Wolfgang

Interesting writeup. Wonder if this is true?

EDMUNDS: "This is not the über-clean Bluetec diesel engine that will also debut this year in the E-Class sedan and will be 50-state legal."

Germancar1

I think so. The only time I've seen Bluetec used is on the E320, not the ML320, GL320 and R320. Why this is I don't know???? From what I've read here and there, Cali and New York are the only states causing the hold up on 50-state certification for the E320 Bluetec.

M

JoeDiesel

Maybe this will help MB get on the ball. Here's a few articles about Land Rover's plans to upgrade to a V8 Diesel in '07. No word on its U.S. debut but the more competitors offering V8s the better. If MB is unable to learn from VW's V10, maybe sales lost to Land Rover will get its attention.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=115588

http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/800/

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0...-21822,00.html

Remonster

My dad just showed me that article on the GL320 CDI at Edmunds and he says he's waiting to be more clear on whether they mean the GL320 CDI won't be 50 state certified (you can easily get one in Arizona and bring it here after you drive it a certain number of miles, no biggie since we have family there) or if they meant the GL will also get the engine in the E320 CDI which is 50 state certified (I hope so, obviously). Either way, 24 MPG is very nice and with ~380lbs/ft of torque that thing won't be very slow.

JoeDiesel

Hate to be the one to bust your myth but you need horsepower for acceleration, not torque. Torque only moves weight. The more torque you have the more weight you can move. It's horsepower that determines how fast you can move that weight. And with a ridiculously low 224 hp, the GL 320 CDI goes from 0-60 in 9.5 seconds!

Having a lot of torque may make a vehicle feel fast. But 380 lb-ft is paltry for torque. Even gasoline V6s can make that. Plus the GL has a gross vehicle weight of 7,150 lbs making that 380 not quite so impressive by the time you load it up.

9.5 seconds is sloooow! Minivans and trucks can go faster than that nowadays! Not since the 1980s were cars so slow. MB wants to reintroduce Diesels to the American public thinking it can erase the damage done to us by General Motors' Diesel disaster but it'll have a hard time if it thinks it can do it by putting tiny engines in big vehicles that take nearly 10 seconds to get to 60 mph and wheeze out such low performance figures. This day and age you can have both performance and fuel economy. That's what the 420 CDI does!

The GL 420 CDI has 518 lb-ft of torque and 306 hp. It goes 0-60 in 7.4 sec, about the same as the GL 450, and it gets around 24 mpg! Hell, my V10 TDI Touareg with 553 lb-ft of torque and 313 hp even gets 23 mpg!!! On top of that it goes 0-60 in only 6.8 sec! Someone please give Dr. Zetsche a kick in the pants!

JoeDiesel

Here's a brief but intelligent review from our UK friends. Also notice how the GL in their opinion stacks up against the competition.

http://www.verdictoncars.com/jsp/voc...s%20GL%20Class

Wolfgang

According to Edmunds there's a three month slot for 50 state diesels which VW will use to sell the Touareg V10. So MBUSA could offer them if they wanted to it seems. Did they opt out?

EDMUNDS: "A new set of more restrictive diesel emissions rules which go into effect January 1st of 2007 will force Volkswagen to restrict sales to 45 states next year, but for a period of about three months the Touareg TDI will be sold in all 50 states."

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=116017

Germancar1

MB has added some more info on the 2007 diesels:

http://www.mbusa.com/campaigns/alter...fuels/index.do

M

Wolfgang

Yes, looks like MBUSA plans two steps, first to Bin 8, then later to Bin 5.

JoeDiesel

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200660731022

Not up to the usual AutoWeek standards, Wes Raynal merely plagiarised MB's Icelandic press release. But nonetheless more info on the 320. According to this sales won't begin until Jan '07 and it still will be only be 45-state legal. Hello, Dr Zetsche, get with the program. At least I have my V10.

carpersn

Was April intro, now this Autoweek article says January...anyone know anymore than that...my dealer will not commit.

Also, true to Autoweek form, they list the MSRP at approx. $65k...no way. The premium on the 07 ML diesel is LESS than $1000, actually approx. $150.
Additionally, in this case, the diesel is not really on par with the 0-60mph performance of the gas engine as it is in the ML350/ML320CDI...wonder how they'll decide to handle that since we're dealing with a V8 gas vs. a V6 diesel.

Having waited since this past April to purchase a vehicle because i want the diesel GL, i am going nuts for any info i can get.

Wolfgang

I suspect it will be a 2008 model year GL320 CDI, and it might be earlier than April, maybe starting already in February like the 2007 S550 last year. Not sure yet about the pricing. Looks like for the ML with the V6es it's going to be a $395 difference between the ML320CDI and ML350 base prices.

carpersn

I certainly hope it's an 08 and that they have updated the options packages a la M=Class, and that they will finally make available ventilated seats, etc. which are Euro-only options as of now.

marc32

Last week while in the dealership getting service on my car. I inquired about the GL Class diesels. From the information I gathered the Gl Class will recieve the 6 cyl and 8 cyl diesels.

We will probably see the 6cyl in latter part of January. The 8cyl should arrive shortly there after. I placed an order for the 6cyl diesel.

I'm guessing mercedes might be holding off the 8 cyl to introduce a new S Class diesel. The only time Mercedes introduced a diesel in the class is when they introduced the 6cyl gas motors in the S class line up. I'm hoping they do

H-MAN

Sorry but the curb weight of the GL450 is 5,249 lbs. Maybe you were were looking at the 7,000 lbs towing rating.

Yeah, 9.5 seconds is too slow for 0-60. When I finally get to drive one and if it feels that slow I would probably go for the V-8 or the ML320 CDI.

JoeDiesel

Ah, that would be a no. Curb and gross vehicle are two different weights. Gross weight is the sum of a vehicle's curb weight and payload. So in this case 5,249 + 1,901 = 7,150 lbs.

But you're right about the acceleration. And unless you want to wave at Honda Odysseys as they pass you by, you might as well order your V8 or ML320 now.

Germancar1

Interesting that some think the GL420 CDI will come here, but I seriously doubt it.

M