2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class BlueTEC diesel

March 15th, 2008

2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class BlueTEC diesel crossover SUV

With its new 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class BlueTEC diesel-powered large crossover SUV, the German car maker wants you to forget those dirty and stinking oil-burners from the 1980s. This one is clean and green, even if it is blue.

Well, it is not actually blue, but, according to the company, the new BlueTEC series of diesel engines use the urea-based AdBlue solution, which is employed in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process.

Reacting with the vehicle’s exhaust gases, the 32.5% solution of high-purity urea, which is dissolved in demineralized water, helps reducing emissions of oxides of nitrogen from the exhaust of diesel engines.

The solution is stored in a special tank and is usually good for some 20 thousand kilometers, but your official dealer will change it every time your vehicle will undergo its regular servicing and motor oil change.

All BlueTEC engines are expected to meet both the United States’ “bin 5″ and the European Euro VI emission standards.

As Mercedes-Benz puts it in its press release, the BlueTEC V6 power plants are capable of producing up to 211 hp and 399 ft-lbs (538 Nm) of torque. I’m not sure if this power is adequate for GL’s needs (and mass) but the green engine will return quite an impressive fuel economy of 17/23 mpg (13.8/10.2 liters per 100 km), making the GL the most fuel efficient full-size SUV in the United States.

The clean engine will also be installed on the R-Class family van and the ML-Class mid-size crossover SUV.