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While Japanese automakers have the hybrid lead, the front-runners in diesel are companies of German descent. Mercedes is bringing home the bacon with BLUETEC, BMW is slapping twin turbochargers onto a 3.0-liter diesel, and Volkswagen will implement BlueMotion into five different VWs. Audi intends to join the oil-burning club here in the States with the introduction of the 3.0 TDI, which is good for 240 HP and 406 lb.-ft. of torque. With all that twist, tires should scream from rubber-stripping takeoffs, but even aggressive driving won't translate at the pump as bad as their gasoline counterparts. Audi expects a 35-percent fuel economy bump vs. similar gasoline powerplants.

The 3.0 TDI has an ultra-low emission system in the exhaust tract, which kills NOX gas by means of a carbonic acid diamide solution, helping the diesel to meet the LEV II Bin 5 classification. That means each of the 50 states will accept the 3.0 TDI as a salable vehicle. It's hard not to get excited about an engine that takes off like it's shot out of a canon and also gets up to 40 MPG on the highway. Expect the new Audi diesel to arrive first in the Q7, and later in the A4.

Audi's press release is after the jump.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Diesel's on our doorstep: Audi lays out TDI intitiative for the U.S.

Diesel's on our doorstep: Audi lays out TDI intitiative for the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.0 TDI3.0TdiAudi dieselAudiDieselBlueMotionBMW DieselBmwDieselMercedes BLUETECMercedesBluetecThu, 18 Oct 2007 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes confirms BLUETEC diesels will be in Europe by year's end]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/06/mercedes-confirms-bluetec-diesels-will-be-in-europe-by-years-en/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/06/mercedes-confirms-bluetec-diesels-will-be-in-europe-by-years-en/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/06/mercedes-confirms-bluetec-diesels-will-be-in-europe-by-years-en/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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]

Mercedes confirms BLUETEC diesels will be in Europe by year's end originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Oct 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluetecbluetec hybridBluetecHybridc-class bluetecC-classBluetece-class bluetec europee-class bluetec sale europeE-classBluetecEuropeE-classBluetecSaleEuropemercedes bluetecMercedesBluetecSat, 06 Oct 2007 11:04:00 EST