Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec Concept - Auto Shows

There was a time when a higher number on the back of your Benz meant elevated status. Things change, and it now seems that lesser figures and fuel-friendly names may help your street cred. To that end, Mercedes has conceptualized a small-engined diesel E-class that keeps the power but decreases the thirst for fuel, giving the illusion that its driver has sacrificed some form of personal satisfaction for the greater good. Dubbed the E250 BlueTec, it will be displayed for the first time at the 2009 New York auto show.

A Four-cylinder E-class?

The E250 BlueTec concept is, according to Mercedes, aimed at the North American market, and is motivated by a revised version of the 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel offered by the company in Europe and elsewhere. In its tweaked form, the four-banger develops 204 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, no small feat for such a little oil-burner, especially when compared to the E320 BlueTec V-6’s 211 hp and 398 lb-ft figures. Working in concert with the tried-and-true Mercedes seven-speed automatic, the car will return an estimated 28 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway.

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