Click the ML320 BLUETEC for a high res gallery

Mercedes is expecting big things from its Bluetec badge, starting with its line of SUVs and crossovers. In fact, the German automaker expects fifteen percent of all if its utility vehicles to be sold with diesel engines. We think that figure may even be a bit low, considering that MB nearly sells that percentage already and is unable to sell the vehicles in the huge California market, among others. Though diesel prices are currently hovering a bit higher than already high gasoline prices, both Mercedes-Benz and AutoblogGreen expect that the roughly $1,000 Bluetec diesel premium will pay for itself in just over a year. When we got our first drive in the clean-diesel Benzes, we managed rather impressive mileage numbers in all three vehicles, both on the highway and in city driving.

Expect to see more of Mercedes' big diesel utes in green advertising. Stephen Cannon, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA says, "We would like to give that Bluetec logo as much cachet as the term hybrid has." That will take some major marketing push, as the word "hybrid" is synonymous with green autos for many Americans.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Last fall when Chrysler first showed the Dodge Avenger concept at the Paris Motor Show it had a diesel engine it. At the Detroit Auto Show, the Jeep Trailhawk concept had a Mercedes BlueTec diesel V-6 and now Grand Cherokee is available in production with the same engine. Chrysler has also indicated plans to use Mercedes diesel engines in a variety of other vehicles, including the minivans, in the coming years.

If Daimler does end up divesting itself of Chrysler in the near future, what will become of these plans? Hopefully, Mercedes will allow Chrysler to continue using their engines even in programs that haven't launched yet. Diesels offer an excellent way to dramatically increase fuel economy, and now that ultra low sulfur diesel fuel and new clean diesel emissions technology are available, oil burners have the opportunity to make some big gains.

DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche urged American consumers to give diesel another chance earlier today as he introduced the updated 2007 Dodge Ram heavy duty pickups with a clean diesel that meets fifty state emissions standards that go into effect in 2010. The 6.7L Cummins turbo-diesel can run on B20 biodiesel and features Mercedes BlueTec emission controls. That makes the Ram 2500/3500 the first Chrysler group vehicle with BlueTec. Zetsche emphasized the new clean diesels and the fuel efficiency improvements of up to thirty percent that they can provide compared to gasoline engines. The nitrogen oxide emissions are also reduced by up to 90 percent thanks to BlueTec. The Cummins engine is equipped with a particulate filter and a NOx absorber catalyst.

One of the main complaints about Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards is that they regulate supply from the manufacturers while doing nothing to create demand from consumers. Dr. Z encouraged the US government to move beyond current CAFE standards to a system that encourages demand by providing comparable incentives for power-trains that improve efficiency while cleaning up the exhaust. The only time that CAFE had any impact was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when fuel prices spiked in the wake of the oil embargoes. In those cases, average fuel economy likely would have increased anyway, as people tried to compensate for high prices. Since then, as prices dropped in real terms, average fuel economy has dropped as people bought more powerful vehicles. If consumers had lower prices for more efficient vehicles or higher fuel prices they would opt for those vehicles. The Chrysler press release is after the jump.

[Source: Chrysler]

What is it with all these surveys coming out this week? I get it already; people care about what goes into their car and what comes out of their tailpipes. Take this survey, for example. Co-sponsored by the Diesel Technology Forum and Mercedes-Benz USA, it found that way more Americans than you think are interested in diesel cars. Targeting by age, the survey found that 50 percent of people between 18 and 29 years in age and 46 percent of those between 30 and 41 would consider buying or leasing a new clean diesel car. Remember, diesel vehicles make up only about 3.5 percent of the market in the U.S. today. The survey was conducted towards the end of September, well before the recent widespread availability of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel hit the media cycle. So where are all the cool diesel machines that Europe gets? We're getting some on this side of the pond, but there's lots more available.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz USA, Diesel Technology Forum]

Loren Beard, senior manager of fuels for DaimlerChrysler, said yesterday that diesel and biodiesel will be key to America's energy future and that DaimlerChrysler will keep on expanding its diesel-powered vehicle lineup (currently five diesel vehicles in 2007). DaimlerChrysler will also do more to educate Americans on homegrown biodiesel.

Beard said that diesel is good for America, and "biodiesel makes diesel better. Emissions of particulates - an important issue in congested urban areas - can be reduced more than 80 percent with modern, clean diesel engines running on biodiesel."

Beard was speaking at a biodiesel conference in Washington, D.C., and said the better fuel economy, increased life and resale value of diesel vehicles are things consumers should keep in mind. Beard may be bullish on diesel, but Mercedes was not able to release the E320 Bluetec as a 50-state vehicle, as originally promised. We'll see how future vehicles measure up.

Related:

• The future of diesel in America looks ... good?
• Mercedes E320 Bluetec arrives as 45-State Vehicle

[Source: Chrysler Group via Green Car Congress]