Mercedes Counts on Smaller, DI Engines to Hit Targets

MERCEDES BENZ USA WILL RELY ON direct-injection engines to dodge the U.S. gas-guzzler tax and meet looming government-imposed fuel-economy regulations.

“We have a big variety of measures in place we plan on implementing with the tightening of greenhouse-gas regulations,” Bernhard Glaser, general manager-product management, tells Ward's. “The first thing is to direct-inject downsized engines, so it makes them more efficient.”

Auto makers such as Volkswagen have adopted similar powertrain initiatives. But the move marks a departure for Mercedes, whose luxury vehicles are better known more for performance than fuel efficiency.

The German brand already is implementing the DI strategy. Last year, the company launched its new CL-Class with a 4.6L V-8, followed this year by the CLS-Class. The models previously featured larger engines and were subject to the gas-guzzler tax.

Mercedes' latest DI offering is the 3.5L V-6 powering the new SLK350, which produces 302 hp and 273 lb.-ft. (370 Nm) of torque, as well as 20/29 mpg (11.7-8.1 L/100 km) city/highway fuel economy.

Next year the SLK 230 will be offered with a 1.8L DI turbocharged 4-cyl. engine making 201 hp and 229 lb.-ft. (310 Nm) of torque and achieving 23/31 mpg (10.2-7.6 L/100 km). The same engine will be offered in the upcoming new C-Class, set to launch this fall.

“(The C-Class) is a major volume model that is going from a 6-cyl. engine in the entry model to a very fuel-efficient 4 cyl. that gets more than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km),” Glaser says.

Mercedes also is migrating stop/start technology from its European lineup to North America. Already on the CLS, the technology is “gradually coming down to other models, too,” he says. “Imagine if you have that on volume models like the C- or E-Class in the near future? That helps our CAFE footprint as well.”

Glaser expects luxury customers to embrace downsized engines, noting what's most important is the driving experience and not the number of cylinders. Diesels and hybrids will play a role in lowering Mercedes' CAFE, as well.

The auto maker already offers some hybrids and diesels in the U.S., and more are coming.

“(They) are part of our strategy for greenhouse-gas emissions,” he says. “But, alone, diesels won't be enough to comply. We already have an S400 hybrid on the market and the ML450 hybrid, and in the future you will see plug-in hybrids,”

Mercedes also is “preparing the launch of an entry-level luxury compact class car,” Glaser says, without providing much detail.

“There will be several variants based on our compact-class platform available in Europe, and some will come to the U.S.,” he says. “I think future Mercedes customers are ready for a sub-C-Class car.”