At Mercedes-Benz, 2009 is to be the year of the clean diesel, and Mercedes used the green mountains of Vermont to introduce three green 50-state legal sport-utility vehicles, all powered by new-generation BlueTEC V6 diesel technology.
Along with the E320 BlueTEC sedan, they give Mercedes the most comprehensive clean diesel lineup in the U.S. This clean power comes from a 3-liter turbo-diesel V6 rated at 210 horsepower and a strong 398 pound-feet of torque.
Eco-minded Mercedes drivers can choose the mid-size ML320 BlueTEC SUV, the full-size GL320 SUV, and the R320 BlueTEC family crossover.
These SUVs meet the 50-state legal status thanks to an AdBlue after treatment system. It injects an aqueous urea solution into the exhaust stream to help convert ammonia and nitrous oxide to harmless nitrogen and water.
The urea solution, housed in a tank under the cargo floor, only needs to be refilled at regular service intervals, even if you're engage in trailer towing.
And with 398 pound-feet of torque on tap, the new BlueTEC vehicles easily handle all kinds hauling duties.
The BlueTEC V6 is not only the cleanest, and most refined light duty diesel yet. If you've driven a gasoline V6 Mercedes and then hopped in this BlueTEC, you'd be hard pressed to feel or hear much of a difference.
Yet for all their performance, the new BlueTECs deliver fuel economy that is 20-30% better than comparable gasoline SUVs. The ML320 BlueTEC is government rated at 18 city/24 highway. The GL320 BlueTEC at 17 city/23 highway. And the R320 BlueTEC at 18 city/24 highway.
With only a $1,000 premium over gas models, the trio begins sales this fall with the ML and RL starting at about $45,000, and the GL about $55,000.
