We may have saved a few mpg on our road trip, but we didn't do any favors for the insect life along I-5.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)We were recently given the opportunity to take the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL320 BlueTEC on a long-distance road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back. While this seven seated behemoth was probably not the best vehicle to transport one journalist across the state of California, we figured this long trip down Interstate 5 would be a good opportunity to see how close the fuel-efficient diesel powerplant could get to its EPA estimated mileage.
The powerplant in question is a 3.0-L turbodiesel V-6 that outputs 210 horsepower and a beefy 398 pound-feet of torque. The engine sends its power through a seven-speed adaptive automatic transmission to Mercedes-Benz's 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system. Keeping the diesel's emissions clean is an AdBlue injection system that scrubs up to 80 percent of NOx from the exhaust gases. Greenies will be happy to know that the BlueTEC diesel is also approved for use with B5 biodiesel.
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Mercedes-Benz)
Fresh on the heels of the reveal of the C250 BlueEfficiency, Mercedes gives us a peek at the future of the E-Class with the ConceptFascination. As the name indicates, we are only looking at a concept. However, with the still handsome, but slightly dated looking, E-Class due for a refresh, we can expect at least the broad strokes of the concept to translate to production.
Under the hood, the ConceptFascination is powered by the same new 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel engine that will be introduced on the C250 BlueEfficiency. Mercedes has already made public its intentions to use this engine in the next E-Class, so at least the concept's heart is in the right place.
The styling of the ConceptFascination is evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, when compared with the current E-Class. The refresh applies the updated design direction of the C-Class to the proportions of the E-Class. Gone is the simple chrome grille; in its place is a wider single bar grille and huge Mercedes badge, pulled straight off of the C-Class. The E-Class's quad oval headlamps have become quad angular LED headlamps with C-shaped fiber optic running lights. In fact the entire front end becomes more pointed and angular, with a distinct center crease running up the front air dam and along the hood to the windshield, continuing toward the rear of the concept along the roof.
ConceptFascination shooting brake pictured with the current E-Class Wagon.
(Credit: Mercedes-Benz)From the side, it can be seen that the ConceptFascination a not quite a wagon, but not quite a coupe, "shooting brake" configuration that we don't see much of these days. Mercedes has mentioned that an E-Class Coupe is in the works, so perhaps this shooting brake concept is showing us what we can expect to see. Overall, the profile has a nice visual flow with its sweeping roofline and muscular rear fenders.
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Mercedes-Benz)
Viewed from the rear, the longitudinal crease started at the front bumper continues and intersects with the rear fender crease. Downward sloped tail lamps, quad rhomboid tail pipes, and a pointed bumper continue the angular theme established by the front end.
While there are no photos of the interior yet, renderings hint that Mercedes will be using a four bucket seat setup, with a center console that flows from the dash back to the rear passenger compartment.
At the 2008 New York International auto show, Brian Cooley takes a look at the newly redesigned Mercedes M-Class. It not only got a refreshed design outside, but also the inside has been updated with a richer media interface and a new voice-control system.
The Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC was unveiled at the New York auto show.
(Credit: CNET Networks/Sarah Tew)Mercedes-Benz showed off the BlueTEC ML320 SUV at the 2008 New York auto show. According to Mercedes-Benz, its AddBlue technology makes the ML320 the world's cleanest diesel. The ML320 BlueTEC uses a turbocharged diesel 3.2-liter V-6 engine, producing 210 horsepower and 398 foot-pounds of torque. That engine is mated to a seven speed automatic transmission, giving it wide range of gear ratios appropriate for city and freeway driving. The ML320 BlueTEC represents the first use of AddBlue technology in the U.S. AddBlue is a urea-based liquid that, when injected into the exhaust stream, converts 80 percent of the nitrogen oxide into ammonia. The ML320 has a 7 gallon tank for AddBlue that needs refilling every 10,000 miles. With AddBlue, the ML320 meets the emissions requirements of all 50 states. Mercedes-Benz will follow the ML320 BlueTEC with R-Class and GL-class BlueTEC models.
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