Mercedes-Benz New Model Designations to Indicate Technical Innovations?

Mercedes-Benz New Model Designations to Indicate Technical Innovations STUTTGART, GERMANY (Oct. 12, 2007) - Beginning in 2009, Mercedes-Benz will use new model designations to emphasise the technical innovations in its automobiles and the benefits they provide for customers. The number used in the model name will no longer refer to the displacement of the internal combustion engine, but will indicate its actual performance potential. Addenda such as "BLUETEC" or "HYBRID" will indicate the employed drive system technology. As shown at the 2007 Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), Mercedes-Benz is equipping future cars with combined drivetrains, suck as the S 400 HYBRID, for example. In this car, the performance range of the well-known V6 petrol engine in combination with a hybrid module not only ensures effortlessly superior and especially environment-friendly driving, but simultaneously enables a higher performance potential. In this case the number "400" used in place of the previously accustomed displacement figure "350" signals the tremendous performance potential of 220 kW/299 hp and maximum torque of 375 Newton-metres. The addition "BLUETEC" stands for the automaker's clean diesel technology. Mercedes-Benz cars equipped with it have the potential to meet even the most stringent future emission standards like EU6 and the American BIN-5 standard. "HYBRID" points to the electric motor which effectively supports the internal combustion engine and so helps to cut fuel consumption and emissions. As modular drive concept, "BLUETEC HYBRID" makes possible the world's most economical and cleanest cars with internal combustion engine. The letter at the beginning of the model designation, which indicates the model series, remains unchanged.(Source: Mercedes-Benz)