New Merc diesel impressive on paper

Newswheel staff :: 19 May 2005 :: Filed under Saloon, Mercedes Benz, Mercedes Benz E-Class, Europe & UK

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Gargantuan grunt from compact diesel V8

That diesel engine technology has been improving at an astonishing rate in recent years is hardly breaking news. But even in the context of the flood of impressive new derv-drinking powerplants that wash past seemingly every week, Mercedes-Benz’s latest V8 oil-burner boasts some eye-popping specs. With 314bhp at 3,600rpm and 538lb/ft at 2,200rpm from a relatively scant four-litre displacement, similarly-sized petrol powerplants can’t compete on paper (well, the naturally aspirated ones can’t, at least). Fitted to the E-Class saloon, the new mill is capable of 0-60 in six seconds and 150mph. Of course, Audi can offer some stiff competition in the form of its own updated 326bhp 4.2-litre diesel V8, as recently added into the A8 range-topper.

Anyway, for keen drivers, mountains of power and torque are no substitute for snappy throttle response and a classy exhaust note. We look forward to discovering how much progess these new V8s from MB and Audi represent in these areas.