MERCEDES GL-CLASS
Communities from Pacific Palisades to Pompano Beach will quake with enough excitement to register on the Richter scale when word of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class spreads among the nation’s affluent. This handsome new SUV, a seven-seater built on the same platform as the recently redesigned M-Class, represents the most appealing of the German automaker’s sport-utility vehicles, which range from the odd-looking R-Class sport-tourer on the car side of the equation to the combat-ready G-Glass military vehicle on the truck side. The conservatively-styled GL-Class neatly splits the difference between the wild R- and rugged G-Class models, while allowing its smaller M-Class sibling to serve the style-conscious crowd.
Mercedes-Benz debuted the 2007 GL-Class at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. A 4.6-liter, 335-horsepower V8 engine is standard, matched to a seven-speed automatic transmission that drives all four wheels through the company’s 4Matic 4WD system. Downhill Assist Regulation and Hill Start Assist technologies are also standard, while an Off-Road package includes a two-speed transfer case, front and rear locking differentials, and an air suspension that can raise the GL-Class an additional 12 inches to create a maximum fording depth of 23 inches. The hardware roster also includes a four-wheel-independent suspension, speed-sensitive steering, and 18-inch alloy wheels wearing 265/60 all-season tires. An Airmatic air suspension and adaptive damping shocks are optional. The 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is rated to tow up to 7,500 pounds, and if history is any indicator, a Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG is likely arriving in showrooms for 2008 or 2009.
Inside, leather and burl walnut wood dominate, and there’s a standard power sunroof with a fixed glass panel located over the third-row seats. When the power split-folding third-row seats are not in use, the GL-Class can carry 43.8 cubic feet of cargo. Fold the second-row seats and it can manage up to 83 cubic feet of stuff. As with the M- and R-Class models, a long list of optional features including Premium, Sport, Comfort, and Entertainment packages is likely to be available, along with features such as a navigation system, satellite radio, and Keyless Go ignition.
Built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama employing steel unibody construction with front and rear crumple zones, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class should prove quite safe with two-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags for the first and second rows, and side-curtain airbags for all three rows of seats.
When the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class arrives, it will take on the redesigned 2007 Cadillac Escalade, and will duke it out with a larger, all-new BMW X5. Based on BMW’s polarizing design themes, our initial driving impressions of the M-Class, and what we know about the Escalade, it looks like Mercedes is neatly positioned to grab more market share with the new GL-Class. – Christian J. Wardlaw
Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
About Christian Wardlaw Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
FOR MORE INFO:
Communities from Pacific Palisades to Pompano Beach will quake with enough excitement to register on the Richter scale when word of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class spreads among the nation’s affluent. This handsome new SUV, a seven-seater built on the same platform as the recently redesigned M-Class, represents the most appealing of the German automaker’s sport-utility vehicles, which range from the odd-looking R-Class sport-tourer on the car side of the equation to the combat-ready G-Glass military vehicle on the truck side. The conservatively-styled GL-Class neatly splits the difference between the wild R- and rugged G-Class models, while allowing its smaller M-Class sibling to serve the style-conscious crowd.
Mercedes-Benz debuted the 2007 GL-Class at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. A 4.6-liter, 335-horsepower V8 engine is standard, matched to a seven-speed automatic transmission that drives all four wheels through the company’s 4Matic 4WD system. Downhill Assist Regulation and Hill Start Assist technologies are also standard, while an Off-Road package includes a two-speed transfer case, front and rear locking differentials, and an air suspension that can raise the GL-Class an additional 12 inches to create a maximum fording depth of 23 inches. The hardware roster also includes a four-wheel-independent suspension, speed-sensitive steering, and 18-inch alloy wheels wearing 265/60 all-season tires. An Airmatic air suspension and adaptive damping shocks are optional. The 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is rated to tow up to 7,500 pounds, and if history is any indicator, a Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG is likely arriving in showrooms for 2008 or 2009.
Inside, leather and burl walnut wood dominate, and there’s a standard power sunroof with a fixed glass panel located over the third-row seats. When the power split-folding third-row seats are not in use, the GL-Class can carry 43.8 cubic feet of cargo. Fold the second-row seats and it can manage up to 83 cubic feet of stuff. As with the M- and R-Class models, a long list of optional features including Premium, Sport, Comfort, and Entertainment packages is likely to be available, along with features such as a navigation system, satellite radio, and Keyless Go ignition.
Built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama employing steel unibody construction with front and rear crumple zones, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class should prove quite safe with two-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags for the first and second rows, and side-curtain airbags for all three rows of seats.
When the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class arrives, it will take on the redesigned 2007 Cadillac Escalade, and will duke it out with a larger, all-new BMW X5. Based on BMW’s polarizing design themes, our initial driving impressions of the M-Class, and what we know about the Escalade, it looks like Mercedes is neatly positioned to grab more market share with the new GL-Class. – Christian J. Wardlaw
Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
About Christian Wardlaw Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
FOR MORE INFO:
:http://www.carsmart.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/905
2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
There’s something to be said for a re-skin. Many people, especially in areas such as Southern California, go in for a mid-cycle refresher all the time. It makes ‘em beautiful again, at least for a little while, and besides, once the botox or the tan or the lift wears down, one can easily go in and get another round of re-skinning done. Mercedes-Benz is onboard with this type of thinking. In fact, they just got back from the automotive plastic surgeon, and they showed off the new “them” at the 2006 New York International Auto Show.
It was a shock – literally. With models juking around the new 2007 E-Class wearing chain metal suits – who knew chain metal could be so sexy -- and passing streams of electric energy back, forth and through the car, all the assembled journalists left the press conference with a sudden boost in brain power.
That’s too bad for Mercedes-Benz, if true, because many of these smarter scribes will likely write shoppers of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class should wait a model year or two, and get a thoroughly revised model – reportedly due to debut this summer. For those who just can’t wait, the 2007 model gets a mild freshening to bumpers, grille, headlights and tail lights, and the addition of another two models: the E550, featuring a 5.5-liter V8 delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque, and the E63 AMG, which will be powered by a new 6.3-liter V8 that makes 503 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. The E-Class will also get a bevy of S-Class technology, including Pre-Safe, the proactive safety feature that prepares the car and its occupants for an impact by setting into motion pretensioners, head restraints and other devices. Also standard on the 2007 E-Class will be Mercedes’ innovative intelligent headlamps, which sense the type of roadway and adjust accordingly.
Unfortunately, this technology is not yet available in the U.S. New standard equipment on the E-Class includes an upgraded stereo with six-disc CD changer, a new steering wheel, and a larger sunroof. Mercedes-Benz also announced plans to launch the E320 BLUETEC, which they claim to be the cleanest diesel passenger car in its class.
Photos by Ron Perry
About Brian Chee Prior to joining Autobytel in the Spring of 2000, Brian Chee spent 15 years as a writer and editor in his native southern California, his work appearing in a wide variety of regional newspapers and online publications. As an editor at Autobytel, Brian has been quoted in numerous regional and national publications, including the Wall St. Journal and InStyle Magazine. He is responsible for writing, editing and planning content for three of the company’s consumer websites: autobytel.com, autoweb.com and carsmart.com. His “beat” includes vehicle reviews, features, news and Auto Show coverage. Brian considers himself a “SoCal” car enthusiast: the kind who grades a car on how it handles today’s urban and suburban reality of daily traffic gridlock, rising fuel prices and fast-paced lifestyles. Brian is an Eagle Scout, a member of the Automotive Press Association, the Motor Press Guild, and the California State University Advisory Board for Internet Writing. Brian holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism.
for more info:
2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
There’s something to be said for a re-skin. Many people, especially in areas such as Southern California, go in for a mid-cycle refresher all the time. It makes ‘em beautiful again, at least for a little while, and besides, once the botox or the tan or the lift wears down, one can easily go in and get another round of re-skinning done. Mercedes-Benz is onboard with this type of thinking. In fact, they just got back from the automotive plastic surgeon, and they showed off the new “them” at the 2006 New York International Auto Show.
It was a shock – literally. With models juking around the new 2007 E-Class wearing chain metal suits – who knew chain metal could be so sexy -- and passing streams of electric energy back, forth and through the car, all the assembled journalists left the press conference with a sudden boost in brain power.
That’s too bad for Mercedes-Benz, if true, because many of these smarter scribes will likely write shoppers of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class should wait a model year or two, and get a thoroughly revised model – reportedly due to debut this summer. For those who just can’t wait, the 2007 model gets a mild freshening to bumpers, grille, headlights and tail lights, and the addition of another two models: the E550, featuring a 5.5-liter V8 delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque, and the E63 AMG, which will be powered by a new 6.3-liter V8 that makes 503 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. The E-Class will also get a bevy of S-Class technology, including Pre-Safe, the proactive safety feature that prepares the car and its occupants for an impact by setting into motion pretensioners, head restraints and other devices. Also standard on the 2007 E-Class will be Mercedes’ innovative intelligent headlamps, which sense the type of roadway and adjust accordingly.
Unfortunately, this technology is not yet available in the U.S. New standard equipment on the E-Class includes an upgraded stereo with six-disc CD changer, a new steering wheel, and a larger sunroof. Mercedes-Benz also announced plans to launch the E320 BLUETEC, which they claim to be the cleanest diesel passenger car in its class.
Photos by Ron Perry
About Brian Chee Prior to joining Autobytel in the Spring of 2000, Brian Chee spent 15 years as a writer and editor in his native southern California, his work appearing in a wide variety of regional newspapers and online publications. As an editor at Autobytel, Brian has been quoted in numerous regional and national publications, including the Wall St. Journal and InStyle Magazine. He is responsible for writing, editing and planning content for three of the company’s consumer websites: autobytel.com, autoweb.com and carsmart.com. His “beat” includes vehicle reviews, features, news and Auto Show coverage. Brian considers himself a “SoCal” car enthusiast: the kind who grades a car on how it handles today’s urban and suburban reality of daily traffic gridlock, rising fuel prices and fast-paced lifestyles. Brian is an Eagle Scout, a member of the Automotive Press Association, the Motor Press Guild, and the California State University Advisory Board for Internet Writing. Brian holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism.
for more info:
http://www.carsmart.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/1338
2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG
To understand why Mercedes-Benz calls the 2007 S65 AMG the “world’s quickest four-door,” you need to know just two figures: 604 horsepower and 738 lb.-ft. of torque. With it’s hand-built, twin-turbocharged, 6.0-liter V12 engine firing under its sculpted hood, the S65 AMG rockets from rest to 60 mph just half a click slower than a Corvette Z06, at 4.2 seconds. The sad thing is, most S65 AMG buyers will want it because it’s the most expensive S-Class in the stable, and not because they actually plan to drive the thing.
And that means the engineering expertise that goes into this motor is lost on most S65 AMG owners. Stuff like a precision-balanced crankshaft with a longer stroke, larger-bore forged pistons, and upgraded oil-spray cooling and bearing lubrication systems. But we’ll bet that if friends and family want to pop the hood, they’ll be impressed that the single AMG engineer who build it, from start to finish, also hand signed it.
Other upgrades that turn a regular S600 into a 2007 Mercedes S65 AMG include high-performance two-piece brake rotors squeezed by stout eight-piston calipers. Mercedes claims that this compound rotor design saves weight by 20 percent over conventional systems. Helping to haul the Benz down from speed, those front discs are internally-ventilated, perforated, and measure 15.4 inches in diameter. In back, the S65 AMG is equipped with 14.4-inch discs clamped by four-piston calipers. ABS and brake assist are standard.
The suspension gets a massage, too. The standard S600’s Active Body Control (ABC) suspension uses AMG-specific spring struts with firmer damping for sportier ride quality and improved handling. ABC reduces dive, roll, and squat through the use of hydraulics, electronics, and mechanical parts, normally reducing roll by 68 percent. A switch on the console directs ABC to scrub lean by as much as 95 percent if the driver wishes. Mercedes also revised the traction and stability control systems so that they behave commensurate with the S65 AMG’s performance potential.
Those are the changes that can’t be seen. To make sure everyone knows you’re driving the baddest Benz on the block, staggered-width twin-spoke wheels are added, wearing 255/35ZR20 performance tires in front and 275/35ZR20 rubber in the rear. Yep, that means this is the first Mercedes to get factory-installed 20-inch wheels. The 2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG also gets a unique front fascia with larger air intakes and clear-lens fog lights, AMG-specific side skirts, and special rear valence panel treatment punctuated by twin chrome exhaust outlets. The result is subtle, except to those in the know. For the common folks, chrome “V12 Biturbo” badges on each front fender announce the S65 AMG’s exclusivity.
The S65 AMG’s cabin gets the full leather treatment, including the dashboard pad, which is also trimmed in burl walnut or chestnut wood. The AMG-specific performance seats are heated and ventilated, and the car includes pneumatic door and trunk close assists. Safety gear mirrors the new 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 and S600, including dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags in each door, and side-curtain airbags.
Expect to pay a pretty penny when the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG goes on sale later this year, but when it comes to high-end Benzes, price is a moot point.
Photos by Ron Perry
About Christian Wardlaw Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
FOR MORE INFO:
http://http://www.autoweb.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/
Car Brief: Mercedes-Benz Vision GL320 Bluetec Concept
Americans remember the diesel engine as a sluggish, clattering performer that filled the air with clouds of sooty exhaust smoke. But with the introduction of Mercedes-Benz Bluetec technology at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, this German automaker is proving that modern diesels are clean, strong, and refined engines that save fuel with no loss of performance, or air quality.
Mercedes-Benz was the first automaker to incorporate diesel technology in a passenger car some 70 years ago, so it comes as no surprise that this German company is now the first to create a turbodiesel engine for use in passenger vehicles that will meet the strictest emissions regulations around the world.
Bluetec arrives first under the hood of the 2007 Mercedes E-Class, but will be added to the company’s three SUVs shortly thereafter. In Detroit, the Mercedes Vision GL320 Bluetec Concept shows that, in addition to the M-Class and R-Class, the new GL-Class will also get a strong, clean-burning, fuel-efficient turbodiesel engine option. The production version of the Mercedes-Benz Vision GL320 Bluetec will combine seven-passenger seating with 83 cubic feet of cargo space, a 25-mpg highway fuel economy rating, and the torque of a V8 engine in what Mercedes says will be the most economical full-size SUV on the market. In our book, this is a mid-size SUV, but whatever – Ed. The bigger news is that when the GL320 Bluetec hits the road, it will do so in California and New England, regions of the U.S. that are currently verboten to turbodiesel engines in passenger cars.
Editor’s Note:If you want to know how Bluetec technology makes a turbodiesel engine clean, read on. Otherwise, you’ll get bored, so skip to the end.
Diesel fuel sold in the United States contains large amounts of sulfur, and this sulfur content, among other factors, is what causes a diesel engine to run dirty with nitrous-oxide emissions. With Bluetec technology, emissions are reduced through the use of an oxidizing catalytic converter, a particulate filter, and what Mercedes calls a DeNOx nitrogen-oxide reducing system. DeNOx is the key here, a storage catalytic converter designed to treat engine exhaust gases before they are emitted from the tailpipe, and it reduces nitrogen-oxides by up to 80 percent. A reducing agent called AdBlue is injected into the gases contained in the storage catalytic converter, releasing ammonia which converts the nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen. The separate tank that stores the AdBlue is refilled whenever the car returns to the dealer for service.
To work properly, Bluetec technology requires the use of low-sulfur diesel fuel, defined as that with a sulfur content below 15 parts per million. This type of fuel will be available in the U.S. starting in the fall of 2006, at the same time the first Bluetec vehicles go on sale, but may not be widely available. Over time, however, the fuel will become the standard in North America, and DaimlerChrysler will be ready to capitalize on this with a fleet of Bluetec-equipped cars and SUVs wearing Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Mercedes-Benz badges.
Designed to meet upcoming 2009 emissions regulations and beyond, Bluetec is no temporary fix. In Europe, where half of all new vehicle buyers choose a diesel model, more than 10,000 heavy-duty trucks already use Bluetec. Plus, Mercedes-Benz plans to connect Bluetec diesels to hybrid drive systems to create even cleaner, greener, and more efficient vehicles in the future. Clearly, DaimlerChrysler thinks that diesel will power tomorrow’s cars in greater numbers, and Bluetec will be the instrument it uses to ensure success.
Photos by Ron Perry
About Christian Wardlaw Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
FOR MORE INFO:
http://automotivecenter.autobytel.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id
2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG
To understand why Mercedes-Benz calls the 2007 S65 AMG the “world’s quickest four-door,” you need to know just two figures: 604 horsepower and 738 lb.-ft. of torque. With it’s hand-built, twin-turbocharged, 6.0-liter V12 engine firing under its sculpted hood, the S65 AMG rockets from rest to 60 mph just half a click slower than a Corvette Z06, at 4.2 seconds. The sad thing is, most S65 AMG buyers will want it because it’s the most expensive S-Class in the stable, and not because they actually plan to drive the thing.
And that means the engineering expertise that goes into this motor is lost on most S65 AMG owners. Stuff like a precision-balanced crankshaft with a longer stroke, larger-bore forged pistons, and upgraded oil-spray cooling and bearing lubrication systems. But we’ll bet that if friends and family want to pop the hood, they’ll be impressed that the single AMG engineer who build it, from start to finish, also hand signed it.
Other upgrades that turn a regular S600 into a 2007 Mercedes S65 AMG include high-performance two-piece brake rotors squeezed by stout eight-piston calipers. Mercedes claims that this compound rotor design saves weight by 20 percent over conventional systems. Helping to haul the Benz down from speed, those front discs are internally-ventilated, perforated, and measure 15.4 inches in diameter. In back, the S65 AMG is equipped with 14.4-inch discs clamped by four-piston calipers. ABS and brake assist are standard.
The suspension gets a massage, too. The standard S600’s Active Body Control (ABC) suspension uses AMG-specific spring struts with firmer damping for sportier ride quality and improved handling. ABC reduces dive, roll, and squat through the use of hydraulics, electronics, and mechanical parts, normally reducing roll by 68 percent. A switch on the console directs ABC to scrub lean by as much as 95 percent if the driver wishes. Mercedes also revised the traction and stability control systems so that they behave commensurate with the S65 AMG’s performance potential.
Those are the changes that can’t be seen. To make sure everyone knows you’re driving the baddest Benz on the block, staggered-width twin-spoke wheels are added, wearing 255/35ZR20 performance tires in front and 275/35ZR20 rubber in the rear. Yep, that means this is the first Mercedes to get factory-installed 20-inch wheels. The 2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG also gets a unique front fascia with larger air intakes and clear-lens fog lights, AMG-specific side skirts, and special rear valence panel treatment punctuated by twin chrome exhaust outlets. The result is subtle, except to those in the know. For the common folks, chrome “V12 Biturbo” badges on each front fender announce the S65 AMG’s exclusivity.
The S65 AMG’s cabin gets the full leather treatment, including the dashboard pad, which is also trimmed in burl walnut or chestnut wood. The AMG-specific performance seats are heated and ventilated, and the car includes pneumatic door and trunk close assists. Safety gear mirrors the new 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 and S600, including dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags in each door, and side-curtain airbags.
Expect to pay a pretty penny when the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG goes on sale later this year, but when it comes to high-end Benzes, price is a moot point.
Photos by Ron Perry
About Christian Wardlaw Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
FOR MORE INFO:
http://http://www.autoweb.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/
Car Brief: Mercedes-Benz Vision GL320 Bluetec Concept
Americans remember the diesel engine as a sluggish, clattering performer that filled the air with clouds of sooty exhaust smoke. But with the introduction of Mercedes-Benz Bluetec technology at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, this German automaker is proving that modern diesels are clean, strong, and refined engines that save fuel with no loss of performance, or air quality.
Mercedes-Benz was the first automaker to incorporate diesel technology in a passenger car some 70 years ago, so it comes as no surprise that this German company is now the first to create a turbodiesel engine for use in passenger vehicles that will meet the strictest emissions regulations around the world.
Bluetec arrives first under the hood of the 2007 Mercedes E-Class, but will be added to the company’s three SUVs shortly thereafter. In Detroit, the Mercedes Vision GL320 Bluetec Concept shows that, in addition to the M-Class and R-Class, the new GL-Class will also get a strong, clean-burning, fuel-efficient turbodiesel engine option. The production version of the Mercedes-Benz Vision GL320 Bluetec will combine seven-passenger seating with 83 cubic feet of cargo space, a 25-mpg highway fuel economy rating, and the torque of a V8 engine in what Mercedes says will be the most economical full-size SUV on the market. In our book, this is a mid-size SUV, but whatever – Ed. The bigger news is that when the GL320 Bluetec hits the road, it will do so in California and New England, regions of the U.S. that are currently verboten to turbodiesel engines in passenger cars.
Editor’s Note:If you want to know how Bluetec technology makes a turbodiesel engine clean, read on. Otherwise, you’ll get bored, so skip to the end.
Diesel fuel sold in the United States contains large amounts of sulfur, and this sulfur content, among other factors, is what causes a diesel engine to run dirty with nitrous-oxide emissions. With Bluetec technology, emissions are reduced through the use of an oxidizing catalytic converter, a particulate filter, and what Mercedes calls a DeNOx nitrogen-oxide reducing system. DeNOx is the key here, a storage catalytic converter designed to treat engine exhaust gases before they are emitted from the tailpipe, and it reduces nitrogen-oxides by up to 80 percent. A reducing agent called AdBlue is injected into the gases contained in the storage catalytic converter, releasing ammonia which converts the nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen. The separate tank that stores the AdBlue is refilled whenever the car returns to the dealer for service.
To work properly, Bluetec technology requires the use of low-sulfur diesel fuel, defined as that with a sulfur content below 15 parts per million. This type of fuel will be available in the U.S. starting in the fall of 2006, at the same time the first Bluetec vehicles go on sale, but may not be widely available. Over time, however, the fuel will become the standard in North America, and DaimlerChrysler will be ready to capitalize on this with a fleet of Bluetec-equipped cars and SUVs wearing Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Mercedes-Benz badges.
Designed to meet upcoming 2009 emissions regulations and beyond, Bluetec is no temporary fix. In Europe, where half of all new vehicle buyers choose a diesel model, more than 10,000 heavy-duty trucks already use Bluetec. Plus, Mercedes-Benz plans to connect Bluetec diesels to hybrid drive systems to create even cleaner, greener, and more efficient vehicles in the future. Clearly, DaimlerChrysler thinks that diesel will power tomorrow’s cars in greater numbers, and Bluetec will be the instrument it uses to ensure success.
Photos by Ron Perry
About Christian Wardlaw Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
FOR MORE INFO:
http://automotivecenter.autobytel.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id
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