On April 12, 2006, Mercedes-Benz presented the new generation of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class at the New York International Automobile Show. As product enhancement the series was equipped with new engines, forward-looking safety technology, and the most up-to-date lighting equipment. In addition, the design engineers redeveloped or improved 2,000 parts.

The new generation of the E-Class demonstrated its dynamism, strength and effortless superiority mainly through a revised design. The sedan and station wagon appeared even more dynamic and commanding than before. Inside, the new generation was distinguished among other things by attractive color combinations, a new four-spoke steering wheel and a new control unit for the standard automatic climate control.

The vehicles went on sale in Europe in early June 2006, and a few weeks later also in the USA. A total of 29 model variants were available to choose from – 16 sedans and 13 station wagons. Compared with its competitors, Mercedes-Benz offered the largest and most varied model range in this market segment.

New engines for the new generation of E-Class

Six out of ten engines of the facelifted E-Class were new or advance developments. In particular the four-cylinder diesel engines of models E 200 CDI and E 220 CDI were optimized to further improve output, torque and smoothness. In the gasoline engine department the engineers concentrated mainly on the power plants with four and eight cylinders. In the future the top engine in the E-Class would be the newly developed V8 engine (M 273) from the S-Class with 5.5-liter displacement and 285 kW (388 hp).

Mercedes-AMG first presented the E 63 AMG at the New York International Auto Show. Powered by the new AMG naturally aspirated V8, which obtained peak output of 378 kW (514 hp) and maximum torque of 465 ft-lbs (630 Nm) with a displacement of 6.2 liters, the E 63 AMG model was the most powerful E-Class ever. From 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) the sedan needed just 4.5 seconds, the station wagon 4.6 seconds. The perfect partner for the 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine from AMG was the new AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7-speed automatic transmission with three individual shift modes.

BlueTEC: The future of the diesel

The decision taken by Mercedes-Benz to put its first BlueTEC passenger car on the North American market in autumn 2006 pointed the way ahead for the compression-ignition engine. Compared with the advanced CDI engines, BlueTEC diesel technology produced a further significant reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions in particular. Following the successful launch of the world’s first BlueTEC passenger car the E 320 BlueTEC was voted “World Green Car of the Year 2007″ in America.

The Mercedes-Benz E 320 BlueTEC also demonstrated its capabilities in 2006 in a long-distance run from Paris to Beijing. This symbolic bridging of Europe and Asia took in large parts of the route covered by the first transcontinental car race in history, which took its participants from Beijing to Paris in 62 days in 1907. Three Mercedes-Benz E 320 BlueTEC vehicles along with 30 E 320 CDI models made up the field of E-Class sedans that travelled from Paris to Beijing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3tSNWgQji4

See more YouTube videos of the Paris Beijing 2006 run.

The new E 300 BlueTEC – Road to the future

In 2007 Mercedes-Benz began introducing the new BlueTEC diesel technology in Europe. At the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt in September 2007 the Stuttgart brand presented the new E 300 BlueTEC as the latest model in the 211 series. This cleanest and thriftiest EU5 diesel from the business class came onto the European market in December 2007. With these two models, the E-Class spearheaded a Mercedes-Benz offensive across all model series. Since the years ahead will see BlueTEC variants for models from C-Class to R-Class on the “Mercedes-Benz Road to the Future”.

The slightly lower peak output of the new BlueTEC model in the US version (155 kW/211 hp instead of 165 kW/ 224 hp) resulted from measures designed to improve emissions. Further optimization measures included special piezo injectors and selective fine-tuning of turbocharger and exhaust gas recirculation. The unchanged high peak torque of 398 ft-lbs (540 Nm) at 1,600 rpm guarantees effortlessly superior performance with low fuel consumption and very clean exhaust gases. The NEDC consumption of the E 300 BlueTEC is around 7.3 liters of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers, which is about 32 miles per gallon (mpg.)

E 350 CGI: direct-injection gasoline engine in the E-Class

Parallel to the E 300 BlueTEC model, Mercedes-Benz introduced the E 350 CGI model. Its V6 gasoline engine was equipped with ultramodern gasoline direct injection featuring a spray-guided combustion process (CGI). The world’s first engine to feature this innovative combustion system and piezo injection came from the CLS 350 CGI model. The E 350 CGI model has been available as a sedan or station wagon since December 2007.

Compared with the E 350 model, which is still available, the 215 kW (292 hp) V6 engine offers 15 kW (20 hp) more output and 11 ft-lbs (15 Nm) more torque, combined with ten percent lower fuel consumption. The E 350 CGI sedan model, which accelerates from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.8 seconds, uses just 8.7 liters of premium gasoline per 100 kilometers (New European Driving Cycle, or NEDC average) or about 27 mpg. In both model variants the top speed is electronically governed at 155 mph (250 km/h.)

E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class will also assume the role of pioneer in the next series of E-Class. The year 2010 is expected to see the arrival of the first of three Mercedes-Benz models from the next generation of the intermediate range, equipped with a unique combination of BlueTEC, 7G-TRONIC (MB’s trademark name for its seven-speed automatic transmission) and hybrid technology. The modular technology concept of the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID model comprises the new four-cylinder diesel engine, which develops 150 kW (204 hp) and a maximum torque of 354 ft-lbs (480 Nm) from 2.2 liters, and a compact hybrid module that delivers an additional 15 kW (20 hp). Consumption of just 5.1 liters of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers (46 mpg) and carbon dioxide emissions of only 134 grams per kilometer make the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID model the world’s thriftiest and cleanest business sedan.

BlueTEC Diesel hybrid E 300. No price announcement yet, but Benz fans are already salivating.

_{»crosslinked«}

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Powering Toward 2010 E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid is a post from: CleanCarTalk

While it looks like Mercedes-Benz will leave the 2009 E-Class sedans unchanged, the arrival of the E-320 BlueTEC diesel is exciting. For the 2010 version, only more refinements are expected.

Directly from MB, the 2009 E320 BlueTEC’s arrival significantly alters the operating cost equation. The E320 delivers substantial torque and high mileage. Now emissions certified in all 50 states and all of Canada, the E320 BlueTEC uses a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 producing 210 hp and 400 lb/ft of torque. The EPA mileage estimate is 23 mpg in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway, putting the E320 BlueTEC at the top of the charts in its class by a wide margin. The E320 BlueTEC is otherwise identical to the E350 aside from riding on 16-inch wheels. The BlueTEC diesel is unlike any diesel you’ve ever seen or heard about. It features low emissions, a smooth, clatter-free idle with prodigious torque and impressive fuel economy.

It’s an impressive sedan. FoxNews.com back in April 2008 wrote about a 700-mile-on-a-tank trip on a 2008 diesel E-320 in this Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTec article. The 21-gallon capacity tank did its job, proving that the car does what the EPA numbers specify. Here’s a YouTube video explaining the BlueTEC technology at work using cool animation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5STGppxcdw

MB won’t tinker too much with the 2010 model either, according to this Car and Driver spied article by Jared Gall. Mr. Gall wrote, “Our sources tell us there will also be little change in the engine room, where the V-6 diesel in the E320 BlueTec and the V-8 in the E550 will receive only minor updates”. That’s okay with me. Why mess with a good thing.

Check out below some spy photos of the 2010 E-Class courtesy of CarandDriver.com.

From the photos, I can see minor fixes around the vehicle body, most notably sharper edges all around, with new side mirrors and no more oval headlights. It also looks like MB will put the large three star in the middle of the grill instead of the hood ornament. The design actually reminds me of the new C-Class look.

With a New BlueTEC Buzz, a Glimpse of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a post from: CleanCarTalk

MotorTrend.com Youtube video.

Looks like: Another “cool” looking off-road vehicle for urbanites. Driver sits too low to see front corners. No roll protection. Looks too hard to get in and out of, etc. Probably not for serious off-roaders. Jeep gets points for promoting hybrid technology.

From the official Jeep site: Use Less Fuel … Have More Fun Out There.

The 2008 Jeep® Renegade Concept is a sporty two-seater that is just as equipped to navigate a winding off-road trail as it is to turn heads on the auto show circuit. With its stand-alone, cut-down windshield and doors with their lower sections cut out, it’s a minimalistic, eco-friendly approach to having maximum fun. Plus, it combines a lithium-ion battery pack with and a small-displacement BLUETEC diesel engine, which together help the Renegade achieve a fuel economy of more than 110 miles per gallon.

Here’s the official Jeep press release back in January 2008.

A B-segment Jeep® concept vehicle, the Renegade is a sporty, “minimized” two-seater ideally suited for the all-weather fun of dune-surfing or rock-crawling.

“With an electric motor powering each axle, the Jeep Renegade concept is designed for a ‘hang on and have fun experience,’” said Tony Shamenkov, Jeep Renegade concept principal exterior designer.

Constructed of environmentally responsible materials, sustainability is a key theme of the Jeep Renegade concept.

Renegade is targeted at customers in the “Stylish Green” segment of the marketplace – those who are extremely environmentally oriented, appreciate high-tech and innovation, and enjoy performance combined with style in keeping with their “green” attitude.

Jeep Renegade Concept Technology

——————————–

The advanced propulsion system in the Jeep Renegade concept starts with a 40-mile lithium-ion battery pack. A range extender – in Renegade’s case, a small-displacement (1.5-liter, 3-cylinder) BLUETEC diesel engine – allows for journeys beyond 40 miles. In fact, the Jeep Renegade concept boasts a 400-mile range.

Renegade’s BLUETEC diesel engine generates an additional 115 horsepower when needed, while greatly reducing exhaust emissions when compared to standard gasoline engines. Renegade is capable of achieving an equivalent petroleum fuel economy of 110 miles per gallon, which is four-to-five times greater than an equivalent gasoline-only vehicle.

The all-new Jeep Renegade concept’s lightweight aluminum architecture and regen-braking system help to improve overall efficiency, while dual electric 200 kilowatt (268 horsepower) motors propel a very capable 4×4 system – complete with low range and locking differentials — worthy of carrying the Jeep name.

Jeep Renegade Concept Exterior

——————————–

The Jeep Renegade concept’s “one-with-nature” personality is emphasized by its large, flaring wheel openings, oversized wheels and tires, and cut-down speedster windshield — all of which combine to deliver on the Renegade’s promise of cross-country fun and agility.

Among the unique exterior details are “deconstructed” rubber-clad headlamps and taillamps, as well as just-for-fun elongated triangular openings in each of the two sculpted doors.

While the Renegade features a roll bar, it has no top. Instead, the cargo deck just behind the cockpit can be fitted with a variety of “lids.” Options include a plain lid, or lids configured to accommodate the gear of a particular outdoor day-trip activity, such as mountain biking or kayaking. Or it can come “as built” — with formations designed to accommodate two matching water scooters with open storage underneath. Fluid-fill caps, a plug-in port and a first-aid kit are also included.

Jeep Renegade Concept Interior

——————————–

Sustainability – a ratio between the energy needed to build and ship the vehicle as compared with the impact these processes have on the environment – is a key focus of the Jeep Renegade concept’s interior design.

Materials used in constructing the Jeep Renegade concept were deliberately selected to be environmentally responsible, both in manufacture and end-of-vehicle-life recyclability.

Innovative construction includes one-piece molded soy-based foam seats and doors, a one-piece co-molded instrument panel with a urethane skin, a co-molded aluminum/silicone steering wheel, a one-piece molded chassis created without using environmentally-harmful resins, and a one-piece molded interior compartment “tub.” This environmental care in designing the Renegade’s interior is aligned with Jeep’s “harmony with nature” philosophy.

“The Jeep Renegade concept’s interior — actually the entire vehicle — is designed to minimize the number of parts necessary for assembly and function,” said Scott Anderson, principal interior designer of the Renegade concept. “We designed the Renegade with an eye toward simplification of systems, both in parts and processes.”

The HVAC system, for example, is not coolant-based, while the color, grain and gloss of the interior parts are molded in one piece. Even the no-gloss exterior color of the Renegade’s lightweight composite body is molded in to avoid the use of solvents present in automotive paints.

The dual-cockpit instrument panel is symmetrically balanced for easy “plug and play” left-hand drive and right-hand drive applications. There is no conventional wiring. Instead, the instrument panel features wireless electronics in sealed, self-contained units, removable by the customer. The panel is built about an exposed cross-car beam containing an integrated power strip, and on the passenger side, yaw, pitch and roll indicators (also built into the fluid-fill gauges). The instrument panel itself is hollow, allowing ample open storage below the beam. Separately-configured impact-absorbing vinyl-wrapped knee-blockers “float” beneath the cross-car beam. The thin multi-plane acrylic instrument cluster mounts to the steering column, while the similar but separate center control screen mounts on a swivel base — providing easy access to both occupants.

Located at the intersection of the steering wheel’s T-shaped spokes, the circular LED screen rotates, allowing the driver to select the drive mode, while a flattened rim provides roomier thigh clearance. A driver air bag is concealed beneath the screen. Red or green translucent shift buttons allow Park, Reverse or Drive selections.

The Jeep Renegade concept’s sporty doors incorporate unique canvas-pull remote “handles,” while the rush of the moving landscape visible through the door’s elongated openings enhance the feeling of carefree, open-air mobility.

The Renegade’s contoured, figure-form seats — covered in scuba-like waterproof materials that are both soft-touch and flexible — feature in-seat belts and unusual, hollow, lightweight upside-down “U-shaped” headrests. The seats feature a urethane skin with soy-based foam co-molded with a composite substructure. The integral seatbelts, along with slender accent strips on the seats and instrument panel, repeat the Palm Metallic exterior color.

A “thermal unit” in the center console plugs into the electrical battery pack, permitting food to be either heated or cooled.

“Inspired by the simplicity and functionality of scuba diving gear, we wanted the interior of the Jeep Renegade concept to be weather-tight and durable,” Anderson said.

The Renegade’s wireless interior is designed to be hosed down. It features a drain in the floor, while the formations built into the floor mat are designed to channel water to the opening. Hollow-section billet-formed pedals float above the tub floor.

Fun, functional and fabricated from recyclable materials, the Jeep Renegade concept offers agile, capable performance without sacrificing the environment its drivers seek to explore. Keeping with Jeep owners’ desire to use their vehicles as an extension of their active lives, the Jeep Renegade concept promotes enjoyment of the good things of the earth while taking care of its future.

Jeep Renegade Hybrid – Another “Off-Road” Vehicle For Urbanites is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Based on information available on the official smartusa.com site, U.S. markets won’t get a diesel version yet for 2009 model year. I’m a little disappointed. It’s one of the reasons I’m holding out from buying a first U.S. smart model. I was so looking forward to a smart powered by Mercedes’ Bluetec technology.

According to the company, the 2009 models will introduce 2 new colors which are to replace 2 existing colors. The new sporty and intense “rally red” and cool and elegant “gray metallic” will replace the 2008 “light yellow” and “red metallic” colors. Existing owners will be glad to learn that the 2008 colors will still be available as replacement panels or full bodypanel kits. For the interior minor enhancements will be incorporated including new door nets replacing solid storage areas on driver and passenger doors, and the LCD display on the instrument cluster will have a loose gas cap warning added. For me both are very minor changes, and for all intent and purposes, you’re buying pretty much the same car.

I guess we’re lucky that the smart fortwos are here in the states finally. It will take some time for things to pick up, and from a business standpoint, you have to sell the mass first. So I’m willing to wait out another year and see. Guess I’ll continue checking the rumor sites.

Follow this link to view my collection of YouTube videos of smart fortwo cdi cars.

No Diesel Version For 2009 smart fortwo is a post from: CleanCarTalk