The highly successful E-Class line of full-size sedans and wagons features an impressively broad and versatile range of models for 2008. Spanning from the thrifty, super-clean E320 BLÚETEC diesel to the 507-hp E63 AMG, the E-Class offers the perfect car for an equally diverse range of consumer needs. The E320 BLÚETEC luxury sedan delivers up to 32 miles per gallon (highway cycle), while at the other end of the product spectrum, the high-performance E63 AMG can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in an eye-popping 4.3 seconds. Among its industry-leading safety features, the E-Class line is now offered wîth PRE-SAFE as standard – the world’s first system that can sense and take protective measures before a crash. The innovative PRE-SAFE system first tensions the seatbelts if the car senses an impending collision.

PRE-SAFE uses resettable electric tensioners in addition to the existing pyrotechnic belt tensioners. What’s more, if the front passenger seat is overly reclined or forward, PRE-SAFE moves it to a more favorable crash position. If the seat cushion angle of the front passenger seat is too shallow, it is also re-adjusted to help prevent submarining. Finally, if the vehicle skids (often a precursor to rollover), the system can automatically close the sunroof and side windows. If a crash is averted, the electric belt tensioners automatically relax and are ready to deploy again. If necessary, PRE-SAFE reacts to fishtailing (or oversteer) as well as ‘plowing’ (or understeer) by using existing sensors for ESP stability control to measure §teering angle, vehicle yaw and lateral acceleration. Emergency braking can also trigger PRE-SAFE, which monitors sensors for the Brake Assist system as well.

The E350 uses the latest four-valve-per-cylinder V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, and the E550 model is powered by a 32-valve 5.5-liter V8 delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. The high-performance E63 AMG is powered by the first engine developed entirely by AMG – a 6.3-liter V8 that produces 507 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. One of the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8s ever, the new engine boasts a wealth of exciting features derived from AMG’s highly successful racing efforts.

The cylinder bores feature a twin-wire-arc-sprayed (TWAS) coating, a new process that results in impressively low friction and running surfaces that are twice as hard as conventional cast-iron cylinders. Built almost completely from a high-strength silicon-aluminum alloy, the new 6.3-liter features four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, bucket tappets (rather than rocker arms) and a variable intake manifold. The E63 AMG can be ordered wîth the performance package option that allows a 186-mph top speed instead of the usual 155-mph speed limiter. Other features in the package include AMG modified Airmatic sport suspension, 19-inch 2-piece alloy wheels, larger front discs (15.4- inch diameter), a limited-slip differential and a leather and alcantaner-wrapped AMG sport §teering wheel.

Price: $51,200 – 86,050.
Invoice: $47,615 – 80,030.

Combining several technologies to minimize diesel exhaust emissions, The E320 BLÚETEC starts wîth a purpose-built 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine that includes four valves per cylinder, centrally located piezo-electric injectors, third-generation CDI direct injection, a turbocharger wîth variable nozzle turbine and exhaust gas recirculation. Building on this foundation of advanced engine design, the E320 BLÚETEC incorporates four after-treatment units in the exhaust stream – an oxidizing catalytic converter, a particulate filter, a SCR catalytic converter and a ‘denox’ storage converter that absorbs nitrogen oxides temporarily.

During brief regeneration pulses of a richer fuel-air mixture, nitrogen oxides are released, reacting wîth other exhaust gas to form harmless nitrogen. These regeneration pulses also raise temperatures in the particulate filter, which burns off the accumulated deposits. The result – BLÚETEC can make a diesel as clean as a modern gasoline engine. BLÚETEC depends on the use of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel (less than 15 parts per million) that became available in the Ú.S. just last year. Sulfur is a natural element in most mineral oils that increases particulate emissions and has a corrosive effect on engine parts as well. The availability of very low-sulfur fuel enables the use of reliable particulate filters and efficient nitrogen-oxide after-treatment.

The Mercedes-Benz E320 BLÚETEC was named the ’2007 World Green Car’ today at a breakfast awards ceremony during the 2007 New York International Auto Show. Mercedes-Benz BLÚETEC, distinguished as the world’s cleanest diesel technology, is able to meet the world’s most stringent emissions regulations. The BLÚETEC concept utilizes state-of-the-art diesel technology featuring common-rail direct injection. Fuel consumption in these diesel vehicles is 20 to 40 percent lower than in cars equipped wîth a comparable gasoline engine, and torque, the key indicator of engine power, is 30 to 50 percent higher.

BLÚETEC is a modular concept that utilizes several coordinated technical measures to minimize emissions within the engine and also provide for effective exhaust gas treatment downstream. The process involves consistently reducing all relevant emission components to a minimum. The system for passenger cars includes an oxidation catalytic converter and a particulate filter in addition to new techniques for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions.

BLÚETEC technology is especially important for lowering nitrogen oxide emissions, which is the last type of exhaust gas that’s higher in diesel vehicles than gasoline engines. Úntil recently, the only real remaining disadvantage of diesel engines as compared to gasoline engines was in the area of particulates and nitrogen oxides. However, Mercedes-Benz set the standard for modern diesel drive systems in the fall of 2003, when it introduced the maintenance-free particulate filter in Europe as part of the EÚ4 emission standards. Despite reducing diesel emissions by 75 percent over the past 15 years, the company is going further. The E320 BLÚETEC achieves significantly better fuel mileage and longer cruising range (up to 700 miles) than a comparable gasoline-powered luxury car, but more important, it does it without the usual tradeoffs of diesel ownership.

Additionally, the E320 BLÚETEC is an impressive performance car, powered by 3.0-liter V6 wîth 208 horsepower and 400 lb-FT. of torque accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 6.6 seconds. To be eligible for the 2007 World Green Car award, a vehicle had to be all-new or substantially revised, in production, and for sale, in at least one major market during 2006. Either the vehicle or the green technology could be experimental or a prototype wîth near-future application, provided that it was released for individual or press fleet evaluations in quantities of ten or more during 2006. The World Car of the Year Awards program is initiated by, organized by, and conducted by, automotive journalists from around the globe. A non-profit association guided by a §teering committee of journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America administers the awards program.

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. MBÚSA, which has sold diesels here in the Únited 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 BLÚETEC 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 MBÚSA. ‘BLÚETEC 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, BLÚETEC 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 BLÚETEC 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 MBÚSA prepares to begin phasing in 50-state BLÚETEC 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 BLÚETEC 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.