World 100,000 mile record: 140 mph for 30 days averaging 40 mpg

Advanced diesel vehicles which are equipped with diesel particulate filters and comply with the EU4 exhaust emissions standard make excellent sense, both economically and ecologically, and are ideally suited to all vehicle categories, as a glance at the current European range of Mercedes-Benz diesel models confirms. In terms of both performance and comfort, diesel engines are firmly established as the equals of petrol powerplants.

The range begins with the 60 kW/82 hp A 160 CDI and extends right up to the new E 420 CDI with its output of 231 kW/314 hp. No less than 20 models on sale in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland already feature a diesel particulate filter as standard, while summer 2005 will see 40 Mercedes-Benz models equipped with this technology. This means that, worldwide, the Stuttgart-based company will be offering more vehicles with diesel particulate filters than any other manufacturer. Mercedes- Benz introduced the particulate filter in autumn 2003 and to date has delivered around 140,000 vehicles with this exhaust technology.

Promising future in the USA

As well as offering superb performance and excellent quality, the Mercedes-Benz diesel models are also outstandingly economical. The fuel consumption figure of 40 mpg achieved by the E 320 CDI is unrivalled by any vehicle in its competitive segment.

Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz engineers have successfully used effective emission control systems to satisfy the strict exhaust emission standards set by the EPA. Through the use of the latest technology it will in future be possible to comply with the Californian CARB (California Air Resources Board) legislation - the strictest in the world - which currently applies in five states.

The potential savings which could be achieved through increased adoption of diesel engines in the USA are enormous.

An increase in the proportion of dieselpowered cars and light commercial vehicles from the present one percent to around thirty percent would save the USA approximately 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day - equivalent to the entire amount of oil imported by the USA from Saudi Arabia.

If we were to assume a 50 percent market share for diesels, as in western Europe, the potential amount saved in a year would be 133 billion litres!

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