- The German automaker brings the S-Class oil-burner back to the States.
- Available at U.S. dealers in late summer as a 2012 model.
- S-Class range now includes gasoline, diesel and hybrid variants in the U.S.
DETROIT — Mercedes-Benz is bringing the big S-Class diesel back to the U.S. — specifically, the S350 Bluetec 4Matic, which is slated to arrive at dealers in late summer as a 2012 model.
The return of the Grosser diesel will give the German automaker gasoline, diesel and hybrid variants of the S-Class in the U.S.
Mercedes spokesman Dan Barile told Inside Line at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show that the S-Class diesel model will cost about the same as the S400 Hybrid.
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec 4Matic is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel that makes 240 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The company says 0-60 acceleration takes only 7.0 seconds, with top speed electronically limited to 130 miles per hour.
Mercedes-Benz says the S350 Bluetec already meets new EU6 emissions standards planned for Europe in 2014.
Inside Line says: You could call it Big Blue . . . but the name's already taken. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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khpage says:
01:05 PM, 09/01/2011
The best way, if it is at all possible, for increased performance with this motor would be to "chip" it by installing a Carlsson power chip in it. Dunno if they have one for 2012 motors yet or not. That would be my choice for this car. Usually their chips will produce at least a 15% increase in power, which would mean the little diesel would be making on the order of 276 horsepower. That should get this wundercar down the road in fairly smart fashion. There are some terriffic videos of an S-class diesel being run flat out on the Autobahn by a guy named laserfrankie. You can find his stuff on Youtube under the autos & vehicles section. He has four videos with this car. It has a diesel of a claimed 258 horsepower and once he gets the thing going, it really flies....
mercedesfan says:
01:23 PM, 01/12/2011
@cz_75,
I agree. MB highly optimistically quotes the E350 Bluetec's 0-60 time as 6.7 seconds. The fastest time anyone has recorded is 7.2 with most right at 7.5 seconds. I would expect the S350 to make the same run in about 8.0 seconds. That still puts it neck and neck with the S400, though.
kkear3 says:
09:59 AM, 01/12/2011
Timbodaddy hit the nail on the head about people well-off but not billionaires. This is just the car for those well-heeled school teachers in the northeast. All weather traction, fuel efficiency, and it goes nicely with a LV handbag, to boot. And who cares about 130 MPH top end; where can you wind out a car to that speed, much less 155 MPH in heavy northeat traffic anyway. Personally, I still would pop for the S600, fuel economy be damned.
wjtinatl says:
06:21 AM, 01/12/2011
Nice. A nod to the 300SD of the early 80's. SWB s-class with the then new turbo diesel had tons of room and got 28mpg. My dad had a gray one with dark blue "MB-Tex", of all his cars it's the one I remember most fondly. Living in Florida, 4matic adds cost and weight I don't need, wish MB would make it optional.
cz_75 says:
11:47 PM, 01/11/2011
Something like this demands a bigger diesel than what the E-class has. The E needs the uprated power of this version and an S needs at least a 3.5L with around 300hp and another 150 lb-ft of torque over this. If you need absolute fuel economy, you probably shouldn't be looking at M-B, as cars this expensive are about relative efficiency within their class and performance envelope. If the slightly less powerful and less heavy E350 Bluetec is doing 0-60 in around 8 seconds, there's no way this car can do it in 7.
isend2c says:
10:00 PM, 01/11/2011
Didn't Insideline just track test the E350 Bluetec and were disappointed by it? Too slow they said... hemmm... this seems like it's be worse. I'll take the S400 Hybrid over this, thanks.
daddiod says:
03:49 PM, 01/11/2011
MB sells this model with a 4 banger diesel in Germany!
No 4Matic, though.
timbodaddy says:
02:29 PM, 01/11/2011
People who say the rich don't care about fuel economy are missing the point. There are a ton of people, who are reasonably well off but not billionaires, who will purchase or lease a car like this. there is an element of convenience that comes with being able to go a couple of weeks between fill-ups, or not having to stop multiple times for fuel on their trips. That's a benefit to working hard and being well-off: enjoying a level of convenience not available to those who aren't. Not to mention the livery companies who will replace their limos with more economical vehicles like this. After all, it features all the comfort and luxury that their clients expect, and gives them a fighting chance when it comes to fuel bills. Besides, rich folks in Europe don't seem to object to diesels. Smooth torque and long range appeals to most folks, regardless of station.
northsparrow says:
10:11 AM, 01/11/2011
Credit where credit is due, the German manufacturers seem to be the only ones keeping the diesel dream alive for passenger cars. Having said that, I cannot really imagine S Cla$$ customers caring that much about fuel mileage. 455 lbs of torque from a 3 liter diesel sounds like the ultimate pickup truck engine.
piredon says:
10:01 AM, 01/11/2011
Love it! Major kudos for going with the 4matic diesel. That's a combination that doesn't currently exist in a sedan in this country.
I currently have a BMW X5 diesel. It goes 450+ miles between fill-ups, gets about 24 mpg so far in mixed driving, and carries all the crap I need it to, plus goes 0-60 in under 7 seconds, and the lease was about 5% less than the equivalent gas model. It's also AWD, which is a luxury I'm not willing to go without in Syracuse, NY. And that was the key to the whole deal. Prob would have gone with the 335d if it had AWD.
Well done Mercedes for realizing that just because we want a diesel, doesn't mean we want mileage at all cost. You hear me Audi? Can I get quattro in an A3 TDI?