E-Class Bluetecs have been available for about a year, where they account for 20-percent of sales. Now Mercedes' Bluetec-engined cars will be available for purchase in Europe by the end of this year. E-Classes with Bluetec will go on sale in December in all but the UK. Right-hand drive versions are expected at some point in the future, but it is unknown when.
"Bluetec" describes Mercedes diesel engines that utilize it's AdBlue reductant and DeNOX particulate filter. The engines get better gas mileage and produce fewer emissions. Though E-Class Bluetec's will join the European market soon, and the GL-, M-, and R-Class Bluetec's will also join the US market soon, similarly-equipped C-Class, won't appear in any markets until 2009. The C250 is claimed to get 57.7 mpg, while a C300 Bluetec hybrid gets a claimed 61.4 mpg.
The hybrid wars have been going on in the US for some time now, and when asked why launch the Bluetec in America first, a Mercedes UK spokesman said "The focus has been on the big prize which is converting America." If those mileage claims are proved in real-world use, then Mercedes conversion efforts should get a huge push when the C arrives.
[Source: Merecedes-Benz]
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