Lower fuel consumption despite substantial gain in output

The engineers also took care to ensure the new diesel engine is a paragon of fuel efficiency. In spite of the substantial power boost of 25 kW, the engine makes even more frugal use of diesel than its predecessor, which was itself a most modest consumer of fuel. This is immediately apparent from the fuel consumption figures for the C-Class, in which the powerpack will be making its debut in the autumn.

When fitted in the C-Class, the new 150-kW unit burns just 5.4 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres (NEDC), 0.5 litres less than previously. And when powered by the 125-kW/170-hp variant that is also newly available, the C Class returns even lower fuel figures of 5.1 litres for every 100 kilometres (a drop of 0.8 litres). As a consequence, CO2 emissions are reduced by 8 and 13 per cent respectively to 143 and 136 g/km. The Mercedes-Benz engineers have also succeeded in further reducing the amount of untreated engine emissions. Even without an active denoxification process, the new four-cylinder diesel already meets the future EU5 emissions standard.

"This takes our new four-cylinder unit into a realm which has so far been the preserve of three-litre six-cylinder diesel or large V8 petrol engines - all combined with exemplary fuel economy," commented Dr. Thomas Weber, who is responsible for Group Research and Development at Mercedes-Benz Cars on the Daimler AG Board of Management.