Owning a Diesel Never Looked or Smelled Better

04 May, 2007 12:00:00

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Canada introduce ultra low-sulphur (a mere 15 parts per million) diesel fuel. This clean fuel will allow vehicle manufacturers to introduce diesel-powered vehicles that can meet the most stringent emissions standard anywhere in the world.

This is good news for Mercedes-Benz, a company with a long history of diesel cars, as it introduces the 2007 E320 Bluetec, which only runs on the cleaner fuel.

Mercedes-Benz is hoping that the Bluetec's performance will lure the public's attention back from hybrid vehicles - a market segment most European carmakers have shunned in favour of perfecting diesel technology.

The diesel versus hybrid debate is sure to go on for a while. While it is hard to argue against the obvious environmental advantage of a hybrid, the Bluetec-equipped vehicle is the cleanest diesel to date. It is so clean that Mercedes-Benz claims customers can place a clean white handkerchief on the exhaust pipe and still have it unsoiled after a few minutes. I could not find anybody who still carries a clean white handkerchief, so I placed my bare hand next to the exhaust of a running car. True to the claim, I came away with no dark soot nor the traditional diesel exhaust smell on my skin.

Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec

Hybrid Lexus GS 450H

An inspection of the exhaust system reveals no fewer than three catalytic converters and a particulate filter. These filters reduce the carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide and soot particles to a level undetectable by the human eye. A future system is said to be able to convert 80 per cent of the nitrogen oxide emissions into harmless nitrogen and water.

Emissions aside, the 3.2-litre Bluetec-equipped V-6 is surprisingly quick, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6.8 seconds. This is 0.3 second faster than the gasoline-powered, V-6-equipped E350 and only 1.3 seconds slower than the V-8-equipped E550 (these are Mercedes-Benz's own figures).

Credit for the jaw-dropping performance (this is, after all, a diesel) goes to a whopping 400 lb.-ft. of torque that the right foot can summon at a low 1,600 r.p.m. The performance is so much more impressive if you keep in mind that this is a 1,750-kg luxury sedan and the engine is not turbocharged.

You can have your cake and eat it too with the Bluetec. While performance is high, fuel consumption is low, at 6.1 L/100 km on the highway and 9.0 L/100 km in the city. With tall highway gears, the Bluetec has a driving range of approximately 1,300 kilometres with the 80-litre fuel tank. In comparison, a Hybrid Lexus GS 450H returns 7.8 on the highway and 8.7 in the city.

In the cabin you would hardly know that the heart of the E320 is a diesel. With open windows the usual diesel chatter is barely discernible, even on acceleration. Engine vibrations, another characteristic of a diesel, are also absent. Fit and finish is what you would expect in a Mercedes-Benz -- excellent.

Safety features abound with front, side, side curtain airbags. Electronic minders include traction and electronic stability control, adaptive brake (a brake-drying function in wet weather) and automatic door un-locking in an accident.

Although the Bluetec defines this E320, the technology has also been licensed (at this stage) to Volkswagen/Audi as well. The hope is that more widespread adoption of the technology can help other manufacturers who have not hopped on the hybrid bandwagon to come out with competitive, diesel-powered, products.

To its credit Mercedes has priced the Bluetec very competitively. This year's car is actually $2,000 less expensive than last year's offering. Also, at $67,800, the E320 is $9,100 less than the Lexus GS 450H.

Less expensive, more fuel efficient and cleaner. Owning a diesel never looked -- or smelled -- better.

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