I wonder if Mercedes-Benz would consider offering the CDI engines in the US/Canadian model C-Class range? From Automotive news Europe:
Mercedes tries diesels again in USA
Dorothée Ostle
Automotive News Europe
Mercedes-Benz will reintroduce diesel engines into its US model lineup with the September launch of the new E class.
"We had 400,000 very happy American customers [for our diesels] in the late 1980s and early '90s," said Jürgen Hubbert, DaimlerChrysler board member for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, Maybach and Smart. "They want us to come back with a diesel. And we will do so."
A limited number of the E270 CDi will be offered in 45 of 50 American states as Mercedes-Benz gauges consumer reaction.
"We are prepared to react very flexibly," Hubbert said. "If customers want it, we can immediately offer a bigger choice and also the M class and the S class with great diesel engines."
Mercedes-Benz won't offer diesels in five states, he said. Emission regulations prevent diesel cars from being sold in California and four other states that have adopted clean-air standards.
The biggest difficulty will be overcoming an American perception of diesel engines as smelly, noisy and unreliable.
"The new common-rail diesel engines have nothing in common with what American drivers might associate with former diesels," Hubbert said. "They are powerful, sporty, agile, and offer an enormous amount of torque."
Even more torque and power will be offered on AMG diesel versions, currently under development at the Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist.
"Soon we'll have some race diesels by AMG," Hubbert said. But he would not say which models will get the special engines.
Worldwide, Mercedes-Benz expects to sell 43 percent of its cars with diesel engines this year. Better fuel economy and cheap diesel prices are the driving factors for diesels in most markets.
But in the USA, diesel and gasoline fuel prices are roughly the same and fuel economy is not a big issue for drivers, Hubbert said. Most existing diesel vehicles have a noticeable fuel odor. Fuel stations either don't sell diesel or do so in a separate area devoted to heavy trucks.
"We know all this doesn't help diesel's re-introduction," Hubbert said. "But we think the American market is ripe for another try."
Mercedes tries diesels again in USA
Dorothée Ostle
Automotive News Europe
Mercedes-Benz will reintroduce diesel engines into its US model lineup with the September launch of the new E class.
"We had 400,000 very happy American customers [for our diesels] in the late 1980s and early '90s," said Jürgen Hubbert, DaimlerChrysler board member for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, Maybach and Smart. "They want us to come back with a diesel. And we will do so."
A limited number of the E270 CDi will be offered in 45 of 50 American states as Mercedes-Benz gauges consumer reaction.
"We are prepared to react very flexibly," Hubbert said. "If customers want it, we can immediately offer a bigger choice and also the M class and the S class with great diesel engines."
Mercedes-Benz won't offer diesels in five states, he said. Emission regulations prevent diesel cars from being sold in California and four other states that have adopted clean-air standards.
The biggest difficulty will be overcoming an American perception of diesel engines as smelly, noisy and unreliable.
"The new common-rail diesel engines have nothing in common with what American drivers might associate with former diesels," Hubbert said. "They are powerful, sporty, agile, and offer an enormous amount of torque."
Even more torque and power will be offered on AMG diesel versions, currently under development at the Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist.
"Soon we'll have some race diesels by AMG," Hubbert said. But he would not say which models will get the special engines.
Worldwide, Mercedes-Benz expects to sell 43 percent of its cars with diesel engines this year. Better fuel economy and cheap diesel prices are the driving factors for diesels in most markets.
But in the USA, diesel and gasoline fuel prices are roughly the same and fuel economy is not a big issue for drivers, Hubbert said. Most existing diesel vehicles have a noticeable fuel odor. Fuel stations either don't sell diesel or do so in a separate area devoted to heavy trucks.
"We know all this doesn't help diesel's re-introduction," Hubbert said. "But we think the American market is ripe for another try."
Senior Member
This is good news. What they should really do is offer the C270 CDI here. It comes with the option of a 6-speed manual. That would be great if they brought it over here.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Mercedes-Benz won't offer diesels in five states. Emission regulations prevent diesel cars from being sold in California and four other states that have adopted clean-air standards.
Like they say in their own article they are dirty and smelly !!!
otherwise the emissions wouldn't be an issue....
did you know diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen???
Like they say in their own article they are dirty and smelly !!!
otherwise the emissions wouldn't be an issue....
did you know diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen???
Almost a Member!
According to the most recent STAR Magazine ( publication of the Mercedes Benz Club of North America ) it states that several new diesels will be available ... but not in the good ole US of A, at least not until we get cleaner fuel and more diesel friendly laws. It really chaps me that every other PU truck on the road is diesel but we can't get the cars. I guess it is just not worth the hassle when the rest of the world embraces diesel autos as the good ole boys do their trucks in the US.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Diesel fuel is currently @ 200 ppm of sulfur, and Mercedes diesels need about 10 ppm sulfur to be able to use the more effective converters. At current levels the tough cat would be choked and fouled by the sulfur.
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