Mercedes-Benz takes the clean road to Detroit

DAIMLERCHRYSLER used yesterday's Detroit motor show opening to unveil a revolutionary new clean-burning turbo-diesel engine - to be made available across its entire global model portfolio - alongside its stove-hot S65 AMG super-sedan and the born-again Gelaendewagen (launched as the GL-class).

Dubbed Bluetec, the next-generation oil-burner is one of the cleanest diesel engines ever produced.

Featured at Detroit in the E320 Bluetec, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Bluetec and the Vision GL320 Bluetec, the engine is an existing DaimlerChrysler 3.0-litre turbo-diesel with modifications that are designed to meet the most stringent emissions regulations.

Like the E-class and GL-class on the stand, the Grand Cherokee Bluetec features an oxidising catalytic converter, particulate filter and a system for reducing nitrogen-oxide emissions called selective catalytic reduction technology.

SCR is an exhaust gas treatment system that converts nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and water vapour by adding ammonia as a reducing agent in a catalytic converter.

Today’s clean-diesel vehicles improve fuel economy by an average of 30 per cent while reducing carbon-dioxide emissions an average of 20 per cent over similar gasoline-powered vehicles.

DC syas its hopes to have the Bluetec E320 diesel sedan shown at Detroit on sale across the US by September.

Bluetec technology is already in use in Mercedes-Benz trucks as a standard fitment.

About 9500 trucks equipped with the innovative exhaust-gas technology were delivered to customers last year. The technology also meets the stringent Euro 5 emission standards.

The chairman of DaimlerChrysler and head of the Mercedes Car Group, Dr Dieter Zetsche, said that even though the technology was developed by Mercedes it would filter through other products in the DaimlerChrysler portfolio - including Chrysler as well as Jeep.