Stuttgart, Germany – Mercedes-Benz has announced the world’s latest and cleanest diesel engine, which will be available exclusively in Canada and the U.S. in the new R320, ML320 and GL320 BlueTEC models with AdBlue. The new models will be available in Canada in the fall of 2008.

The three are powered by a V6 engine with BlueTEC technology and with AdBlue injection, which the company has used in trucks and buses for a number of years. With the injection system, the three new SUVs achieve even lower emissions, can better the stringent Bin 5 limits applicable in North America, and have the potential to meet the upcoming EU6 standards.

In October 2006, Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to commence a BlueTEC initiative in the passenger car segment, which was timed to coincide with the introduction of low-sulphur fuel in North America. The E320 BlueTEC was voted “World Green Car of the Year 2007”.

The new V6 diesel engine has an output of 210 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, which represents an advantage of around 20 to 40 per cent over a comparable gasoline model. Mercedes-Benz said this makes the GL320 BlueTEC the most economical full-size SUV in Canada.

The AdBlue urea is held in a separate onboard tank and fed into the metering module with a pump. Average consumption of AdBlue is around 0.1 L/100 km, or 1 to 3 per cent of diesel consumption, and will need to be refilled only during the vehicle’s regular service intervals. The tank capacity is 28 litres in the R320 and ML320, and 32 litres in the GL320.