Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec: Stronger. Faster. More efficient than before.

Last month we told you that Mercedes-Benz plans to add the S350 Bluetec to their 2011 line-up. Now that we've seen some specs we're more excited than ever.

With combined fuel consumption down 11 percent to 35 miles per gallon and (if we did the math right) CO2 emissions around ten ounces per mile, the new S350 BlueTec certainly holds its own with the green luxury competition and with its sister the S400 Hybrid. But it's still a Mercedes through and through and the V6 diesel power plant is churning out 258 horsepower (up 10 percent) and a more-than-adequate 457 lb-ft of torque (up 15%).

With impressive power like that, it really makes you wonder what kind of miles per gallon Mercedes could get out of this engine if it aimed for max efficiency instead of the more balanced approach. Acceleration from 0-60 ticks off in 7.1 seconds – not lightning fast, but probably fast enough. Top speed is electronically limited at 155 miles per hour.

Pricing hasn't been announced, but speculation is that it will cost you around $95,000 to take one home.