Mercedes-Benz Launches New Family of Four-Cylinder Turbodiesels

Right now in North America, Mercedes-Benz is one of the diesel engine giants.

With the exception of the G-Class, it offers a diesel in all of its SUVs and crossovers, and it's the only sedan to feature Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions, thanks to the E320 Bluetec, with the rest of its SUVs making the transition to Bluetec this autumn. With more manufacturers scheduled to introduce clean diesel engines in the near future, from Audi and BMW to Volkswagen and Honda, Mercedes-Benz is looking to expand its diesel product lineup.

Following the Vision C220 Bluetec Concept and the GLK Freeside and Townside compact SUVs, Mercedes-Benz is now officially introducing a brand new generation of four-cylinder diesel and is seeking to be the class standard using such technologies as twin-stage turbocharging, advanced intercooling and the latest common-rail systems. The new engines also use less fuel than those currently in use, and will reduce emissions by up to 13-percent.

The new family of four-cylinder engines all displace 2.1 liters. The most powerful model of the group, the C250 CDI makes 204 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque, a remarkable 20-percent improvement over the engine that it replaces. This means that the driver of a C250 CDI will be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only 7.7 seconds, while accelerating from 35 to 75 mph will take 9.4 seconds. Less potent versions of the engine will be offered too, including a C200 CDI with 136 horsepower (about equal to the new Jetta TDI), and a C220 CDI with 170 horsepower.

As of right now there isn't any word on Mercedes-Benz's North American operations importing this remarkable four-cylinder turbodiesel to our market, but if fuel prices keep rising we wouldn't be surprised to see it used here in some application in the future.