Mercedes, VW showcase BLUETEC diesels in Detroit

8 January 2007

Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Audi—the manufacturers who partner in the BLUETEC marketing initiative—have showcased more BLUETEC diesel models at the North American International Auto Show which opened yesterday in Detroit, MI.

Mercedes presented the Vision GL 420 BLUETEC concept SUV. The vehicle is powered by a V8 diesel engine which delivers 216 kW (290 hp) and 700 Nm (515 lb-ft) of torque, with an expected fuel consumption of 9.8 l/100 km (24 mpg).

The vehicle, equipped with AdBlue (urea) selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system which provides over 80% NOx reduction, meets the Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions thus qualifying for sale in all 50 US states. AdBlue-SCR systems and Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions will be also featured by the three new V6 BLUETEC models—the R 320 BLUETEC, ML 320 BLUETEC and the GL 320 BLUETEC—which will be launched in the US market in 2008.

The model year 2007 E 320 BLUETEC sedan, launched by Mercedes in October 2006, uses a NOx adsorber-based emission system, without urea injection. The vehicle is not available in the five states (California, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Maine) which adopted California emission standards.

BLUETEC models from Volkswagen will use AdBlue-SCR technology in larger vehicles starting with the Passat, and NOx adsorbers in smaller models below the Passat class.

In Detroit, VW showcased the Concept Tiguan SUV, powered by the “Clean TDI” engine which will become a part of the VW BLUETEC package, but few technical details were released. VW also presented the “Clean TDI” Jetta BLUETEC model which meets Tier 2 Bin 5 standards using NOx adsorber technology. The Jetta BLUETEC, powered by a new common rail 2.0 liter diesel which develops 103 kW (140 hp), will be offered in the US market in 2008.

The first model to feature a Tier 2 Bin 5 BLUETEC technology from Audi will be the Q7 3.0 liter TDI SUV, also to be launched in 2008.

Source: DaimlerChrysler, VW