The Diesel Driver » BlueTec

Mercedes-Benz Unveils E300 BlueTec Hybrid Diesel Sedan – First Look

Paul Riegler — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:18:12 +0000

Introducing the World’s Most Economical Luxury Car

Many diesel enthusiasts have wondered why mainstream automakers such as Mercedes-Benz haven’t built a diesel-electric hybrid, bridging the best of diesel efficiency on the open road with hybrid in-town economy.

The Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec Hybrid will go on sale next year. It is available in the standard E-Class sedan body as well as a wagon.

Under the hood, the 2143 cc four-cylinder diesel engine produces 204 hp (150 kW) and 368 pound-feet (500 Nm) of torque, (This engine is also found in the new SLK 250 CDI sports coupe, the automaker’s first diesel sportscar.) The electric motor produces an additional 27 hp (20 kW) and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm) of torque and is integrated into the gearbox, a modified seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic.

The combination of the four-cylinder engine with the electric motor positions the E300 BlueTec Hybrid favorably with the six-cylinder E300 CDI, which develops 231 hp (170 kW) and 398 pound-feet (540 Nm) of torque. By contrast, the E250 CDI, which has the Hybrid’s four-cylinder engine but no electric motor, produces 204 hp (150 kW) and 368 pound-feet (500 Nm) of torque

The BlueTec Hybrid’s 0.8 kWh lithium-ion battery can reportedly power the car in all-electric mode for a range of less than one mile at speeds below 35 mph (56 km/h). The BlueTec Hybrid can travel from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 7.5 seconds and tops out at 150 mph (241 km/h).

A host of fuel-saving features, including stop-start, brake energy regeneration, low rolling resistance tires, and a sailing mode that decouples the engine from the transmission at speeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) in order to allow the car to coast with minimal losses from friction in the drivetrain.

This makes for a very efficient luxury sedan that sips fuel, using 4.2 l/100 km (56 mpg). Emissions are 109 g CO2/km.

The E300 BlueTec Hybrid will be available in European markets next year. Mercedes-Benz also announced the E400 Hybrid, a gasoline-electric hybrid that will only be on sale in the United States in 2012.

BMW, Mercedes to Offer Diesels in Japan

Jonathan Spira — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:49:40 +0000

X5 xDrive35d and E350 BlueTec On Display at Tokyo Motor Show

Jonathan Spira reports live from the Tokyo Motor Show

While diesels may rule the Autobahn, automakers have faced an uphill battle in gaining acceptance for oilburners in the U.S. There’s at least one market where the percentage of diesel-powered vehicles sold is significantly lower than the figure in the U.S., Japan, land of the hybrid. In 2010, diesels accounted for 0.2% of the market.

Japanese drivers have stayed away from diesels much for the same reasons that U.S. drivers have been slow to embrace them, namely the image that they are slow, noisy, and belch black smoke. Sales of new diesel-powered automobiles in the Japanese market stopped completely in 2007 and no new diesel models had been introduced since the beginning of that decade.

Last year, the Japanese Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry implemented new and stricter emissions standards for passenger cars. In addition, a government subsidy for eco-friendly cars such as hybrids ended last year as well.

Since modern diesels emit less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, some automakers see them as the next wave of eco-friendly vehicles for Japan, especially since the lack of a subsidy for hybrids will put diesels on an equal footing with them.

The first two manufacturers to offer “clean” diesels in Japan were Nissan and Mitsubishi. Nissan began selling its diesel X-Trail SUV in 2008, followed by Mitsubishi with its Pajero SUV last year.

The two carmakers see diesel technology as key to meeting the new standards for emissions. Last year, Ryugo Nakao, an executive at Mitsubishi, was quoted in a Japanese newspaper saying that diesel “is an essential technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Click here to continue to Page 2 – BMW and Mercedes-Benz at the Tokyo Motor Show

2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec Diesel Three Month Review and Report

Jonathan Spira — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:38:34 +0000

Last November, I drove the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec sedan from New York to Boston and back and promptly fell in love. The trip of 331 km (206 miles) took three hours and my fuel consumption was 6.7 l/100 km (35 mpg). The return trip of 335 km (208 miles) took a little longer but my fuel consumption was only 6.3 l/100 km (37 mpg). These figures were on par with the fuel economy we saw with our BMW 335d long-term test car, yet the Benz was bigger.

This year Mercedes is celebrating its 125th anniversary and is credited not only with inventing the diesel-powered passenger car in the 1930s but with having invented the automobile as we more or less know it in 1886. In the U.S. in recent years, diesels have remained solely in the domain of the Germans, while others automakers experiment with hybrids and electric vehicles.

Mercedes’ diesel offspring have done it proud. It’s not uncommon to see a W123 240D or 300D still on the road, even though the last one was produced over 25 years ago. The resale value of diesels remains high and that is reflected in the very high residual value of the car for leasing customers.

Mercedes-Benz is currently tied with Volkswagen for offering the most diesel models in the U.S. (each has five). The E350 BlueTec model was added to the list of available E-Klasse models in the U.S. last year, rounding out the automaker’s U.S. diesel lineup with a four-door sedan. A second four-door sedan, the larger S350 BlueTec , is first going on sale now at dealerships and was recently in our short-term test fleet.

The 2011 E350 BlueTec sedan was completely new for 2010 and it is a standard E350 sedan in every regard save one: the engine. Compared to the petrol version, the E350 BlueTec comes with a smaller V-6 3.0-liter 72° engine, which powered an earlier E-Class in the U.S., the 2006 E320 diesel. Today that engine is fitted with Mercedes’ AdBlue urea-injection system that scrubs the exhaust, eliminating almost all of its NOx emissions and making the car legal in all 50 states.

The diesel engine does, however, make a world of difference. While the diesel only produces 210 hp, it does produce 400 pound-feet of torque between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm. The E350 gasser only manages 258 pound-feet between 2,400 and 5,000 (the diesel tops out at 4500 rpm incidentally, but that’s fairly typical for an oil burner), while the E550’s massive V-8 only manages to produce 391 pound-feet of torque (although this figure will be increased in the 2012 model).

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Driving the E350 BlueTec and the E350′s Interior plus Virtual Drives

Shipping the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec to the U.S.

Jonathan Spira — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:01:45 +0000

The inevitable epilogue of every European Delivery trip is referred to as “drop-off,” the point at which the owner hands over his car to the shipper for ocean transport to the United States.

We dropped off the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec at the offices of BLG Logistics in Bremerhaven on August 11, 2011 after driving from Arnhem to Bremen and then to Bremerhaven.

BLG is Mercedes-Benz’ shipping agent and takes care of all aspects of shipping the car to the United States, including booking passage and customs brokerage. In the U.S., customs brokerage is handled by E.H. Harms USA, a subsidiary of BLG. BLG, which was founded in 1877 as the Bremer Lagerhaus-Gesellschaft (Bremen Warehouse Company), is an international logistics organization that, among other things, is responsible for exporting automobiles from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz among others from Europe to the U.S.

BLG’s AutoTerminal Bremerhaven is the largest auto- and RoRo (roll-on roll-off) terminal in Europe. In 2010 it handled 1.6 million automobiles, counting both import and export. The AutoTerminal is divided into two areas, Section Nordhafen and Section Kaiserhafen. Almost all of BLG’s passenger car operations, ranging from storage to its technical center, are in the Section Nordhafen.

BLG’s clients include over 25 major automakers in Europe, ranging from Audi to Jaguar to Porsche to Volvo. The range of services offered (not every automaker uses all of the services) ranges from pre-delivery inspection (PDI) to repairs to accessory installation. To understand how large the Section Nordhafen is, BLG can store a total of 130,000 automobiles (40,000 in covered storage) at any one time. Not only new cars are transported. During my visit to the AutoTerminal, I saw a variety of used cars and trucks making their way to and from different continents as well as a 1950s fire truck, destination unknown to me.

The next day, BLG had already booked the E350 on the Independence II, which was scheduled to depart Bremerhaven on August 21 and arrive in Baltimore, where Mercedes-Benz USA has its Vehicle Preparation Center (VPC), on September 1, a mere 11 days later.

The Independence II is a Ro-Ro (roll-on roll-off) ship. It is owned by Arc (American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier), which owns a total of nine ships. Thanks to a charter agreement with Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), a related company, Arc transports automobiles as well as high and heavy (i.e. oversized) equipment and its fleet regularly calls on ports in New York, Baltimore, Charleston, and Brunswick. (Our BMW 335d traveled on WWL’s MV Manon in late 2009 and WWL transports over 1.2 million vehicles by sea each year.)

Click here to continue to Page 2 - The Voyage to Baltimore and A Virtual Tour of the Bremerhaven AutoTerminal

Mercedes-Benz unveils SLK 250 CDI Diesel Roadster, B-Class, B-Class E-Cell, F125

Christian Stampfer — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 03:49:21 +0000

Mercedes-Benz, the inventor of the automobile, celebrates its 125 birthday this year. Under the motto “Mercedes-Next,” the automaker presented six world premieres at the Frankfurt Internationale Automobile Ausstellung (International Automobile Show). The new cars include the recently announced SLK 250 CDI , the completely new B-Class, and two concept cars, the B-Class E-Cell and the F125!) .

With the presentation of the F125! (the name is based on the company’s 125th anniversary) Mercedes-Benz provides a view of a potential S-Class of the future. The F-Cell hydrogen research vehicle is equipped with four electric motors close to the wheels and can go up to 1.000 kilometers (621 miles) without refueling. Its F-Cell plug-in hybrid system uses the automaker’s latest high performance lithium-sulfur high voltage battery. The battery powers the car for the first few miles before the F-Cell is activated. It transfers hydrogen and air in a chemical reaction to energy which powers the batteries of the F125!. This leads to a combined system power of 313 hp.

Another star of the Mercedes-Benz show is the concept car of the B-Class E-Cell Plus with an estimated range of 600 km (373 miles). An additional gasoline engine works as a range extender for the electric lithium-ion battery, which is stored in the Energy Space. The Energy Space is a specially developed, space-saving intermediate floor in the front of the rear axle.

Mercedes also unveiled the completely reworked B-Class. In its second generation, the new B-Class offers buyers a numerous innovations which are new to the compact segment. Attention Assist, which has been available for several years on larger Mercedes vehicles including the E350 BlueTec sedan that recently joined our new long-term test fleet, and the Collision Prevention Assist are among the most important ones. Also the engines of the new B-Class have been reworked with new direct fuel injection technology. The new diesel-powered B-Class is rated with an average fuel consumption of only 4.4 l/100 km (53 mpg).

The current fleet of the SLK- and M-Class cars will get new diesel engines. The Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI is the first diesel-powered roadster. It features a four-cylinder diesel engine with a power output of 150 kW / 204 hp. The new ML 250 BlueTec 4MATIC has a fuel consumption of only 6.0 l/100 km (39 mpg) a 25% improvement over its predecessor.

Mercedes-Benz European Delivery – The Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec Diesel Sedan

Jonathan Spira — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:51:23 +0000

Out of the five automakers that offer European Delivery programs in the United States – Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volvo – only two, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, currently offer diesels via their program.

Mercedes-Benz offers customers residing in the United States the opportunity to purchase a new Mercedes E-Class or S-Class diesel-powered sedan at a discount and pick it up at the factory in Germany. Mercedes-Benz first started offering factory delivery in 1953 in Sindelfingen and began offering European Delivery to Americans in 1957.

Last year, almost 5,000 Americans purchased a car through a European Delivery program (which, depending on the manufacturer, might also called Factory Delivery, Overseas Delivery, and Tourist Delivery programs), and even more will do so this year. The savings vary by manufacturer but they are far from inconsequential. The buyer typically will save several thousand dollars on a purchase (with the exception of cars from Porsche, which does not provide any discounts and in fact charges an additional fee for the service).

The procedure is more or less the same with each car manufacturer. The buyer simply goes to his local dealership and orders a car for European Delivery. This typically should take place roughly three months in advance of the desired delivery date.

In my case, I went to see Kathleen Baade and Walter Blum at Helms Bros. Mercedes-Benz, in Bayside, New York. My timeframe was a bit shorter than the recommended three months, but Mercedes-Benz is occasionally able to accommodate such requests.

I spec’d out the car, a Palladium Silver E350 BlueTec, signed the preliminary purchase order (which Mercedes-Benz needs to begin the European Delivery process), finalized the delivery date (August 5), and began to make travel plans. I mapped out a drive from Sindelfingen to Maastricht (Netherlands), Cologne (Germany), Arnhem (Netherlands), and Bremen (Germany). The drive would end in Bremerhaven, where I would hand over the E350 to BLG Logistics (née E.H. Harms), which would make arrangements for the car to be shipped to the U.S.

Mercedes-Benz provides a variety of perks and benefits to European Delivery customers. Among these are one night in a luxury hotel (be it in Stuttgart or 13 other top hotels in Europe), two taxi vouchers (this covers airport to hotel and hotel to Kundencenter), and a coupon for dining at the restaurant at the Kundencenter.

Mercedes also waives the delivery fee of $875 (which U.S. delivery customers must pay) and provides a full tank of fuel at delivery.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Delivery in Germany

The Road to Maastricht – Driving the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec Diesel Sedan

Christian Stampfer — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:30:24 +0000

Maastricht, the capital of the province Limburg, is located in the southern part of the Netherlands. It was also our first destination after taking delivery of The Diesel Driver’s new long-term test car, a Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec diesel sedan.

TDD Editor Jonathan Spira and I started out from the Mercedes-Benz Kundencenter (customer center) in Sindelfingen (near Stuttgart) on August 5 after taking delivery of our newest oilburner as part of Mercedes-Benz’ European Delivery program.

The Kundencenter is directly integrated in the heart of Mercedes’ biggest production and test facility. Since the plant facilities are only a stone´s throw away from the Autobahn, we followed the Rudolf-Diesel-Straße (what an appropriate street name for the start of our journey) for less than five minutes and entered the Autobahn A81 in the direction Stuttgart / München / Karlsruhe.

In the first few minutes of driving our new long-term test car, I got to experience several features of the E350. Since I am used to drive with extra tight side bolster support, I tried to adjust my multicontour driver seat while driving. I realized that I must have pressed the wrong button, as the massage function immediately started to work. At first, I was a bit confused and didn’t realize what I had turned on but, after a while, I not only got used to it, but I used the massage function rather extensively on the way to Maastricht.

At Kreuz (interchange) Stuttgart, where the A81 meets the A8, we followed the A81 in the direction of Würzburg / Heilbronn. We were not driving very fast, however, as there was a tremendous amount of traffic on the three lane Autobahn. As we drove towards Heilbronn, we passed Zuffenhausen and Ludwigsburg, where Porsche’s production and distribution center is located.

We continued our drive via the A6 and switched onto the A61 near Hockenheim, where the Hockenheim-Ring (a German Formula 1 racing circuit) is situated.

For the next 258 km (160.3 miles) we followed the A61, a two lane Autobahn which connects the city of Venlo in Holland with Hockenheim. Since I already knew the A61 from my recent trip to Venlo in December 2010 with the BMW 318d Sedan, it was time to switch drivers and Jonathan got behind the wheel.

Thanks to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of traffic, we were able to enjoy the another safety feature of the E350. The Distronic Plus with Pre-Safe Breaking is an option that is included in the Driver Assistance Package. It is similar to BMWs Active Cruise Control or Audi’s Adaptive Cruise Control and utilizes a radar sensor in the front grill of the car. The system maintains a pre-set following distance behind the car ahead. It initiates braking and acceleration on its own, based on traffic conditions. We found the Distronic Plus quite useful in stop-and-go driving. Along with the massage function of our multicontour driver seat, the Distronic Plus was the best way to leave the traffic jam behind us.

For the last stretch of our drive to Maastricht, we switched at the Kreuz (interchange) Kerpen (Kerpen is the city where the former Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher was born) onto the A4 and headed towards the German border near Aachen, which we past about 30 minutes later. After we entered the Netherlands, I programmed the Distronic Plus to a maximum speed of 125 km/h (77.6 mph), since the speed limit is 120 km/h (74.5 mph) in the Netherlands.

We reached our destination of Maastricht shortly after crossing the border after a drive of 30 km (18.6 miles) via the A76 and A79, on which we experienced only light evening traffic.

In total we drove 472 km (293 miles) in 6 hours and 33 minutes and our fuel economy was 7.4 l/100 km (31.78 mpg). Our average speed was 72 km/h (44.7 mp/h). Taking into account that this was the first road trip with the new E350 BlueTec, the numbers met our expectations given that the EPA highway rating is 33 mpg (7.1 l/100 km). After the first few thousand kilometers or miles, we expect to see even better fuel economy. Indeed, last fall Jonathan drove an E350 BlueTec from New York to Boston and averaged 6.8 l/100 km (34.5 mpg) at an average speed of 109 km/h (67.7 mph).

Click here to continue to Page 2 – The Road to Maastricht: A Virtual Drive

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec Review and First Test Drive

Jonathan Spira — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:01:52 +0000

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec diesel-powered sedan is the latest S-Class entry in the U.S., a lineup that currently starts with the S400 Hybrid ($91,000) and also includes a V-8 (the S550, $93,000) and a V-12 (the S600, $158,050). It’s also the most economical S-Class when it comes to fuel usage and, more importantly, it can go over 737 miles (1186 km) between fill-ups. Of course, Mercedes-Benz has the American luxury diesel sedan market all to itself: at the present time, BMW doesn’t import the 730d or 735d, Audi doesn’t import any of the A8 TDIs, and Jaguar doesn’t import the XJ diesel.

The current version of the S-Class has been on sale since 2006 (as a 2007 model) and it was refreshed in 2010, getting a new bumper and grille, LED taillights and daytime running lights, and an integrated exhaust at the rear.

The S350 BlueTec is the automaker’s first S-Class diesel in the United States since the 1995 model year and it’s powered by a powerful V-6 diesel engine that develops 240 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, bringing the oil burner S-Class from 0 to 60 mph in seven seconds. (This is the same engine that is found in the new 2012 ML350 BlueTec.) The S350 BlueTec comes with Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive technology standard.

The new V-6 is designed to minimize diesel exhaust emissions through the use of several technologies including a four-valve-per-cylinder engine that features centrally located piezo-electric injectors, CDI direct injection, a variable-nozzle turbocharger, and exhaust gas recirculation.

But that’s not all. The S350 BlueTec also treats the exhaust stream with an oxidizing catalytic converter, a (maintenance-free) particulate filter, an SCR converter, and a NOx storage converter. In the “denox” storage converter, nitrogen oxides are temporarily absorbed and then released during brief regeneration pulses of a richer fuel-air mixture. They then react with other exhaust gas to form nitrogen, which is harmless. The regeneration pulses also raise temperature inside the particulate filter, which then in turn burns off the deposits.

A new seven-speed transmission features an advanced torque converter lock-up clutch that provides better fuel economy and quieter operation while being more responsive to the driver’s input. It uses FE-ATF, a new low-viscosity transmission fluid that is blue instead of red. The FE-ATF, along with new planetary gears, bearings, and internal seals, provides less friction and improves fuel economy.

The diesel S-Class’ fuel economy is by far the most impressive in the S-Class range with 20 mpg (11.76 l/100 km) in the city and 31 mpg (7.58 l/100 km) on the highway. Even compared to the S400 Hybrid, which has the same EPA highway fuel economy rating as the S550 (25 mpg or 9.4 l/100 km) but got 22% better fuel economy in the city (19 mpg or 12.37 l/100 km compared to 15 mpg or 15.68 l/100 km), the diesel’s almost 20% superiority in highway fuel economy over both models gives it a range of 737 miles (1180 km), which is unparalleled range in its class.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Performance

S400 Hybrid

S350 BlueTec

S550

S600

S63

S65

0-60 (seconds)
7.2

7

5.4

4.5

4.4

4.2

Top speed (mph)
130

130

130

130

155

186

Fuel mileage, city/hwy (EPA estimates, mpg)
19/25

20/31

15/25

12 / 19

15/23

12/19

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Inside the Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec Sedan and Driving the S350 BlueTec

2012 Diesel Car Lineup in the U.S. – What’s New

Paul Riegler — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:18:28 +0000

More and more buyers picked a diesel in the first half of 2011 and the reasons behind this are clear. Not only do diesels have better fuel economy but they are typically cleaner than the gasoline-powered equivalents and one doesn’t have those pesky (and expensive) batteries to worry about a few years down the road.

Most automakers build diesels although you wouldn’t know it by walking into a U.S. showroom. A total of 14 models from four automakers, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, will be available for the 2012 model year. This includes the brand new Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec and the Volkswagen Passat TDI as well as recent entries such as the Mer cedes-Benz E350 BlueTec.

With diesel sales on the uptick, why are there still so few on the market? The answer is that building a diesel engine that meets stringent U.S. emissions standards is expensive and most car makers simply don’t bother because they aren’t convinced that diesels will sell in the U.S.

With diesel sales up 39%, the editors of The Diesel Driver are pleased to present the diesel passenger car lineup for 2012.

AUDI

A brand new Audi A3 is just over a year away so Audi is not making any major changes in the current A3 TDI. The 2011 Audi A3 TDI gets 30 mpg (7.8 l/100 km) in the city and 42 mpg (5.6 l/100 km) on the highway.

The Audi Q7, which gets 17 mpg (13.83 l/100 km) in the city and 25 mpg (9.4 l/100 km) on the highway, remains unchanged for 2012 as well.

BMW

BMW has been leading the marketing charge in the U.S. for diesels (witness the company’s brilliant “Changes” Super Bowl commercial). Unfortunately, with the launch of the new F30 3er Series planned for next spring, production of the 335d, the car that The Diesel Driver’s readers picked as the 2011 Diesel Car of the Year, is ending and BMW of North America is not offering a diesel 3er with the launch of the next generation 3er.

This leaves the X5 xDrive35d, which gets 19 mpg (12.38 l/100 km) in town and 26 mpg (9.0 l/100 km) on the highway, as the automaker’s sole diesel offering in the U.S. for 2012 and it continues largely unchanged going into the 2012 model year.

Click here to continue to Page 2 -2012 Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Lineups

Diesel Economics: Sales Up 39% for First Half of 2011

Ben Rossi — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:21:57 +0000

An in-depth analysis of new car sales data by The Diesel Driver shows that sales of diesel-powered automobiles in the U.S. are up by 39% compared to the first half of 2010. In addition, buyers continue to choose diesel models over gasoline equivalents at the same rate as last year.

The Diesel Driver analyzed new-car sales data for the first six months of 2011 from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, the four companies that offer diesel-powered passenger vehicles in the U.S. (see the detailed chart at the bottom of page three). While diesel’s total market share has remained steady, sales are up compared to the first two quarters of 2010, and are on track to exceed the total 2010 diesel sales. The data cover the first two quarters of 2011 (January through June). Total diesel sales for the period were 47,873 vehicles.

The past six months saw several diesel-powered cars consistently outsell their gasoline equivalents, including the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (81% diesel), Volkswagen Golf TDI (56%), and the Audi A3 TDI (54%). Strikingly, BMW 335d sales are neck and neck with the gasoline version this year, with the diesel 335 claiming a significantly larger market share than during the first half of 2010.

The overall diesel take rate remained steady in the first half of 2011. The first two quarters of 2010 saw a 32% market share for diesel among the four car manufacturers. In the first six months of 2011, that number remained 32%. Diesel sales fell between the beginning and end of this period; in January, diesel sales were 32%, falling to 28% by June. However, at 47,873, total diesel sales for this year so far exceed those for the first two quarters of 2010 by 39%. If sales continue at this pace, the figure could be 108,000 or higher, exceeding the 2010 total of 77,877.

Audi once again led in the percentage of buyers who chose diesel (48%), up from 45% in the first two quarters of 2010. In total sales, Volkswagen was the clear standout with 33,259 diesel cars sold. That’s a 42% percent increase from the same period last year. Mercedes-Benz took second place with 5,953 sales (ousting BMW, which claimed the runner-up spot in the same period last year), although it still came in last place in comparable model sales with 18%. With 4,805 units sold, BMW moved down to third place. Audi came in fourth with 3,856 sales.

Several completely redesigned models that were introduced in 2010 continued into 2011 with strong sales. These include the Volkswagen Touareg TDI and the Jetta TDI. Production of the BMW 335d will end in August, leaving one BMW diesel model, the X5 xDrive35d, available. The all-new 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI should be arriving at dealerships this fall, and Mercedes-Benz’s 2012 S350 BlueTec, the first diesel-powered S-class in the U.S. market since the 1996 model year, should be available later this summer.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Manufacturer-Specific Trends and Data

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Performance
	S400 Hybrid	S350 BlueTec	S550	S600	S63	S65
0-60 (seconds)	7.2	7	5.4	4.5	4.4	4.2
Top speed (mph)	130	130	130	130	155	186
Fuel mileage, city/hwy (EPA estimates, mpg)	19/25	20/31	15/25	12 / 19	15/23	12/19