S-Class Diesel to Find U.S. Niche, Mercedes Exec Says

NEW YORK – Sales of Mercedes-Benz’s S-Class 350 BlueTec diesel are off to a slow but encouraging start, says Bernhard Glaser, general manager for product management-Mercedes-Benz USA.

Only 60 units have been sold since Mercedes’s clean-diesel flagship reached showrooms in September. Glaser declines to say what volume of the S-Class BlueTec sedan ultimately will reach, but predicts it will bring incremental sales to the brand.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 350 clean diesel.

The diesel expands the alternative-energy choices available to S-Class customers. A hybrid was introduced in the 2010 model lineup, joining the conventional gasoline-fueled version.

Glaser predicts the diesel will cost about $100,000 with the most-popular options. Base price for the S-Class is $93,425 with standard 4Matic all-wheel drive. The $7,500 federal tax credit for clean-diesel purchases no longer is available.

Diesel penetration for S-Class purchases will be similar to the 5%-10% range in the less-expensive E-Class models, Glaser says. Diesel penetration of the GL model is an impressive 25% and is 15% for the ML model.

Glaser believes diesel take rates will grow in the next few years, but won't come anywhere near the 50% penetration level enjoyed in Germany. He predicts the S-Class again will be the leader in its segment, which includes the BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, Jaguar XJ and Porsche Panamera.

Glaser believes the 3.0L V-6 diesel will have less appeal to green-oriented buyers than the hybrid, but will be welcomed by premium car buyers who appreciate the 455 lb.-ft. (617 Nm) torque and overall power of the oil-burner.

A 7-speed automatic transmission is mated to the engine. The diesel generates 240 hp, a 30-hp jump from its predecessor.

In order to meet emissions standards, the S-Class diesel sedan has a tank holding seven gallons of AdBlue, a urea solution that converts nitrous-oxide emissions to harmless nitrogen and oxygen. That's enough to last 10,000 miles (16,000 km) of normal highway driving, but the tank can be topped when necessary.

Some buyers might find that task a bit difficult because the tank is located under the spare tire, which must be lifted to provide access. Refilling might be easier during routine oil-change visits to the service department.

Fuel-economy rating is 21/31 mpg (11.2-7.6 L/100 km) city/highway. The 22-gallon (83.6 L) fuel tank allows for more than 700 miles (1,130 km) of highway cruising between service-station visits.

In a 100-mile (160-km) test drive through the nearby New Jersey suburbs, the S-Class diesel gives no hint of difference from a gasoline-fueled vehicle. The ride is as quiet as that of a conventional vehicle, and there is no smoky tailpipe exhaust when the car is idling or accelerating.

There also is no telltale diesel-fuel odor, whether one is standing alongside the car with the engine running, or when sitting inside as a driver or passenger.

The typical S-Class buyer has annual family income averaging $350,000 and generally selects cars from dealer inventories. Glaser says dealers usually can provide option and color combinations for 80% of buyers.

The remaining 20% custom-order their vehicles from Mercedes’s Sindelfingen, Germany, factory, with delivery taking up to two months.