New York: Mercedes E250 Bluetec concept would get 39 mpg highway
by Sebastian Blanco on Apr 8th 2009 at 11:58AM 
Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTEC – Click above for high-res image gallery
Mercedes-Benz brought the new E250 BlueTEC concept sedan to the New York Auto Show today, showing the type of clean diesel sedan that could follow in the wake of last year's BlueTEC SUV mini-fleet. The E250 BlueTEC boasts a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel engine with SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) exhaust technology mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The small diesel motor produces big power: 369 lb-ft of torque at 1600-1800 rpm. Part of the conceptual clean diesel fun comes from a 25-liter urea solution (AdBlue) tank that sits in the exhaust stream and reduces NOx emissions, which helps make the car 50-state legal. This is key, since the E250 was created just for us Yankees, MB says. The concept would also meet Europe's strict EU6 emissions standards, which won't be enacted until the later part of 2014. Using BlueTEC in the E250 would probably get the car a 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway rating from the EPA, Mercedes estimates. Check out the press release after the jump and live, high-res images in our gallery below.
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz E 250 BlueTEC
Photos copyright ©2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.
PRESS RELEASE:
Cleanest diesel technology, excellent fuel economy, great fun to drive
- E250 BlueTEC
- Unique combination of a highly efficient four-cylinder diesel engine and SCR exhaust technology
- 50-State Bin 5 compliance
- Refined power delivery makes concept car great fun to drive
- Technical data
EU 5 All new vehicles after 09/01/2009 EU 6 / All new vehicles after 09/01/2014
CO (g/km): 0.50 / 0.50
NOx (g/km): 0.18 / 0.08
HC + NOx (g/km): 0.23 / 0.17
Particulate emissions (g/km): 0.005 / 0.005
Group M1 - passenger vehicles with no more than eight seats plus driver. Max. total permissible weight 3,500kg. Test procedure NEDC 2000.
For the E250 BlueTEC, the modern 2.2 liter four-cylinder CDI engine underwent a detailed redevelopment program in order to further reduce the internal raw emissions generated by the engine and to fulfill the legislative requirements for on-board diagnostics (OBD), as well as other factors. The power unit hardware incorporates features from the series production engines, such as four-valve technology, fourth-generation common-rail piezo direct injection, 2-stage turbocharger and exhaust gas recirculation. A highly sensitive electronic engine control system reacts precisely across the full range of operating conditions to optimize the combustion process. The exhaust gas treatment system incorporates an oxidation catalytic converter mounted close to the engine, as well as a diesel particulate filter, which is located at the rear bulkhead in order to shorten its regeneration time.
At the heart of the BlueTEC system are two SCR catalytic converters (Selective Catalytic Reduction) with an "AdBlue®" injector positioned upstream. "AdBlue®" is a synthetic, aqueous urea solution that enables the nitrogen oxide (NOx) to be converted into harmless nitrogen gas in the SCR catalytic converters. The monitoring and diagnosis of the sophisticated exhaust gas treatment process is handled by several sensors, including a differential pressure sensor, a Lambda probe plus NOx and temperature sensors.
For on-board storage of the "AdBlue®" solution, the E250 BlueTEC has a 25 liter tank equipped with a membrane pump, valve, pressure and temperature sensors. The tank volume is sufficient for the duration of a full service interval and is refilled as part of the regular maintenance schedule. The "AdBlue®" tank is integrated into the spare wheel well in the trunk.
E250 BlueTEC combines environmental awareness, driving fun and comfort The combination of the powerful four-cylinder engine with SCR technology makes a convincing argument not only in terms of fuel economy and emissions, but also with impressive performance and the associated fun factor. Thanks to a pair of Lanchester balancing shafts, the concept vehicle's powertrain boasts the exceptionally smooth characteristics expected of a Mercedes-Benz.
Summary technical data for the E250 BlueTEC:
Engine/cylinders - Diesel/I4
Transmission - 7-speed automatic
Displacement - 2143 cm³
Nominal power output - 204 hp
Nominal torque - 369 lb-ft at 1600-1800 r/min
U.S. fuel economy* City Highway - 28 mpg 39 mpg
U.S. emissions compliance - Bin 5
*preliminary figures
In Europe, this BlueTEC technology is available in a series production model starting fall 2009 with the E350 BlueTEC. Under its hood is a V6 diesel engine with 211 hp and 540 Nm of torque. This means that Mercedes-Benz will very soon offer a series production passenger vehicle that complies with the EU6 emissions standard not scheduled for implementation until 2014.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sektor 12:02PM (4/08/2009)
So, is blue the new green?
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why not the LS2LS7? 12:39PM (4/08/2009)
Yes, it has been for a while. Companies have been prohibited from calling any fossil fuel vehicle "green" in a few countries in Europe for a while because burning fossil fuels (even if you do a little less) is not good for the environment.
So they switched to "blue" a long time ago. They picked blue because it's the color of the sky.
Hence BlueMotion, Bluetec, etc.
Edmond Dantes 12:04PM (4/08/2009)
Wow, nice. Shame, though, that the car is so ugly.
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rwcmick 12:04PM (4/08/2009)
I'm all for it! I really like the idea of smaller diesels delivering superior mileage numbers. We don't all need stump a pulling 335d. Now, just give us a wagon version and perfection will have been achieved.
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luv_my_car 12:05PM (4/08/2009)
Wow, thats awesome. i hope they just dont jack up the price. Now all they need to do is bring back the 4 year maintenance free service.
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Max 12:06PM (4/08/2009)
Exactly. BMW made a big mistake by putting the big 6-cylinder in the 3 series. Sure, its a torque monster, but the cost benefit of the diesel is totally lost. They would have been much better off using the 4 cylinder.
And its not like 369ft/lbs of torque is inadequate. Two thumbs up!
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zamafir 12:23PM (4/08/2009)
big mistake? nah. Just look at audi, the 3.0TDI A5/A4 gets 38mpg on the highway WITH quattro, or 8mpg BETTER than the 2.0T, with a faster sprint to sixty. There's nothing wrong with almost 400lb ft of torque when it provides 20-30% better mileage than a blown petrol four banger. It's perfect. BMW's no different, well except their base 6 petrol engine is crap on fuel economy, so their TDIs look about the same, though their entire fleet is worse on MPG vs Audi et-al.
The point is, as has always been the point this last decade, modern diesel engines produce performance better than the NA engines they replace, and on par with the blown ones (ie 335i sedan's 0-60 of 5.8 vs the 335d's 6 when comparing apples to apples, or in Audi's case, the A5 TDI providing figures closer to the S5 than the A5 3.2) while providing significantly better MPG, even in BMW’s range. And yes, 36mpg is a significant advantage compared to the 26mpg the 335i gets, and even the 28mpg the 328i gets (as you’re dropping .8 off the sixty).
RWD 4:54PM (4/08/2009)
Absolutely right Zamfir. And speaking of Audi, does anyone else notice how similar those wheels are to Audi's 18" 5 spokes on the last gen A4/A6?
ktibuk 5:27AM (4/09/2009)
BMW makes the best 4 cylinder diesel in the world. They probably don't sell it in the US but anyways.
http://bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesandspecifications_technical_specs/0,,1156_2053__bs-NQ%3D%3D@bb-TEk%3D@bm-TlgzMg%3D%3D,00.html?tab=technicalSpec
Paul P. 12:20PM (4/08/2009)
Give it 4matic AWD and I'm sold.
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pmiddle5 12:29PM (4/08/2009)
0-60 = what?
if its around 7-7.5 I'm happy
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Quentin 5:07PM (4/08/2009)
"The small diesel motor produces big power: 369 lb-ft of torque at 1600-1800 rpm."
Since when is 126.4hp considered "big power"?
I'm amazed people that write a blog about cars don't understand the difference between torque and horsepower.
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why not the LS2LS7? 12:41PM (4/08/2009)
I think this is a great combination of performance and economy. However, I have little hope that other Americans will think the same. Most Americans will not buy a 200HP luxury car, even though it would be plenty of performance for them. The HP war continues unabated.
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HeyHuub 1:13PM (4/08/2009)
I thought you where all anit-diesel?
pmiddle5 1:47PM (4/08/2009)
would be easier to trick people into buying this if it had been put into a C not the E
why not the LS2LS7? 4:20PM (4/08/2009)
People say a lot of things about me.
Since I don't bow to Diesel, people say I'm anti-Diesel.
I'm for Diesel if it matches gas on emissions and if it really outperforms gas in terms of mpg. Diesel has had a hard time on the former (making good strides lately) and in the latter, it's impossible to tell, since there are so few cars which are made in comparable versions Diesel and gas. Most people want to compare a great performing gas car with a slug of a Diesel and say the Diesel is a miracle on mpg.
Personally, I don't know how Diesel would make financial sense for me. I'd have to have other reasons to buy it instead of just pure dollars. I just don't drive enough highway miles to make Diesel a slam dunk.
artandcolour 12:48PM (4/08/2009)
i think they should name it the E240D, historical monikers are all the rage these days. my old '83 240D, with a 67hp/150ft/lb 4 cylinder diesel engine regularly gave me 35mpg in town driving. yes it was slow, but it was a quality machine and still is.
it also is still driving around with the person i sold it to, with 350,000 miles on it.
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Max 12:59PM (4/08/2009)
This car i gorgeous looking......and super efficient. Two thumbs up Mercedes!
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Dr. Nick 12:58PM (4/08/2009)
Who wants an asthmatic diesel engine in their premium luxury car? I wouldn't mind, but I think for most people, where the fun is just starting the diesels run out of revs really fast.
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Swede 3:57PM (4/08/2009)
Doesnt matter as long as you do not run out of speed. Revs is just another word for noise.