Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Taking a break from all the hybrid and electric talk, Mercedes-Benz is back to what European carmakers know how to do best: diesel engines. The oil-burning power plants have gone a very long way during the last few decades, changing from something that was only deemed worthy of powering a truck, to making their way under the hood of luxury limousines. And, would you believe it, sports cars as well.
That doesn't mean it hasn't had its detractors all the way, and last September, their dreams must have come true as the renowned efficiency of these engines was proven to be just a scam. Well, in reality, it was just Volkswagen who was caught red handed, but a lot of people took the opportunity as a sign that diesel's reign was about to end.
Mercedes-Benz must have missed the memo, because here it is now, boasting about its new family of very efficient diesel engines. Launched on the E-Class medium-sized sedan this January, the four-cylinder OM 654 powers the E 220 d model and has an official fuel consumption rating of 3.9 liters per 100 kilometers (60.3 US mpg). This excellent efficiency comes together with a hefty increase in power (195 hp over the previous 170 hp).
The engine is part of the new modular family that will be used over the next years in a multitude of Mercedes-Benz cars and vans. They will be offered in various power ratings and will equip cars with front-, rear-, and all-wheel-drive.
These days, though, the focus is on NOx emissions, and Mercedes-Benz knows that all too well. Anticipating the question everybody would have asked ("alright, but how much NOx does it REALLY emit? You know, in the real world?"), Mercedes-Benz asked the independent German company DEKRA to run some tests in accordance with the Real Driving Emissions method that will come into effect in the EU in 2017. The E 220 d had lower NOx emissions than the 80 mg/km limit set by the EU for 2017 regardless of the road type or the car's load.
Over in the gasoline camp, Mercedes-Benz took advantage of this moment to reveal that it has been running field tests with the S500 model for two years, and is ready to make an announcement. Starting with the upcoming facelift, other Mercedes-Benz S-Class models running on gasoline will be equipped with particulate filters, just like their diesel counterparts. And who's to say Mercedes-Benz won't use them on the electric vehicles it plans to launch shortly?
Mercedes-Benz must have missed the memo, because here it is now, boasting about its new family of very efficient diesel engines. Launched on the E-Class medium-sized sedan this January, the four-cylinder OM 654 powers the E 220 d model and has an official fuel consumption rating of 3.9 liters per 100 kilometers (60.3 US mpg). This excellent efficiency comes together with a hefty increase in power (195 hp over the previous 170 hp).
The engine is part of the new modular family that will be used over the next years in a multitude of Mercedes-Benz cars and vans. They will be offered in various power ratings and will equip cars with front-, rear-, and all-wheel-drive.
These days, though, the focus is on NOx emissions, and Mercedes-Benz knows that all too well. Anticipating the question everybody would have asked ("alright, but how much NOx does it REALLY emit? You know, in the real world?"), Mercedes-Benz asked the independent German company DEKRA to run some tests in accordance with the Real Driving Emissions method that will come into effect in the EU in 2017. The E 220 d had lower NOx emissions than the 80 mg/km limit set by the EU for 2017 regardless of the road type or the car's load.
Over in the gasoline camp, Mercedes-Benz took advantage of this moment to reveal that it has been running field tests with the S500 model for two years, and is ready to make an announcement. Starting with the upcoming facelift, other Mercedes-Benz S-Class models running on gasoline will be equipped with particulate filters, just like their diesel counterparts. And who's to say Mercedes-Benz won't use them on the electric vehicles it plans to launch shortly?
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