Mercedes E320 Bluetec: California Gets Its First Diesel Car In Years

Mercedes is reintroducing diesel cars in California with the market launch of the E320 BLUETEC, the first diesel-powered vehicle to be available in the sunshine state for nearly a decade -no thanks to California's stringent emissions requirements. Beginning from today, Californian customers will be able to obtain a E320 BLUETEC under a two-year/24,000 mile lease program through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. According to the German carmaker, the E320 BLUETEC is lease-priced on a par with its petrol sibling, the E350. -Press release after the jump

Mercedes is First to Bring Diesel Back to California

E320 BLUETEC Makes Market Debut in Los Angeles at Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek at Smashbox Studios

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15 -- On the runway at this week's Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek at Smashbox Studios, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) unveiled a version of its E320 BLUETEC, a diesel sedan that will immediately be available in limited numbers to California customers through a special two- year/24,000-mile lease.

California's stringent emissions requirements have kept new diesel automobiles models off the California market for the better part of a decade. The new E320 BLUETEC - distinguished as "2007 World Green Car" by an international panel of journalists earlier this year - changes all that.

BLUETEC denotes state-of-the-art engine and exhaust technology which produces the cleanest diesels available on the market today. Utilizing this technology, the V6-powered E320 BLUETEC diesel is able to provide the powerful torque of a large V8 engine with the low fuel consumption of a four-cylinder compact.

"In order to be able to provide the power and economy of diesel technology throughout the world, we had to make the diesel version as clean as the gasoline model. With BLUETEC, nitrogen oxides can be reduced to such an extent that our diesel vehicles will satisfy the strictest emission regulations in the world -- even in the future. This makes Mercedes-Benz the first manufacturer in the world to fully bring all exhaust gas components under control," said Dr. Leopold Mikulic, head of powertrain development at Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Beginning October 15, MBUSA will offer its E320 BLUETEC to customers under a two-year/24,000 mile lease program through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. The E320 BLUETEC is lease-priced on a par with its gasoline sibling, the E350.

The special limited-mileage lease program is the first step in the company's plans to offer consumers diesel alternatives in all 50 states. MBUSA will offer 50-state diesels across its SUV model lines (M, GL and R- Class) late next year and will continue to add to its alternative powertrain offerings.

According to Tom Cackette, executive director for the California Air Resources Board (CARB), "The E320 is testimony to demanding nothing but the cleanest vehicles for California. Mercedes-Benz has developed a diesel emission control system that results in a car as clean as comparable gasoline vehicles being sold here. This vehicle has shed the reputation of diesel as a dirty technology. And we hope California has shed its anti-diesel reputation by certifying this vehicle as the first diesel passenger car to meet the most stringent smog emission standards in the world."

MBUSA, which has sold diesels here in the United States for 40 years, believes diesels are an ideal solution for today's luxury car buyers because they yield a significant increase in fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance or interior room. The E320 BLUETEC can go nearly 700 highway miles on a single tank of fuel.

"We're breaking new ground here as we pave the way for the return of the diesel to California," said Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of MBUSA. "BLUETEC is the most promising technology for customers who want to get up to 20-40 percent higher fuel efficiency without sacrificing the performance and the driving characteristics they're used to." According to Lieb, the California market plays a critical role in the comeback of the diesel: "In addition to being one of the top automotive markets in the world, California has tremendous influence. We know we have quite a few loyal diesel buyers there who have been waiting for the opportunity to get back into a diesel, but we also want to tap into a new group of buyers who are interested in making their dollar go farther without compromising performance or their personal style."

Beyond their fuel efficiency, from an environmental standpoint, BLUETEC vehicles are the cleanest diesels available in the world today. Since diesels inherently burn less fuel than gasoline vehicles, they also produce significantly lower emissions of carbon dioxide (C02). Also, in BLUETEC vehicles particulate levels are reduced to levels comparable -- or better than -- that of gasoline-powered vehicles. Similarly, NOX emissions are reduced to meet the most stringent exhaust limits in the world.

The California lease program will function as a bridge as MBUSA prepares to begin phasing in 50-state BLUETEC vehicles nationwide starting in 2008. The first step will be the extension of the special lease program to other states which do not currently allow sales of new diesel automobiles in January 2008. Later in 2008, Mercedes will introduce another BLUETEC system on its M-, R- and GL-Class vehicles. This system utilizes AdBlue injection, a process that adds precisely measured quantities of a urea-based solution into the exhaust stream which enhances long-term emissions performance sufficient to meet the stringent BIN 5 standards.

Video: 2009 Mercedes E 63 AMG Spied At The Nurburgring Race Track

Spy photographers or shall we call them spy cinematographers have managed to scoop the top-version of the next generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class performing test runs around the iconic Nurburging race track in Germany. Expected to be introduced in late 2009 or early 2010, the E 63 AMG will probably retain the current model’s 514Hp strong 6.3-liter V8 upgraded though to produce around 550Hp in order to justify the 2009/2010 name tag.

Via: WFC

Binz E-Class Limos & Hearses Available With Mercedes CLS Fascia

Sometime ago –actually, ages in internet years, we showed you the Binz CLS Hearse which was nothing more than an E-Class SW with a CLS fascia and a boot larger than life –knock on wood… Well Binz now announced that it’s bringing the “CLS flavor” to all its E-Class extended-chassis range as an extra cost option which means you can have a 6door E-Class limousine with a CLS front-end. According to the German owned procrustean coachbuilder, the cars fitted with this fascia get front wings manufactured from advanced composites and more importantly, they preserve the base E-Class collision performance characteristics. -Full press release after the jump

BINZ Unveils Coupé de Grace

It’s not enough these days to operate the best engineered cars in the world. They have to look good too. Nowhere is this truer than in the exalted world of the top class European coachbuilders, where luxury saloons are hand-crafted into the 6-door limousines that waft government ministers, top executives, and their entourages from A to B. To cater for this growing awareness of style,.

This new ‘face’ of Binz is so-far only to be made available as an extra cost option on its existing E-Class limousine and hearse line-up. Kevin Smith, sales director of the company explains the thinking behind the : “It really comes down to the saying that your fleet is your best marketing asset, and that means having something that is instantly recognisable. In a sense the E-Class has been the victim of its own success. We are not the only coachbuilder using this platform as a base, and operators are increasingly seeing in the Mercedes-Benz brand a quick way of lifting their businesses onto a different plane.

“Though we can boast a myriad of technical innovations and full manufacturer engineering approval, these are all features that in the main only become apparent to the passenger once they have ridden in a Binz vehicle. So by offering our customers this CLS styling option, they now have yet another way of differentiating their service from that of the competition”.

Far from being a simple cosmetic makeover, Binz had to surmount a number of technical challenges when developing this option. Entirely new wings were required, manufactured not from steel – or even aluminium, the traditional coachbuilder’s medium – but from advanced composites. Care also needed to be taken to preserve the base E-Class collision performance characteristics, as well as ensuring that the curves that are so much of the CLS appeal, were to blend seamlessly into the E-Class’ flanks.

Underneath the skin, the CLS version of Binz’s 6-door limousine retains the magic carpet ride of the company’s ‘standard’ model, with AirMATIC suspension and active ride technology recalibrated in concert with Mercedes-Benz to take into account the vehicle’s increases in wheelbase and kerbweight.

Scoop: 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Due to be unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the next-gen Mercedes-Benz E-Class will follow under the steps of its smaller sibling the new C-Class, giving particular attention to quality and design. Car Magazine managed to obtain several spy pics offering us a first view of the new E-Class which goes under the code name, W212. From what we can make, Mercedes designers have used styling elements from the new C-Class and the S-Class. Overall the camouflaged prototype with its "lifted" rear-end seems sleeker than the current model. As for the estate version, expect it to be unveiled the following year (2010). No word on the engine range, but we suspect that along with the current motors (which may be tweaked till then), Mercedes will present a light-turbocharged version of one of its V6 or V8 petrol-engines to compete with BMW's twin-turbo six-cylinder engine . Via: Autoblog.it Source: Car

Technorati: Mercedes-Benz+E-Class, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

New performance pack for the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

If you believe that you’ll do away with all the “extra-equipment” hustles if you buy a top spec version like Mercedes-Benz’s E63 AMG better think again. These guys make a living from offering extras to their top models. Like the “Limited Sport Edition” of the BMW 1-Series that we previously posted, the Performance-Pack for the E63 AMG is all about appearance, a stiffer suspension and of course, a hefty price tag which in this case is 7.140 EUROS or 9.300 USD. –Continued: Click “Read more…” below Via: Autoblog.com & Mercedes

PRESS RELEASE: A special AMG performance package will shortly be available ex factory for the sporty 378 kW/514 hp E 63 AMG Saloon. It comprises various technical components which significantly enhance the handling dynamics, the motorsport potential and the individuality of this model. The performance package was developed at the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO in Affalterbach and the vehicles are built at the DaimlerChrysler production plant in Sindelfingen.

The performance package will be available for the E 63 AMG Saloon from March 2007. The performance package at a glance:

• 18-inch 5-spoke multipiece AMG alloy wheels, painted sterling silver, front wheels size 8.5 x 18 with 245/40 R 18 tyres, rear wheels size 9.5 x 18 with 265/35 R 18 tyres
• AMG performance suspension with firmer tuning, based on AIRMATIC DC
• Multi-disc rear locking differential with 40% locking effect, providing more traction when accelerating out of corners
• AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel in leather/black Alcantara with silver-coloured aluminium shift paddles

Using various higher-performance components, the AMG performance package for the E 63 AMG puts the accent on dynamic handling and performance. The result is a breathtaking driving experience for ambitious sports car enthusiasts who want to have the option of using their AMG performance model on closed-circuit racetracks. Customers benefit from the extensive motorsport know-how gained by Mercedes-AMG GmbH over the course of four decades. The E 63 performance package is priced at 7,140 euros (incl. 19% VAT).

The AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO in Affalterbach can take the customisation even further, building distinctive – or even unique – vehicles on the basis of individual customer specifications.

Technorati: Mercedes-Benz+E63+AMG, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

AMG optional extras available ex factory

For the SLK 55 AMG, SL 55 AMG, E 63 AMG, CLS 63 AMG and CLK 63 AMG models, exclusive individual optional extras from the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO are now for the first time also available ex factory.

SLK 55 AMG

• 18-inch twin-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels, multipiece
• AMG performance suspension
• AMG carbon trim parts
• Velour floor mats with AMG lettering

SL 55 AMG

• 19-inch twin-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels, multipiece
• Velour floor mats with AMG lettering

E 63 AMG Saloon and Estate

• 18-inch five-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels, multipiece
• AMG performance suspension, based on AIRMATIC DC (only for saloon)
• AMG rear locking differential
• Velour floor mats with AMG lettering

CLS 63 AMG

• 19-inch five-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels, multipiece
• AMG performance suspension, based on AIRMATIC DC
• AMG rear locking differential
• Velour floor mats with AMG lettering

CLK 63 AMG

• Velour floor mats with AMG lettering