Mercedes Diesel SUVs for 2008

Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to offer diesel-powered versions of its M-, R-, and GL-Class SUV models in the United States beginning in 2008. The vehicles will use the company's so-called BLUETEC clean diesel technology, which makes its U.S. debut next month in the E320 BLUETEC sedan. However, unlike the E320 BLUETEC which meets emissions standards in 45 states, Mercedes claims its diesel-powered SUVs for 2008 will meet the U.S. EPA's BIN5 emissions standards for all 50 states - a world's first for diesel-powered vehicles.

What makes the diesel-powered SUVs cleaner is the addition of AdBlue injection, a process that adds precisely measured quantities of a urea-based solution into the exhaust stream to help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 percent. While Mercedes has yet to announce which diesel engine or engines will be offered, the company's popular 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel is a prime candidate. If Mercedes is able to jumpstart a diesel resurgence in the U.S., the impact could be huge: the company cites an EPA report claiming the U.S. could save 1.4 million barrels of oil per day - equal to the amount currently imported from Saudi Arabia - if one-third of all light-duty trucks in the U.S. were operated with modern diesel engines.