally Posted by fingroupb

This thing looks like it's jacked up a little, like a 1970 Chevelle or something.

Ja, and this was the best press picture had

[Tomshark]

My 2011 sport looks the exact same way. I never really noticed it until my wife said something about it. Now i find myself looking at every parked E to see if they are the same.

[K-A]

The W212, especially Sport, has an extremely raked/wedge shape. In some pics that get the right angle for it, you really notice it.

[hyperion667]

Originally Posted by listerone

550 ft lbs of torque? Interesting!

+1
that's alotta tq!

[hyperion667]

Originally Posted by fingroupb

This thing looks like it's jacked up a little, like a 1970 Chevelle or something.

maybe it was breaking at that second.....
but yeah, it does look jacked up

[thekurgan]

Looks like the photo was taken under heavy braking.

[mnje350]

No nose dive from heavy breaking its parallel to the ground. I just think that it looks that good by design. Someone told me once that it looks fast just sitting there!

[thekurgan]

Yeah, on closer look, you're right, the shadows made me think the rear wheel well was much wider. The color reminds me of BMW's individual color: Barbera Red

[fingroupb]

Yea, it's not nosediving, it's parallel to the ground from the front wheel to the rear wheel.

I think the lettering, which is in line with the chrome rub strip, is what accentuates the rakish attitude.

[jonkean]

Originally Posted by alsyli

The relatively insignificant difference in MPG means no sale for me. The hybrid gets a combined 27 mpg, while the "regular" diesel gets 26.5 mpg (vs. 23 mpg for the gasoline car). How much more will the hybrid cost, compared to the other two? And how much more economical would the regular versions be if they also had stop/start and low-rolling resistance tires? ::shrug::

I'm awfully confused why they didn't hybridize the 4-cylinder gas engine from the C-class....

Re-read the article. 27mpg is for the v6 hybrid, which will likely have nice performance but the mpg of a smaller 4 cylinder. The 4 cylinder diesel hybrid is rated at 4.2 liters per 100km, which is roughly 56mpg.

[Big50]

Lol, there's going to be a lot of disappointed Prius owners. You can get the feature, style, safety and comfort of a real sedan with the same mileage without looking like a cheese wedge.

[alsyli]

Originally Posted by jonkean

Re-read the article. 27mpg is for the v6 hybrid, which will likely have nice performance but the mpg of a smaller 4 cylinder. The 4 cylinder diesel hybrid is rated at 4.2 liters per 100km, which is roughly 56mpg.

Thanks. I was actually referring to the gasoline hybrid, which I should've made clear (since I live in the US, which isn't getting the diesel hybrid). Automobile magazine just posted its long-term report of the 535i, which average 25mpg (which I presume included a lot of freeway miles).... which means that this E-class gas hybrid will be just as irrelevant as the S400 hybrid, the Lexus GS and LS hybrids, and the (late) Accord hybrid.

I would, however, be very interested in a diesel-hybrid, but MB apparently doesn't want to send the good stuff to the US.... ::shrug:: Too bad, b/c that engine combination would make far more sense (esp since it could be shared w/ the ML-, C-, and GLK-classes)

[listerone]

Originally Posted by alsyli

I would, however, be very interested in a diesel-hybrid, but MB apparently doesn't want to send the good stuff to the US....

I wouldn't be "very interested"....at 550 ft lbs of torque I'd be there with bells on.Maybe with forthcoming CAFE requirements they'd decide to bring it here.Who knows?

[Tjdehya]

The E400 Hybrid uses a V6 gasoline engine that puts out 302 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. With the same electric motor as in the E300 BlueTec Hybrid, total output is 329 horses and 457 lb-ft of torque. Estimated fuel consumption is 24 mpg city/31 mpg highway/27 mpg combined.

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/lista...cid=autos_2268