| May 30, 2016
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Mercedes-Benz invests 3 billion Euros in developing new engines
- The primary beneficiaries will be the new-gen diesel engines
- The entire line-up of Mercedes-Benz cars will get these engines by 2019
Emission norms are getting stricter by the day and all manufacturers are doing their best to meet these norms as and when they come. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, is doing one-up on the latest norms set by the EU, that will be forced into effect from September, 2017. The diesel engines that are on offer currently from Mercedes-Benz already fulfill the above mentioned requirements.
Mercedes-Benz says that it has achieved this through an integrated technology approach that makes use of stepped combustion chambers in the engine and developed exhaust-gas recirculation. This new engine has a design wherein all the components for exhaust gas recirculation are a part of the engine itself rather than being positioned under the floor as the case is in conventional diesel engine cars. This is said to significantly enhance the overall effectiveness of the engine.
The new generation E-Class will be carrying one such engine which is the OM 654. The E 220 d has a claimed efficiency figure of 25.64kmpl, (according to NEDC cycle) which is really impressive. The CO2 emissions stand at 102 grams per kilometre. All of this, when the overall power output went up from 170bhp to 190bhp.
This new 4-cylinder engine will be doing duty across the model range of Mercedes-Benz cars along with vans as well. The engine can be tuned for varied levels of power output. Also, the engine can designed to be either longitudinal or transverse and can be used on cars with front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Mercedes-Benz says that this engine will be in use across its entire range of cars in Europe by 2019 at the latest.
Mercedes-Benz will be offering to update the on-board software on the entry-level models such as A-Class, B-Class, CLA and the GLA, which have already been sold. The updates will be carried out through a voluntary service recall that will be implemented from June 2016. This programme will be applicable for cars sold in Europe at present.
