Mercedes Diesel Gets Banned In Three More States

Mercedes Diesel Gets Banned In Three More States

Less than a few weeks ago, the Mercedes ML320 with a diesel engine has been temporarily banned from five states: California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont. Today, we have learned Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island have joined the other fives, and have temporarily banned their diesel engine. There are national standards, and then California has stricter standards, which as the writer noted have been adopted by 4 other states. These engines are not banned per se, but are not allowed to be sold new in these states. Used diesels can be and are imported into these states all the time. The 2007 Mercedes E320 Bluetec did not pass CA emission standards, but only by a fraction of a percent. Once they add the AdBlue mixture (which the US EPA is almost ready to approve) then these diesels will be able to be sold in all 50 states. As Dan has mentioned, when the new Mercedes Bluetec diesel engine will be rolled out, approximately a year from now, the new engine will meet even California鈥檚 strict emissions regulations.

According to Autoblog, eventually all the Mercedes Benz SUVs will be offered with the Bluetec diesel option. The move was suppose to have taken place this year, for the 2008 models but it will be probably released next year as 09 model. Another issue for the german manufacturer will be higher costs associated with this new engine and apparently Mercedes will have to subsidize it in order to keep the prices down and be competitive. As a means of producing so much power with a minimum of environmental impact and a maximum of fuel efficiency, it is no surprise that BMW will be among the first to introduce 50-state clean diesel technology. It seems like this is a lesson learned by BMW and they just want to get things straight the first time. Hopefully, their prices will stay competitive and we can all enjoy the diesel power in our engines.

In profile, the New Insignia range鈥檚 Hatch and Saloon models are better defined through their unique tailgates and rear spoilers. The crease line on the C-pillar of the Hatch fades out before it reaches the spoiler鈥檚 trailing edge, giving it a classic coupe silhouette. On the Saloon, the crease line continues along the edge of the spoiler to emphasise the body鈥檚 length. At the rear, the New Insignia range models appear wider and lower. The high-gloss chrome logo bar has been positioned lower on the tailgate. It extends into the tail-lights and incorporates the slim-look reversing lamps. The tail and stop functions of the two-piece tail-lights are illuminated by LEDs throughout the range. The Sports Tourer鈥檚 rear styling embodies a similar wider and lower appearance. The main visual enablers are again the stretched chrome brand bar, also framing the reverse functions, and an uninterrupted body-coloured division between the tailgate glass and the longer, slimmer light units. The rear bumper moldings for all models also incorporate several black 鈥榗ut-out鈥?inserts according to the powertrain choice, with or without visible exhaust tailpipes.

The New Insignia range offers a raft of technology, safety and comfort highlights. These include state-of-the-art radar and camera-based assistance systems (including adaptive cruise control and second-generation park assist), premium seats, and 鈥極pen & Start鈥? the keyless entry and start system, to name just a few. Two new exterior colours - Emerald Green and Aurum Green - join the existing 10 colour choices. Vauxhall鈥檚 new Insignia is not only the lowest CO2 emitting car in its sector but now also the most streamlined vehicle in the world in its class. Thanks to clever changes to the body design of the new Insignia, Vauxhall鈥檚 engineers have reduced the vehicle鈥檚 drag coefficient to under 0.25 for the Insignia hatchback and 0.28 for the Sports Tourer. New extended underbody covers, wider front spoiler lips, tail lamp housings designed to enhance airflow separation and an integrated rear deck lid spoiler contribute to the new Insignia鈥檚 slippery shape.

Insignia 2.0 CDTi ecoFLEX (120/140PS) models with Start/Stop also feature an additional, ultra-modern aerodynamic element: an active front air shutter. Air flowing through the front grille to cool the engine usually accounts for up to eight per cent of total vehicle air drag. To reduce this effect, a shutter in the lower front grille automatically closes to prevent air entering and causing turbulence. For cold starts, an additional advantage is a faster engine warm-up, which also helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Whenever the engine needs air for cooling, the shutter opens automatically. These changes help the new Insignia ecoFLEX (120/140PS) achieve class-leading CO2 emissions of 99g/km and 76.3mpg on the combined cycle. Or put another way, an ecoFLEX driver could travel from London to Budapest on one tank of fuel! Source: Department of Transport鈥檚 UK Travel Survey 2012 and based on a combined 76.3mpg for an ecoFLEX model fitted with 2.0 CDTi 99g/km engine.