VamosRafa!

Hi Guys,

Again with this issue, but I am really anxious for it.....

Does any of you have any more and concrete regarding when GL 420 Bluetec will be on the US market?

When will MB accept new orders for it?

Saludos!!

Nevada Jack

I think you may see it sometime in mid-2008. It must first be approved by the government to meet air standards and since it will probably be a 50 state system meaning Urea injection, the infrastructure to support the Urea must be in place. This all will take time. These are only guesses based on information available right now.

H-MAN

I've been waiting for this truck since it's debut at the NY show. Autoweek just reviewed the ML320 and one reviewer declared it the best ML he's driven with an average of 27 MPG!. I'm hoping for the same with the GL, more torque, more MPG.

GL Fahrer

There is no need (or future) for a GL420 in the USA.
GL320 diesel has 398lb-ft torque and can tow 7500lbs...why pay $7000 more for two extra cylinders on a car without the possibility of getting the Off-Road package?

Nevada Jack

The decision is already made that the GL420 will come to the US.

As far as a "future" for it I think it could displace the demand for the 550. It will be a rocket off the line with torque to spare and mileage to make many luxury SUV owner's happy.

Stumblefoot

I couldn't agree more. I know that's the model we'd opt for.

Glad to see it cooled down to 105 today in Vegas. Denver set a record of 100 if you can believe that. Leadville? A nice, cool and comfortable 76 today. Incredible summers up there, but brutal winters.

oknish

Bingo, NJ. That is what I am stuck with too like Stumble. 420 or 550? The only thing driving me towards 550 is earlier availability than 420. Otherwise, IMO, 420 comes out ahead by virtue of better mileage.

GL Fahrer

The GL420 Bluetec Vision you saw at DAS was a "Vision" car from Germany and will not be coming to the U.S. (or any other V-8 diesel)

Nevada Jack

In my opinion the 420 Bluetec will not be the only V8 to come to the US but BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and RangeRover will also be selling them. Diesel technology is advancing and will be absolutely necessary for makers to reach future CAFE standards in their fleets. Initial entrants will all be V6 in an effort to re-educate the US market with the new diesels. When the V8's will come is a guess but they will certainly come.

You speak with such authority GL Faher...what are your sources for these "facts." Have you not read of the Hybrid Diesel that MB is developing? Have you not seen the cooperative effort with Bluetec among German makers and the articles claiming 2010 will be the beginning of the diesel surge? Why would MB (and others) not introduce a V8 diesel in US vehicles?

boxboss

I believe a V8 will be required for mass appeal in the US. Even though the torque numbers will be excellent, a majority of US buyers (IMO) will not be able to get past the V6 vs V8 mindset. Not too many regular guys would brag about getting the new V6 to their buddies who have gas V8's. I may be off base on this, but I think it will be a perception thing.

Nevada Jack

You got it right BB...V8's rule and the perception factor is real...

GL Fahrer

The perception factor (above) does not drive long-term sales.

M-B can only sell CDI in 42 states for MY2008, and even less in 2009.
This is what necessitated the development of a 50 state compliant Bluetec on the V-6
I'm sure that the 320 BlueTec will margionally get the M-B line into compliance, and a 420 engine would only hurt them.
If people just want a bigger car badge, then by all means get a 550. But if you want diesel with decent mileage and the same towing capacity, then stick with the V-6.
What's more, there is no competitive pressure on M-B for a different diesel and the cost of a V-8 diesel just doesn't make sense to the typical GL buyer. Check out the prices in Europe...why would a "badge conscious" American buy a 420 when there is a 450 cheaper and a 550 priced the same?

It may be cool, but the 420 is not necessary in the U.S.
Just my $.02

oknish

The above seems like a definite statement that 420 will not come to US.

But then in more recent post, Fahrer, you state that it is just your opinion.

So what is it? A fact or your opinion? You have a right to your opinion, just as everyone else. But when you state your opinion in factual terms without information to back it up then it causes simple minds like mine to get confused.

GL Fahrer

My opinion is the GL420 is not necessary here in the U.S.

oinick

I agree that there is no need in the US for a V8 diesel and that the GL 320 is a great truck. It is difficult to see why there would be enough market appeal in the US to pay at least as much (maybe more) for a 420 than a 550 when the 320 is selling well.

It seems that selling two diesels would not be a good marketing move for another reason: wouldn't sales of two models cannibalize sales from each other as well as from the gasoline models? The only marketing move that does make sense is to discontinue the 320 in the GL, but again selling only the GL420 pushes the truck past GL 450 price territory into 550 range.

As for bragging rights about a V6 SUV, I quieted my neighbors' chuckles with a test drive.

To be honest, I hope to avoid the temptation of a 420 if it does come here by not driving it!

Nevada Jack

I would also agree there is probably "no need" for a V8 diesel. However, this will not change the trend and marketing plan for MB (as well as other makers.). The diesel market is going to become very competitive in 2010 and beyond and the new CAFE levels will force higher MPG requirements. MB will find a way to integrate the V8 models into their line-up and the good old American desire for power and speed will do the rest...:-)

G55K

"Need" is irrelevent!

Nevada Jack

Ain't that the truth...if need was relevant in the car buying equation we would all be driving Chevy Vega's or Ford Pinto's.

nantucketsleigh

Any thoughts as to how 4.2 diesel will be spread around MB lineup? Will there be an S?

Nevada Jack

Absolutely none at this point. An S420 would be a logical choice but also they are working on a hybrid which would also be a possibility in the S. I would think they may start with the SUV models and work from there based on acceptance. They did show the GL420 Vision in Detroit and NY? Depends a great deal on what the competition does also.

Taz0369

With gas prices not showing any signs of dropping significantly, Americans have already used their checkbooks to send out a signal that they want better fuel efficiency...just look at how the sales of Expeditions etc, have dropped like a brick. Hybrids (to date anyway) have not proved to be the "be all, end all" technology that it was thought it would be. E85 hasn't quite taken off yet either. But Americans have an insatiable appetite for big roomy SUV's AND an insatiable appetite for power...and few are willing to give a "station wagon" (R-Class, E-Class, Ford Freestyle, etc.) a second look. The car magazines are already saying that there will be a huge wave of diesels introduced between now and 2010. So IMHO, given the fuel economy and torque of diesels, and the relatively low purchase premium for the technology, I think once the American public catches on that these new diesels aren't the smoking, clattering, slow behemoths that the old generation diesels were, they'll start selling like hotcakes. I think there will be a huge demand for various diesel engines in the same model line, as these different engines correspond to different price points.

nantucketsleigh

When Car&Driver tested the 2007 E320 they got 34mpg despite very aggressive driving. If an S420 got around 30mpg in normal driving it would be hard to resist. Likely its performance would equal or exceed that of the rumored S450 with a range circa 700 miles. The principal risk would be stealing from the S550.

StevethePilot

Resistance is futile!

StevethePilot

We've been foolishly following the Hybrid red-herring here for too long. In Europe (outside of Germany) and in Asia (particularly Tokyo), there's enough small roads with strong curves and stop-and-go "freeways" that a hybrid could be a sensible - albeit highly complex - alternative. In the US, we have long, straight, nonstop roads outside of our cities. Driving in the city? Hybrid's great. On the 94% of the rest of the roads in the country? Diesel, period. That's why trains use diesel to generate their electricity (long, constant speed turing) and why tractor-trailer trucks use it (great torque, useable efficiency). It's a simpler system, with fewer moving parts, is efficient and an existing technology, and (I think) will in the future lend itself much better to dual-mode systems, giving the necessary punch and economy on the highway while switiching to electric when useful in the city.

Where's the "Getting off my soap box" emoticon here?

boxboss

If I could buy a 420 that got 30mpg, I'd trade my 5 week old 450 today. I don't think a 420 would have to cannabalize sales from any other model. The more options a company offers, the more potential buyers it can attract. I see much more of a market in the long term for a 420 than a 550. This market would not have to come from potential 550 buyers - it could be converts from other makes that do not want gas but want a V8. If MB was the first to market a V8 diesel, I think Vance would get even further behind.