Blijkbaar slaan de BlueTEC-dieselmodellen van Mercedes zelfs aan in Amerika, dus waarom zouden ze in Europa niet verkopen?
Dat moet Mercedes ongetwijfeld gedacht hebben, want na de Amerikaanse markt, zijn nu ook de grootste BlueTEC modellen beschikbaar op de Europese markt. De drie SUV’s waar het hier over gaat zijn de Mercedes ML, de Mercedes GL en de Mercedes R-Klasse. Begin september zijn ze te verkrijgen bij de dealers.
De drie SUV’s blijven natuurlijk wel gigantische wagens, maar toch is het zo dat de GL 350 BlueTEC, de ML 350 BlueTEC én de R 350 BlueTEC reeds voldoen aan de EU 6-normen, die pas tegen 2014 van kracht zullen zijn. De V6-motor die onder de motorkap van deze wagens ligt, beschikt over 211 pk en een fenomenaal koppel van 540 Nm.
Vanaf €48.400 kan je al een ML 350 BlueTEC kopen, de GL kost €60.850 en de R-Klasse, daar betaal je €50.100 voor. Let wel, deze prijzen zijn zonder BTW. Vergeet dus niet dat je als particulier een heel eind meer zal betalen. Echte hippies kopen weliswaar een ML 450 Hybrid.
A Guaranteed Home Win
Stuttgart. An American dream has come true. The BlueTEC models of Mercedes-Benz have achieved what no-one ever thought possible: American car drivers find diesel-powered passenger car models attractive. With this success under its belt, Mercedes-Benz is now bringing its BlueTEC SUVs to the European market. This is a guaranteed home win. The three BlueTEC SUVs can be ordered immediately; deliveries will begin in September 2009.Celebrities are not the only ones to have their hearts captured by the low emission and economical yet powerful diesel models but also regular demanding customers. The turn in American tax policy has contributed to this. With the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC owners get the same tax benefits as for a hybrid car. For example, the GL equipped with BlueTEC technology can bring a savings of 1,370 euros. Mercedes-Benz will be offering the full range of BlueTEC models in Europe from fall 2009. In addition to the E 350 BlueTEC sedan, the range also includes three SUV vehicles – the ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC and R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC. BlueTEC will additionally bolster the appeal of this vehicle category in Europe.
BlueTEC is a technology developed by Mercedes-Benz for effective reduction of diesel vehicle emissions, especially nitrogen oxides. This is the only exhaust gas constituent which has inherently higher levels in diesel engines than in gasoline engines. AdBlue®, a harmless, water-based urea solution, is injected into the exhaust flow, reducing up to 80 percent of the nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water in the downstream SCR catalytic converter. Moreover, the GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC and R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC already meet the exhaust limits of the EU-6 Standard, which will become effective from 2014.
The powerful V6 diesel engine of the new BlueTEC SUV models shows that large SUVs are also capable of fuel economy and extremely low emissions. It delivers 155 kW/211 hp with a torque of 540 Newton meters, thus guaranteeing low consumption values as well as outstanding performance.
Stars and BlueTEC Vehicles
In addition to the successful actress Naomi Watts and her partner Liev Schreiber (known from “X-Men” and “The Manchurian Candidate”), BlueTEC drivers from the film and television industry also include William Baldwin, “Desperate Housewives” star Kyle MacLachlan, “Sex and the City” actress Kim Cattrall, Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Gary Oldman and “Phantom of the Opera” singer Emmy Rossum. “My ML 320 BlueTEC has all the power and luxury you’d expect of a Mercedes-Benz, plus the efficiency and low environmental impact of an economy or even hybrid vehicle”, says Emmy Rossum. “BlueTEC is really the best of both worlds.” World-famous singer, musician and environmental activist Sheryl Crow enjoys the advantages of the R-Class BlueTEC and echoes this view: “The newest clean diesel vehicles are eco-friendly and deserve as much attention as other gas alternatives like hybrids!”
In the world of music, pop star Gwen Stefani and her husband, musician Gavin Rossdale, also drive a Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC, as does singer Josh Kelley who is married to “Grey’s Anatomy” star Katherine Heigl. Other owners of a
Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC vehicle include Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, singer of the US band “Good Charlotte”. Seven-time Grammy award winner Alanis Morissette chose a fuel-efficient and low emission Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC to feature in her video for “Underneath”.BlueTEC Models: Selling Prices in Europe. The models can be ordered, starting from September 2009.
ML 350 BlueTEC
GL 350 BlueTEC
R 350 BlueTEC
Price (excluding VAT)
€48,400
€60,850
€50,100
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