2011 Mercedes E250 BlueTec

As I have mentioned in my previous posts......German auto manufacturers are planning to flood the U.S. with diesels and diesel/hybrid vehicles. The other side of the equation is whether U.S. buyers will buy these green vehicles. Many manufacturers have doubts that buyers will flood new car dealer showrooms to purchase green vehicles. The main factor that will improve sales of diesels or green vehicles is the price of fuel.

Mercedes is bringing out the new 2010 E-class to the U.S. with the 3.5 liter V-6 and the 5.5 liter V-8. It is testing the waters in the U.S. to see if buyers are ready for a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder turbo-diesel version of the its popular E-class. The E-class was selected for the 2.5 liter since Mercedes wanted to meet the new CAFE standards in the U.S. without downsizing vehicles.

At the 2009 New York Auto Show , Mercedes introduced the E250 BlueTEC, a diesel concept designed specifically for North America. This model is powered by a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel which produces 204 hp. when compared to the E320 BlueTec V-6’s 211 hp and 398 lb-ft figures.hp and 369 lbs.-ft. of torque.

The 2.5 liter motor is currently available in Europe and around the world. The diesel motor features some high tech features as high-pressure common-rail direct injection and twin Lanchester balance shafts for smooth operation. The only transmission is a 7-speed automatic.

The emissions system has been changed to meet stringent U.S. emission laws, the E250 BlueTEC uses a particulate trap, two catalytic converters plus an AdBlue urea injection system to reduce NOX emissions.

The car is equipped with a 25 liter tank for urea(component of urine), which is scheduled to be replenished at about 15,000 miles. If the tank is not replenished after a short period after the urea is empty.....then the vehicle will not start.

The mileage for the E250 BlueTec is actually quite impressive at 28/39 mpg city/highway versus 18/26 mpg for the 3.5 liter motor which is standard in the E-series.

Mercedes line of diesels (Bluetec) will qualify for the federal alternative powertrain tax credit. This credit was only for hybrid vehicles, but it has been changed to allow diesel vehicles. A decision has been made that the diesels meet the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit standards of the IRS. The credits vary based on the vehicle.

Pricing has not been announced for this vehicle!

SUMMARY:

The Mercedes E250 BlueTec should be a great green machine. This should allow someone to drive a green luxury car with great mileage...without sacrificing driving dynamics. Based upon the horsepower....the E250d will be slightly slower than the E350d which has a respectable 0-60 times. They have not announced the speed and braking information.

If fuel goes over $4.00 per USG these vehicles will sell like hot cakes!

2010 Mercedes E350 Coupe

Today, I would like to bring up a trend in German cars that I have not seen in the American or Japanese brands. The Germans are focusing on coupes or sedans that appear to be styled like a coupe. Coupe sales have dropped significantly over the last ten years. Mercedes has replaced the CLK coupe with the E-class coupe for 2010. The CLK was based on the C-class and the new E-class couple is a blend of C-class and E-class components.

A full-length moonroof will be standard, if you want more of an open air motoring experience the E-class convertible will be introduced as a 2011 model.

The new coupe will also follow a similar powertrain program as the current CLK, with the current 268 hp., 3.5 liter V-6 as the base motor and the 382 hp., 5.5-liter V-8 as the upgrade. Each motor will be attached to a new seven speed automatic transmission. Standard on all coupes is a variable-damping “Agility Control” suspension, which has not been explained how it works. I would suspect that it similar to GM magnetic ride control which controls the pressure in the shocks depending on driving conditions. There are no immediate plans for an all-wheel-drive model to compete with the Audi A5.

It is anticipated that Mercedes will manufacture an AMG version powered by the fabulous 6.2-liter V-8, which should have about 507 hp.

The E-class coupe has all the safety features of the E-class sedan. An interesting feature is the PRE-SAFE system...which attempts to reduce the severity of crashes by applying the brakes and tightening the seat belts when a collision is imminent. The E-class also has a new monitoring system, called Attention Assist, which tries to alert the driver if it detects that the driver is sleepy. The E-class coupe made its North American debut at this April’s 2009 New York auto show.

My take on the E-class coupe is that Mercedes has decided to make attractively styled cars. I would recommend that you put it on your shopping list.

Hyundai Genesis

Hyundai introduced their first car the Excel in 1984. The Excel was very inexpensive at $4995, and accordingly sold 168,000 cars in the U.S. in the first year. But, owners started uncovering substantial quality control problems and sales dropped substantially.

Hyundai has come a long way since the early Excel! Hyundai has increased their quality substantially and they have one of the best warranties in the auto business.

In 2008, Hyundai introduced the Genesis sedan. I am of the opinion that the Hyundai Genesis is a paradigm shift for Hyundai. It is probably equivalent to the Lexus LS 400 introduction in 1989. Lexus subsequently increased sales exponentially and become a household name in the process.

Now Hyundai did not introduce as separate new luxury line like Lexus. But they did introduce a substantial vehicle that is now the halo car for Hyundai. Now they have to overcome the stigma of being a lower tier auto producer.

With Genesis V6 base pricing starts at $33,000 plus options, add an additional $5,000 for the V8. The V8 was voted a 10 Best motor by Wards. Both cars are an exceptional buys. The Genesis looks and drives like a more expensive car than the direct competition based on price. The Genesis was named North American Car of the Year for 2009 at the North American Auto Auto Show in Detroit.

I am of the opinion that Hyundai is going to compete with much higher end cars. A Car and Driver Road Test compared the Genesis 4.6 V8 to some high end competition like the Audi A6 4.2, Infinity M45, Lexus GS460, and Mercedes E550.