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Mercedes BlueTEC SUVs Come to Europe

Daimler announced today it will bring to the Old Continent its "BlueTEC SUVs". All three of them, they say, meaning that starting September 2009, European customers will take to the road their new ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC and R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC.

BlueTEc is the technology Mercedes has developed in order to meet the American emission regulations. It is intended to reduce diesel vehicle emissions, especially nitrogen oxide (a gas found in higher concentrations in diesel engines than in gasoline ones).

The BlueTEC works by injecting a water-based urea solution into the exhaust flow, a minor feat of engineering which allows for a 80 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides. The harmful gas is converted into nitrogen and water in the catalytic converter.

As if that wasn't enough, all of the three SUVs meet the EU6 standard emissions, set to come into effect in 2014. The three SUVs are powered by the same V6 engine. The unit develops 211 horsepower and 540 Nm of torque.

As was to be expected, the best way to advertise the BlueTEC to the European market is to point out those who chose to go the BlueTEC way. Mercedes, as you can see in the official photos they've released, places its trust in the likes of movie & music stars.

"My ML 320 BlueTEC has all the power and luxury you’d expect of a Mercedes-Benz, plus the efficiency and low environmental impact of an economy or even hybrid vehicle," Emmy Rossum said on behalf of the BlueTEC SUVs.

As we said, the new addition to the European market will arrive this autumn. Price wise, the ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC starts at 48,400 euros, while the GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC stands at 60,850 euros. The last of the three, the R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, will cost 50,100 euros. All of the prices do not include VAT.

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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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