Miserly S 250 CDI BlueEfficiency is first S-Class ever with four-cylinder power
by Jonathon Ramsey on Aug 25th 2009 at 3:58PM 
Europe's Mercedes-Benz S 320 CDI BlueEfficiency began this year as the most frugal S-Class available. With 235 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, 31 mpg, and S-Class luxury, it's a fine runner if you want to have it all without grenading your treehugging credentials. But hang on – new reports are now popping up suggesting that Mercedes will soon up the frugal luxury stakes with a new S 250 CDI BlueEfficiency – the first S-Class with a four-cylinder engine.
According to the rumors, it will use the 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged diesel four-pot fitted to the E- and C-Class, putting out 224 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. The obvious sacrifice in sheer grunt and top end ought to be made up for by the mileage, which is predicted to be 35 mpg. To keep the four- and six-cylinder engines from being too close to one another, the six is said to grow in output to 285 hp and 516 lb-ft, and that should spell the end of the eight-cylinder S 450 CDI engine.
[Source: Auto Internationaal (translated) via 4WheelsNews]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MikeofLA 4:06PM (8/25/2009)
They'll have enough room in the engine compartment to add a butler's living quarters and a small kitchen.
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Phil L. 4:14PM (8/25/2009)
...both of which are expected appointments for vehicles in this class.
Kevin 4:16PM (8/25/2009)
0-60sec in ??? Tank capacity? And will it be available here in US?
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Eddie 4:21PM (8/25/2009)
I think there's no way Mercedes would release a 4 cylinder S-Class in the US.
JDM Life 4:23PM (8/25/2009)
0 - Top speed in FOREVER.
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Tomac 5:53PM (8/25/2009)
I don't see the relevance of top speed in a sedan that's designed for non-track use. It's a friggin S-Class-- do you think any of the whitehairs driving it are willing to push it into triple digits anyway? I would argue that acceleration is the more important figure for everyday use, and while top speed benefits from horsepower, acceleration benefits from torque. And force-fed diesels are all about torque.
What I really am interested in is this engine mated to a 6-speed manual in the C-Class. Now that would be interesting.
220v 6:17PM (8/25/2009)
This comment is even funnier coming from a Japanese Domestic Market fan. Japan is where the modern underpowered car was invented, and until very recently, their 0-60 times are measured with calendars, not watches.
the4thheat 7:00PM (8/25/2009)
Well if you're driving on the autobahn that top speed might actually be important if you ever want to get into the left lane.
teamkitty 6:14PM (8/25/2009)
I'd hit that.
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HotRodzNKustoms 4:27PM (8/25/2009)
With a zero to sixty time somewhere between never and eventually. Watch as the 200D blast past you like a rocketship!
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Von Pinto 4:39PM (8/25/2009)
Who needs 0-60 when you are getting your cushy on in a big S-Class though?
I say bring it! The luxury appointments and space of a big German barge, with the appetite of my craptastic Ion? I will be signing up as soon as I can scrape together the necessary cake...
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Redline 4:38PM (8/25/2009)
Four banger. Wow. How unMercedes-like :D
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Steve-O 4:39PM (8/25/2009)
you're buying an extremely luxurious car, you don't need extreme performance. although that car is very heavy, that tiny engine won't do it much good.
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artandcolour 4:49PM (8/25/2009)
i would own this 4 cylinder S in a second if i could still afford MBs. my first MB was a 240D with 67 (SIXTY SEVEN) horsepower. it was a 4 cylinder with 155 ft/lbs and while definitely slow, it gave more than 35mpg most of the time in luxury (for the time). the car also went more than 300,000 miles on the first block. the idea of a very high-tech 4 cylinder diesel luxury car is absolutely the right idea at the right time. i'm just poor now, lol.
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Chuck 5:52PM (8/25/2009)
My dad had one of those, a 75 240D, when I was growing up. Now that was the definition of underpowered. People are so spoiled now and have this conception that if they don't get 0-60 in six seconds or under they're going to get trampled by semi-trailers on on ramps. If I could survive that when I was a teenager, anything else is a do-able speed demon.
bvz 4:49PM (8/25/2009)
2.2 liter engine producing 224 HP...
makes me laugh when I remember my Dad's 84 ford tempo with a 2.3 liter putting out a tire smokin' 90 HP :)
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montoym 5:17PM (8/25/2009)
and this is from a diesel no less.
Adrien 4:50PM (8/25/2009)
It's unlikely it's gonna get in the US, while in Europe the price can be "low" enough to make people go past the idea of a diesel four-banger as long as they get the S-class package around it (taxi drivers too actually), in the US the price difference with importation and taxes or whatever would probably be way too high and pit it right against V6 competition.
And the price of gas being what it is in NA they wouldn't really stand a chance.
Other than that.. Given the weight it might also mean that for passing power (despite the twin turbos) you would have to work the engine and lose in fuel economy. A recent comparo I read of diesel four-banger Citroen C6 and E-class was already quite scary so..
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xtasi 7:43PM (8/25/2009)
@Adrien: browse http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/passengercars.flash.html
if speak any other language, browse the one for other European countries.
You know that German cars are cheaper in the US then in Europe, right?
IN UK S class starts at 57,490 pounds (in road price) for a S350 (We don't get that engine here). The US version starts at $87, 950
Robert Kustofawitshz 8:04PM (8/25/2009)
@xtasi: 57,490 UK pounds is roughly $93,000 US