Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Diesel engines were not built to put buses and trucks in motion, although that's what most people think of whenever this type of engine is mentioned.
Yes, we know, sportscars using diesel power are blasphemies, but not if your playground is Pikes Peak and your name is Mercedes-Benz.
Truth be told, the Mercedes-Benz C 300 d 4MATIC is not a performance car by any means, but it set a new record for diesel vehicles at Pikes Peak, in near-production guise.
With test driver Uwe Nittel behind the wheel, the Merc needed 11.37 minutes to complete the 19.99 km (12.4 miles) long route that includes more than 150 twists going up to an altitude of nearly 1,400 metres.
Speaking of elevation, the diesel engine had to face quite a struggle due to the thin air. The unit produces 204 HP and was mated with a seven-speed 7G-tronic transmission, just as in the production Mercedes C 300 d (known as the C 250 d in Europe).
Bearing in mind the saloon was turned into a racing car, the interior was stripped off to make room for a roll cage, a racing fuel tank and a fire extinguishing system.
Also, engineers fitted the sedan with enhanced brakes and ultra-high-performance tyres.
"Shoving a series diesel saloon with automatic transmission up Pikes Peak sounds like a crazy idea, put it was a lot of fun. And it showed that all the prejudices regarding diesel vehicles are well out of time," said test driver Uwe Nittel.
Don't get excited though, as Mercedes won't fit the AMG GT with a diesel mill.
Truth be told, the Mercedes-Benz C 300 d 4MATIC is not a performance car by any means, but it set a new record for diesel vehicles at Pikes Peak, in near-production guise.
With test driver Uwe Nittel behind the wheel, the Merc needed 11.37 minutes to complete the 19.99 km (12.4 miles) long route that includes more than 150 twists going up to an altitude of nearly 1,400 metres.
Speaking of elevation, the diesel engine had to face quite a struggle due to the thin air. The unit produces 204 HP and was mated with a seven-speed 7G-tronic transmission, just as in the production Mercedes C 300 d (known as the C 250 d in Europe).
Bearing in mind the saloon was turned into a racing car, the interior was stripped off to make room for a roll cage, a racing fuel tank and a fire extinguishing system.
Also, engineers fitted the sedan with enhanced brakes and ultra-high-performance tyres.
"Shoving a series diesel saloon with automatic transmission up Pikes Peak sounds like a crazy idea, put it was a lot of fun. And it showed that all the prejudices regarding diesel vehicles are well out of time," said test driver Uwe Nittel.
Don't get excited though, as Mercedes won't fit the AMG GT with a diesel mill.
Google News