This isn't your father's gas-guzzling 450SEL. Mercedes-Benz has been promising a real fuel-efficient version of its E-Class sedan and the German automaker has finally delivered. The new E250 Bluetec diesel will get 45 miles per gallon on the highway, a good bit better than the 39 mpg highway MB said when the E250 BlueTEC concept sedan debuted at the 2009 New York Auto Show.
The oil-burning E250 will also get 28 mpg city (same as the 2009 concept) and will have "best in class" fuel efficiency for a midsize luxury sedan. With a highway mileage figure that's just three miles per gallon less than that of the Toyota Prius, "best" is certainly appropriate. Additionally, MB is talking about "Lanchester balance shafts" and "low-friction roller bearings" as a way to say that the diesel will also be smooth as silk in addition to thrifty on oil.
The eighth generation of the E-Class starts at $53,900, and combines fuel efficiency with sportiness in a diesel engine that delivers 195 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque while using its seven-speed 4Matic transmission to reduce fuel use. Heck, even the four-wheel drive version of the Bluetec has a 27/42 mpg split. Check out Mercedes-Benz's press release below and then read Autoblog's First Drive impressions of the regular gas-powered E-Class or this Quick Spin of the E-Class Wagon.
2014 E250 BlueTEC. (PRNewsFoto/Mercedes-Benz USA)
MONTVALE, N.J., Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The newest Mercedes-Benz E-Class â€" the 2014 E250 BlueTEC sedan â€" has achieved an impressive estimated EPA rating of 45 miles per gallon on the highway and 28 mpg around town. The first diesel E-Class to be available with 4MATIC achieves best-in-class fuel efficiency for a midsize luxury sedan and for the entire industry in the same size range. When equipped with optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive, its fuel mileage numbers are still an impressive 42 mpg highway and 27 in the city. No other diesel sedan offers a better EPA fuel economy highway estimate.
High-Tech Four Cylinder with Balance Shafts
It's clear that the big news for 2014 is the high-efficiency turbodiesel engine that powers the E250 BlueTEC. The all-aluminum, in-line four-cylinder engine makes use of four valves per cylinder and dual overhead camshafts with vane-type variable valve timing, producing 195 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. To smooth out the inherent vibration of an in-line four-cylinder engine, two Lanchester balance shafts spin at twice crankshaft speed in sophisticated, low-friction roller bearings. During normal operation, the advantages of this two-stage turbocharged system can be felt â€" no turbo lag, fast throttle response, a broad torque curve across the entire engine speed range and noticeably improved performance. What's more, the 369 lb-ft of torque is readily available at 1,800 rpm.
BlueTEC Refinements
Fuel pressure for the BlueTEC direct fuel injection system is 2,000 bar or 28,400 pounds per square inch, which makes possible even more power and lower exhaust emissions. Higher ignition fuel pressure means the four piezo injectors can be adjusted even more precisely as engine load and speed change. This system places the four-cylinder diesel at the head of the field when it comes to diesel engines for passenger vehicles.
AdBlue Injection
To ensure the E250 BlueTEC meets exhaust emission regulations in all 50 U.S. states, the BlueTEC system uses AdBlue injection to make the diesel as clean as a state-of-the-art gasoline engine. Newly accessibly through the fuel filler door, a water-based urea solution, AdBlue, is carried in its own small tank and metered into the exhaust in minute quantities, so the tank only needs to be refilled during routine scheduled maintenance. When AdBlue is injected into pre-cleaned exhaust gas, ammonia (NH3) is released, converting nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water in a downstream catalytic converter. Called SCR, for selective catalytic reduction, this process creates the most effective method of exhaust gas after-treatment currently available.
4MATIC Four-Wheel Drive Sets a Trend
As modern all-wheel-drive systems become more refined, they are becoming increasingly popular, especially in the luxury car market. With negligible weight and fuel-efficiency tradeoffs, full-time four-wheel drive provides year-round traction and stability benefits on both wet and dry roads. Optional on the E250 BlueTEC, the latest Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC system is cleanly integrated into the 7-speed automatic transmission so it fits right into the standard body and utilizes the existing front suspension. Fuel efficiency has been improved, due to a number of innovative measures that minimize the energy needed to turn the extra gears and shafts. Mercedes-Benz expects an approximate 50/50 national installation rate between rear-wheel drive and 4MATIC on the E250 BlueTEC, keeping in mind northern States usually order and stock nearly 100% 4MATIC when available on passenger cars.
Industry-Leading Active and Passive Safety: Intelligent Drive
Mercedes-Benz focuses on real-world safety with the goal of accident-free driving, and the new E-Class offers more than 30 standard and optional active and passive safety systems under the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive comfort and safety portfolio. For example, the Driver Assistance Package, available for $2800 in the 2014 E-Class sedan, wagon, coupe, and cabriolet, offers the following content:
• DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist: radar-based cruise control system with semi-autonomous steering inputs that can work from 0-124 mph depending on road conditions.
• PRE-SAFE Brake with pedestrian detection: radar and stereo cameras detect vehicles and pedestrians in front of the vehicle and can adjust braking according to the situation, and apply full brakes if necessary
• PRE-SAFE PLUS: rear-facing radar that senses possible rear collisions and prepares the vehicle to help reduce the injury risk for the passengers in a rear-end collision
• BAS PLUS with Cross Traffic Assist: reads cross-traffic encounters with stereo cameras and adds appropriate brake assistance
• Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Protection: assists by corrective one-sided braking
E250 BlueTEC: The Base Model in the E-Class Portfolio
The new E250 BlueTEC sedan is the price-leader in the E-Class family, priced competitively at $51,400 while offering a clean diesel powertrain. Please find below the following E-Class portfolio and overall pricing, which excludes the 2014MY destination & delivery price of $925:
• E250 BlueTEC sedan (rear-wheel drive) - $51,400
• E350 sedan (rear-wheel drive) - $51,900
• E350 Coupe (rear-wheel drive) - $52,200
• E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC sedan - $53,900
• E350 4MATIC sedan - $54,400
• E350 4MATIC Coupe - $54,700
• E400 Hybrid sedan (rear-wheel drive) - $56,700
• E350 4MATIC wagon - $58,600
• E550 Coupe (rear-wheel drive) - $59,000
• E350 Cabriolet (rear-wheel drive) - $60,200
• E550 4MATIC sedan - $61,400
• E550 Cabriolet (rear-wheel drive) - $67,300
• E63 AMG 4MATIC sedan - $92,770
• E63 AMG S-Model 4MATIC sedan - $99,770
• E63 AMG S-Model 4MATIC wagon - $102,370
Aside from the E250 BlueTEC sedan, other 2014MY Mercedes-Benz U.S. models with BlueTEC clean diesel include the GL350 BlueTEC 4MATIC (V6), ML350 BlueTEC 4MATIC (V6), and GLK250 BlueTEC 4MATIC.
About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 12 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG GT.
MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans, and smart products in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com.
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