STUTTGART, Germany — Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will market three BlueEFFICIENCY C-Class sedans that will be as much as 12 percent more fuel-efficient than the standard C-Class cars. The cars will debut at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.
Numerous technological measures are credited for the increased fuel economy, plus lowered weight, better aerodynamics, a "needs-driven" power steering system and more efficient engines.
The most powerful, the C350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY, has a 292-horsepower V6 with Mercedes' second-generation spray-guided direct injection that gets 28 mpg using premium gasoline — and goes from zero to 60 mph in less than 6.2 seconds.
The fuel economy gets better from there. The 156-hp C180 Kompressor model achieves 36 mpg from a downsized engine (cut from 1.8 to 1.6 liters without losing any output). The 136-hp C200 CDI gets 46 mpg with no change to engine displacement, output or torque.
Weight has been cut by 42-70 pounds by using a lighter-weight laminated glass windscreen, lightweight wheels and other pound-shaving adjustments. Low-rolling-resistance tires were also developed for the BlueEFFICIENCY C-Class.
Aerodynamic efficiency was a major focus, with the suspension lowered by 0.6 inch, underbody cladding, partially blanking off the radiator grille and sealing joints to improve airflow on the front end. The C-Class' already excellent 0.27 coefficient of drag was thus cut to "an outstanding" 0.25 Cd.
The power steering system gets an added valve that switches off the pump when the car has been going in a straight line for a certain amount of time, letting the engine operate more economically and cutting fuel usage by 2.5 percent. The transmission has a longer final-drive ratio, also to save energy.
Last but not least, there's a gearshift display telling the driver when to change gears to save fuel. Mercedes says a driver can get as much as 15 percent better fuel economy by paying attention to energy use, "without any loss of driving enjoyment."
The new models will go on sale in the spring.
What this means to you: An extreme makeover goes extremely well for fuel-conscious drivers who still want a great driving experience. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
Numerous technological measures are credited for the increased fuel economy, plus lowered weight, better aerodynamics, a "needs-driven" power steering system and more efficient engines.
The most powerful, the C350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY, has a 292-horsepower V6 with Mercedes' second-generation spray-guided direct injection that gets 28 mpg using premium gasoline — and goes from zero to 60 mph in less than 6.2 seconds.
The fuel economy gets better from there. The 156-hp C180 Kompressor model achieves 36 mpg from a downsized engine (cut from 1.8 to 1.6 liters without losing any output). The 136-hp C200 CDI gets 46 mpg with no change to engine displacement, output or torque.
Weight has been cut by 42-70 pounds by using a lighter-weight laminated glass windscreen, lightweight wheels and other pound-shaving adjustments. Low-rolling-resistance tires were also developed for the BlueEFFICIENCY C-Class.
Aerodynamic efficiency was a major focus, with the suspension lowered by 0.6 inch, underbody cladding, partially blanking off the radiator grille and sealing joints to improve airflow on the front end. The C-Class' already excellent 0.27 coefficient of drag was thus cut to "an outstanding" 0.25 Cd.
The power steering system gets an added valve that switches off the pump when the car has been going in a straight line for a certain amount of time, letting the engine operate more economically and cutting fuel usage by 2.5 percent. The transmission has a longer final-drive ratio, also to save energy.
Last but not least, there's a gearshift display telling the driver when to change gears to save fuel. Mercedes says a driver can get as much as 15 percent better fuel economy by paying attention to energy use, "without any loss of driving enjoyment."
The new models will go on sale in the spring.
What this means to you: An extreme makeover goes extremely well for fuel-conscious drivers who still want a great driving experience. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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