| From this summer Mercedes-Benz is to be the world’s first car manufacturer to equip all its diesel passenger cars with a particulate filter as standard.
"From summer this year we will equip all diesel car models from the A-Class to the forthcoming S-Class with a diesel particulate filter as standard in Germany , Austria , the Netherlands and Switzerland ," Eckhard Cordes, the head of the Mercedes Car Group, said in Geneva . A total of 30 different models are thus involved. The particulate filter system developed by Mercedes-Benz is maintenance-free and operates without additives. The filter is regenerated by appropriate adjustment of various engine functions.
"Nowadays our diesels are as powerful and sporty as the very latest petrol units. At the same time they offer more torque and are particularly economical, environmentally friendly and smooth," said Cordes, referring to diesel technology as a core area of competence of the Mercedes-Benz brand. "At present around 56 per cent of all Mercedes passenger cars in Western Europe are ordered with a diesel engine – that is a new record in the history of our brand."
The world’s first car diesel engine entered series production at Mercedes-Benz exactly 70 years ago. To mark this anniversary, the Stuttgart manufacturer is presenting seven models from all its vehicle categories in Geneva , providing an interesting insight into current and future diesel technology and showing the versatility of the modern compression-ignition engine. This presentation includes two fascinating sports car studies: an SLK 320 CDI with a 286 ps (210 kW) tri-turbo diesel engine (630 Nm) and the Vision SL 400 CDI with a new eight-cylinder engine which is soon to enter series production at Mercedes-Benz. With an output of 315 ps (231 kW) and a torque of 730 Nm, this future V8 engine is the world’s most powerful car diesel unit. "This engine shows that the future of the diesel has only just begun,” said Cordes.
The new diesel models by Mercedes-Benz also include the CLK 320 CDI Cabriolet, which will be available from the fourth quarter of 2005.
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