Wolfgang

Mercedes-Benz Intends to Offer BLUETEC for 50 US-States in 2008

Diesel M-, R- and GL-Class SUVs First to Meet Stringent BIN5 Certification

MONTVALE, N.J., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz today announced
that it intends to offer BLUETEC diesel-powered versions of its popular M-,
R- and GL-Class sport-utility vehicles in the United States beginning in CY
2008. Delivering a perfect balance of power, fuel economy and range, the
new BLUETEC SUVs are set to be the world's first diesel-powered vehicles to
meet the Environmental Protection Agency's stringent BIN5 emissions
standards for all 50 states.

Developed by Mercedes-Benz, BLUETEC represents the world's cleanest
diesel technology and showcases several state-of-the-art engine and exhaust
technologies, allowing the luxury manufacturer to offer their customers
powerful SUV's which are fuel efficient and environmentally responsible at
the same time. BLUETEC technology is especially important in helping to
reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. Beginning in CY 2008, BLUETEC M-, R- and
GL-Class vehicles will showcase AdBlue injection, a process that adds
precisely measured quantities of a urea-based solution into the exhaust
stream to help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 percent.

Today's announcement represents a significant step for the future
acceptance of diesel vehicles in the U.S. market, which can contribute to
significant fuel savings and a reduction in oil imports. This fact was
confirmed in a study by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2004. Margo
Oge, head of its Office of Transportation and Air Quality, concluded that
if only one-third of all light-duty trucks in the U.S. were operated with
modern diesel engines, the country would save 1.4 million barrels of oil
per day -- equal to the amount of oil the U.S. currently imports from Saudi
Arabia.

High Performance, Impressive Mileage and Extensive Range

The BLUETEC M-, R- and GL-Class are the latest additions to the
Mercedes- Benz line-up of clean diesel vehicles. Poised to make its
showroom debut in October 2006, the Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC
luxury sedan offers outstanding driving dynamics, unprecedented efficiency and
impressive environmental compatibility. Its powerful 3.0-liter V6
turbodiesel engine combines the powerful torque of a large V8 engine with
the low fuel consumption of a four- cylinder compact. Additionally, the
E320 BLUETEC is the only diesel-powered vehicle in the U.S. certified to
meet BIN8 emissions standards.

About MBUSA

MBUSA, headquartered in Montvale, N.J., is responsible for the sales,
marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the
United States. In 2005, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 224,421
new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and
achieving twelve consecutive years of sales growth. More information on
MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at
http://www.mbusa.com and http://www.maybachusa.com.


SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA

240D 3.0T

No suprise that the SUV's will be 50-state legal.

In Kalifornia, you can buy a Ford Expedition with a Powerjoke that get's 18mpg but you can't get VW Golf TDI that gets 50mpg. Go figure.

Alan Smithee

I don't think that's correct; if it is, it's because it is/was too big to be considered a light-duty truck...light-duty diesel trucks (Touareg TDI, ML- and R-class CDIs) aren't available in CA.

Regarding the announcement...as I understood it, AdBlue has always been capable of making the Bluetecs California legal...the issue was how to guarantee that the AdBlue reservoir would never run dry, thus causing the vehicle to fail to meet emissions requirements...no mention of the solution in the article.

patrick_y

I still haven't gotten a straight answer from the article, will the E320 Bluetech be available in California? That's all I care to know.

The AdBlue reservoir is supposed to only need refilling when the car is brought into the service shop. I assume that there will be a warning light when the reservoir is starting to run empty. Hopefully, this AdBlue replenishment isn't expensive, since the whole point of having a diesel is to lower operational costs.

LNL

I think that says it all. This "press release" is nothing more than rehashed "news." No substance, just the same "intentions" previously announced. I hope Mercedes can offer the diesel for sale in all 50 states, we'll just have to wait and see.

Lou

uberwgn

Has the EPA given the green light to AdBlue?? I hadn't heard that. The concern is re-filling the urea storage container and ensuring it gets done. EPA doesn't like end-user interaction since 99% of the public will ignore the warning if permitted to do so.

cyclerider

In Europe, where AdBlue is widely available at filling stations, it costs about 1/2 as much as diesel fuel. In the USA it will cost considerably more, since it will be stored and delivered (installed?) by your local Mercedes-Benz dealer. It's the installation labor rate that worries me.

AdBlue consumption is around 4%-6% of diesel fuel consumption. If you need one gallon of AdBlue for each tank of diesel you burn, how large would the AdBlue tank need to be to last a full year between service visits? I figure around 20 gallons. Maybe they could eliminate the spare tire by using run-flat tires and use the spare tire well for the tank.

This is exactly the problem, and the EPA has the final say in the matter.

Alan Smithee

Is it really that much? I had no idea...that will definitely be a problem.

cyclerider

I got those figures from here:
http://www.air1.info/en/air1/adblue/faq/index.html#8

Wolfgang

It depends. I've also seen reports below 1%. When always driving with full throttle, however, it might produce more NOx and need more.

AdBlue will also be available outside of MB dealer service departments, like at gas stations, and Mercedes is working on an 800 number hotline so it can be ordered by mailorder overnight.

JoeDiesel

In Europe, AdBlue and the equivalent is available at gas stations right next to the fuel pump. European trucks have tanks mounted adjacent to their fuel tanks. So access is simple and customer friendly. If Mercedes wants this to work then they should do the same. Make it readily available, consider making it free (hey, if I get no benefit other than lower emissions why should I as a single consumer care?), and most importantly make it as easy, if not easier, to service as windshield washer fluid. If this or urea is supplied from a canister mounted on the underside of the car it'll never work. The typical Mercedes customer is not exactly the type who is willing to crawl underneath their vehicles.

JoeDiesel

This press release is the same old lame material that's been floating around for the better part of a year now. It only focuses on the V6 Diesel. Other manufacturers are working on engines with more substance, such as V8s and the awe inspiring V12 from Audi that will be ready sometime in '08 and '09. If Mercedes doesn't step up it will be left behind. Performance buyers will go elsewhere and it will be left competing with Prius buyers, and many of them aren't interested in the pretentious three star.

JoeDiesel

I've got it! Retrofit diesel pumps with twin tube nozzles, one for diesel and the other for adblue, kind of like epoxy glue dispensers or dispensers that deliver both peanut butter & jelly or ketchup & mustard. Put a special adaptor plate on the car so that when customers refuel, the adblue reservoir is automatically topped off. Eureka! Problem solved. Send my bill to Mercedes.

Wolfgang

Seems you are not up on the latest news. Audi and VW announced they will use Bluetec as well, which was pioneered by Bosch and Mercedes-Benz. It has several advantages, especially for large and powerful engines.

The AdBlue will simply be added during regular service, which is simpler than the system used for commercial trucks in Europe. There's a video on YouTube. Search for Bluetec there and it should pop up.

That press release above was the first annoucement by MBUSA that 50 state diesels will start shipping in calender year 2008. That might be as late as midnight December 31, 2008. And it looks like the 400 lbs-ft V6 turbodiesel is going to be first. If it proves popular, MBUSA might consider their other diesels as well, like the 4.2 liter V8. We'll see.

Can you post the official press releases from AUDI USA and VW USA announcing their 50 state diesels in the USA?

Alan Smithee

(1) It's a start

(2) It will be easier to sell the diesel concept to Americans as fuel saving alternatives to hybrids than as performance alternatives to the existing gasoline V8s/V10s/V12s

(3) If diesels do catch on here, you an be sure to see MB V8s

JoeDiesel

Here's a recent one that comments on VW's use of particulate filters (And it's 50-state-legal for the remainder of '06):
"First off-road vehicle on US market with particulate filter


Touareg V10 TDI pushes ahead new diesel trend in USA


Wolfsburg, Colorado, 15 August 2006 - With the Touareg V10 TDI a series production off-road vehicle has reached the summit of Pikes Peak at 4,300 metres for the first time in the history of the legendary "Race to the Clouds". The competition, officially called "Pikes Peak International Hillclimbing Contest", provided the sporting backdrop for the market launch of the Touareg V10 TDI in the USA. On 1st September, the sale of the high-end off-road vehicle, which is equipped with a diesel particulate filter as standard, will start in the USA.

The Touareg V10 TDI is the first turbo-diesel off-road vehicle in the US market with a particulate filter (DPF). Volkswagen is, in this way, once again setting a trend for drive technologies. In comparison to similarly equipped petrol engine vehicles, the 310 bhp Touareg V10 TDI is approximately 30 percent more efficient. As is the case in Europe, Volkswagen is seen as the leading manufacturer of diesel passenger vehicles in the USA. A total of twelve percent of all Volkswagens sold between New York and San Francisco already have the TDI logo, and this trend is increasing. In the TDI versions, the New Beetle and Golf are, according to the "U.S. Environmental Agency" (EPA) and the "U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)", the most economical vehicles in their class on the US market.
The Touareg V10 TDI with diesel particulate filter will now augment the US off-road vehicle segment, which is dominated by petrol engine models, with a particularly fascinating, responsive, but also economic model. The three Touaregs participating in the "Race to the Clouds" were the same as the standard production model, with the exception of special safety equipment for the competition (roll-over cage, fire extinguisher, sports seats with five-point seat belts). The three vehicles used diesel fuel with low sulphur content. Racing driver Mark Miller (who also drove at the Rallye Dakar 2006 for Volkswagen) was the fastest up the mountain: after 14 minutes and 8 seconds he saw the finish line and thus left many vehicles that had been built especially for the competition behind him. The other two Touareg V10 TDI vehicles were driven by Ryan Arciero and US racing legend Danny Sullivan.
The Touareg is an international success. In Germany, the Volkswagen off-road vehicle is available at prices as of 41,450 Euro (Touareg TDI with 128 kW / 174 bhp). The European version of the Touareg V10 TDI with 230 kW / 313 bhp costs 74,650 Euro."



Here's another that specifically mentions VW's plans for 50-state-legal:
"Washington DC October 11, 2006; The AIADA newsletter reported that sulfur diesel fuel will start hitting fuel pumps in the U.S. this month, presenting automakers with the opportunity to expand the use of European diesel technology in vehicles intended for the U.S. market, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Under new regulations, 80 percent of diesel fuel pumped at U.S. retail stations must be the new ultralow-sulfur type, and it will be the only diesel fuel allowed beginning in 2010.
The new diesel contains 97 percent less sulfur than the old version and emits only 15 parts per million of sulfur, compared with 500 parts per million.
Automakers are gearing up new models to try and take advantage of the fuel's arrival. Mercedes-Benz will start selling its diesel-powered E320 Bluetec sedan in 45 states beginning next week. The current model bests the strict federal emissions standard but falls short of the standard in five states. Mercedes says it will offer further Bluetec models that will meet standards in all 50 states as early as 2008.
Volkswagen plans to offer new diesel models in 2008 that will meet emissions standards in all states, while Honda and GM recently announced plans to offer light vehicle diesels in the U.S. over the next two or three years."

By the way Honda just announced its development of an emissions after treatment system capable of meeting Tier II Bin 5 standards that reduces NOx without the use of additives, using a catalytic converter instead.

The use of urea additives might be viewed by some as the easiest way to reduce emissions. A particulate filter alone may not be enough to satisfy future NOx restrictions. But Mercedes is only focusing its efforts on a V6 while others including GM, Ford/Range Rover, Audi & VW are already using or planning larger engines.
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JoeDiesel

Actually from the numbers I've seen this engine is only capable of 376 lbs ft (510 Nm) of torque.

Wolfgang

MBUSA specs 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) for the ML320 CDI. And a 0-60 of 8.0 seconds. It also has a particle filter. Here's the brochure:

http://www.mbusa.com/media/downloads...ure/mclass.pdf

I have had it on the Autobahn at speed a few times. Feels solid at 220 km/h. The top speed is nearly but not quite as high as in the ML400 CDI.

Wolfgang

I don't see them mentioning Bluetec yet. I assume they will announce it at the LA autoshow in December then, maybe together with the introduction of the VW Tiguan Bluetec small SUV.

JoeDiesel

Interesting. There are two sets of numbers floating around, even among U.S. publications. I wonder which is correct. I'm sure it's a nice solid vehicle and one that makes more sense than a GL320 but 8 seconds is a real oucher.

Alan Smithee

VW isn't offering any diesels for sale in CA for 2006 or 2007.

240D 3.0T

Because of some loophole, the VW Touareg TDI will be 50-state legal for about 3-months in late 2006 or early 2007.

"June 19, 2006
To: All U.S. Volkswagen Dealers, General Managers and Sales Managers
Re: Diesel Product Offerings

Later this year we will reintroduce the 2006 Touareg V10 TDI with a 50-state certification. The Touareg TDI will be the first light duty diesel in the U.S. to include a particulate filter. For the 2007 model year, the Touareg V10 TDI will be 45-state certified. As you are surely aware, EPA emission standards are becoming more stringent in calendar year 2007."

Alan Smithee

Well, that VW release contradicts itself...as I understand it, there were no MY2006 Touareg TDIs in the US; they were re-introduced as MY2007 models. And, as the release states, MY2007 TDIs are 45-state vehicles.

Has anybody actually seen a new TDI for sale in California? Just because a TDI with particulate filters passes CA's 2006 requirements, doesn't mean there actually are/were any.

Edit: OK, so it appears that VW strangely re-introduced the TDI as both 2006 and 2007 models in the last two months. Still curious if any actually made it to California dealers...