Mercedes: Rich celebs love BlueTEC diesels, Europeans will, too
Echoing a campaign from last fall, when Hollywood celebrities were used to promote Mercedes' BlueTEC diesel vehicles in America, MB has put out a release claiming that the success of these diesel SUVs in the states proves the vehicles will be a hit when the BlueTEC SUVs start arriving in Europe this September. The vehicles - the ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC and R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC SUVs along with the E 350 BlueTEC sedan - can be ordered starting today. The ML 350 BlueTEC starts at €48,400.
Mercedes notes that tax benefits are responsible, in part, for the BlueTEC SUVs' sales in the U.S., but then goes full-bore for the celeb strategy. MB lists 15 celebs who drive or use BlueTEC vehicles: Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, William Baldwin, Kyle MacLachlan, Kim Cattrall, Gary Oldman, Emmy Rossum, Sheryl Crow (above), Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, Josh Kelley, Katherine Heigl, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden and Alanis Morissette. Aparently, Mercedes liked what BMW did with the whole Hydrogen 7 celebrity roll-out thing a while back.
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC SUVs
[Source: Mercedes]
PRESS RELEASE:
STUTTGART – May 5, 2009: 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 ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC and R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC models can be ordered immediately, with delivery starting in September 2009. Here are the prices at a glance:
Price (excluding VAT)
ML 350 BlueTEC - €48,400
GL 350 BlueTEC - €60,850
R 350 BlueTEC - €50,100
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 11:20AM (5/05/2009)
I take back everything I said doubting Diesels. Now that we have our true mental giants of society, celebrities, endorsing them I realize how petty I've been.
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Dave 2:34PM (5/05/2009)
I for one welcome our new vacuous celebrity overlords....
jharlan 11:55AM (5/05/2009)
Who cares about celebs, but I kind of like that the Germans (who pioneered diesel) are producing big, roomy, powerful luxury cars with economy car mileage and emissions. Just think what they could do with a diesel-hybrid system. Don't think too long, because it is about to hit the market and when it does, Prius won't be king anymore. That being said, the Prius is an awesome car, but when competing with the Germans, if you snooze, you lose.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:58AM (5/05/2009)
You're deluded.
Diesels do get better fuel economy than gas cars, but it doesn't suddenly give large powerful cars economy-car mpg, even with the 15% advantage on energy in Diesel.
From what I can tell, the first Diesel hybrids will be French, not German.
downtoearth 12:47PM (5/05/2009)
Germans get desperate.
They know that:
1. An ordinary more powerful gasoline Mercedes is cheaper to own than its diesel less powerful counterpart, especially BlueTEC, like for instance:
2005 Mercedes E320 gasoline has real life 5-y total costs of ownership of $49,957. [1]
2005 Mercedes E320 CDI diesel has real life 5-y total costs of ownership of $52,687 [2].
2008 Mercedes ML350 gasoline has real life estimated 5-y total costs of ownership: $64,216 [3].
2008 Mercedes ML320 BlueTEC diesel has real life estimated 5-y total costs of ownership: $65,717 [4].
So they won't catch those who are willing to have a car that is cheaper to run.
2. Hybrid alternatives simply KILL diesels in terms of environmental impact, performance and costs to own. For instance:
Lexus RX400h Hybrid vs Mercedes ML 320 CDI BlueTEC DIESEL
Fuel:
Lexus RX400h: $9,829 [5]
ML320 BlueTEC: $15,439 [6]
Repairs:
Lexus RX400h: $1,594 [5]
ML320 BlueTEC: $4,409 [6]
Totals:
Lexus RX400h: $53,322 [5]
ML320 BlueTEC: $65,949 [6]
0-60 in sec:
Lexus RX400h: 7.2 sec [7]
ML320 BlueTEC: 8.5 sec [7]
Environmental impact:
By driving a Lexus RX400h over 310.000 miles (estimated battery life) instead of the Mercedes ML 320 BlueTEC diesel you burn ~4426 gallons [8][9] of crude oil less and emit ~60 tons of CO2 less [8][9].
So diesels appeal at no lever. What works in trucks (which bear completely different optimizations, ratios of ownership cost components, mileages in service and return on investment) fails in cars.
German car makers know all this, that's why they employ some commercial celebrities to promote and sell nonsense.
Sources:
[1] tinyurl.com/cvum2e
[2] tinyurl.com/czkd79
[3] tinyurl.com/clpol8
[4] tinyurl.com/dc9n7f
[5] tinyurl.com/cg98q8
[6] tinyurl.com/dc9n7f
[7] http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=133730/pageId=150609
[8] http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/compx2008f.jsp?year=2008&make=Lexus&model=RX%20400h%204WD&hiddenField=Findacar
[9] http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/compx2008f.jsp?year=2008&make=Mercedes-Benz&model=ML320%20CDI%204matic&hiddenField=Findacar
harlanx6 9:31PM (5/05/2009)
Sorry, Those figures mean nothing. You are so blind with hatred of diesels you can't see what's coming. Just watch!
Epyx 12:16PM (5/05/2009)
Sheryl Crow drives a huge SUV! LOL! I love the hypocrisy and I don't care that it is a diesel. This is the person that once said the following in a blog:
"One of my favorites is in the area of forest conservation which we heavily rely on for oxygen. I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don't want to rob any law-abiding American of his or her God-given rights, but I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required. When presenting this idea to my younger brother, who's judgment I trust implicitly, he proposed taking it one step further. I believe his quote was, "how bout just washing the one square out."
So if she REALLY believes that toilet paper needs to be rationed than she MUST also believe that driving an diesel SUV is more wasteful than driving a diesel car.
Personally I dont care what she chooses to drive but tell her to stop pontificating about others lives.
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Epyx 12:23PM (5/05/2009)
I don't think Crow was joking. Why would she use a Washington-Post-provided blog to sarcastically parody the movement she's working for? She made a series of three posts of completely ridiculous ideas: setting a one-toilet-paper-square standard for restroom visits, replacing shirt sleeves with detachable cloth napkins for nose-blowing and mouth-wiping, and creating a TV reality show where contestants compete to reduce their carbon footprint; winners would be vegan cave dwellers who bury their excrement without using *any* squares of TP.
Epyx 12:31PM (5/05/2009)
The EPA shows the ML320 CDI rated at 18/24 mpg - Good job Sheryl you dumbass.
And DO NOT ATTEMPT to say she converted to BioDiesel because that is not what she is pitching.
She is pitching a STANDARD CDI, not a converted, warranty voided biodiesel vehicle.
Throwback 1:19PM (5/05/2009)
These diesels versus hybrids comparisons are pointless. It all depends on how and where you drive. If you drive primarily in city traffic a hybrid is the better option (from a mpg presepctive). If you mainly drive on the highways and 2 lanes at steady speeds (rural america) diesels excel. If you feel the need to show how "green" you are, walk or bike.
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Dave 2:08PM (5/05/2009)
You must only be looking at miles per gallon instead of looking at energy per mile, or CO2 per mile or pollutants per mile when comparing diesels and hybrids in rural situations.
Because when you actually attempt to compare apples to apples when comparing diesels to hybrids, it's quite clear that the hybrid is either a match or beats the diesel.
Throwback 2:27PM (5/05/2009)
I am looking at it the way the average buyer does. What makes the most sense for me based on the way I drive. I personally do not like the driving dynamics of hybrids, they have zero steering feel, poor handling and are boring to drive. Yes, I am an enthusiast so driving dynamics are important for me, the lighter the car the better. I am looking forward to the Honda CR-Z though. I have no doubt a hybrid is cleaner, and thus better for the environment, I don't think most buyers make that calculation so these types of ads have little effect. Other than to rile up hybrid lovers.
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Mike Seldorf 3:43PM (5/05/2009)
@Epyx: I live near Ms. Crow. She drives a Prius since early 2000s, as you can see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5lPkMPEsDk
here: http://i44.tinypic.com/dmxrpf.jpg
and here: http://i42.tinypic.com/10418k5.png
She bought a ML320 for her family in rural tennessee and missouri.I think they are two complementary vehicles and, frankly, a rich and famous person like her could have more luxurious (and less eco friendly) cars, but she seems happy with her llittle Prius. She also never had boats or personal aircraft.
PS: ML 320 is a mid-size SUV, not a huge one (i.e. Cadillac Escalade or Range Rover)
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slk23 6:18PM (5/05/2009)
>She also never had boats or personal aircraft.
What's wrong with personal aircraft? My airplane gets 35 mpg at 185 mph. The only thing I don't like about it is AVGAS is only available with lead.
Epyx 8:46AM (5/06/2009)
She is still marketing an SUV for MB, and not a very fuel efficient one either. 18/24 midsize suv is not very impressive. A regular Toyota Highlander performs better and the Hybrid Hylander is much better. If she wanted some luxury she should have gone with the Lexus.
My point is this: If she wants us to use one piece of toilet paper she should at least sacrifice the luxo SUV for more fuel efficiency. And how is buying a NEW vehicle an environmentally conscious decision? It is only a better choice than worse choices. A person with such radical ideas for the rest of us should be practicing what she preaches a little bit more.
Who gives a F*^K that she drives a Prius? Does that absolve one of any other environmental responsibility? She is all talk and all image.\
What does personal watercraft have to do with anything?
Epyx 8:51AM (5/06/2009)
Also the license plate says CALIFORNIA and not Tenn, not that it makes any difference. The hypocrisy still stands.
Even if she did buy it for someone else how is that environmentally conscious? Its ok for my family to pollute and waste resources but Ill drive my Prius here in Cali to maintain my image.
Epyx 8:53AM (5/06/2009)
PS: ML 320 is a mid-size SUV, not a huge one (i.e. Cadillac Escalade or Range Rover)
By the standards of someone that thinks WE ALLL SHOULD USE 1 piece of crapper paper IT IS a huge SUV.
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Disco Prime 12:24PM (7/07/2009)
Wow. I really don't know what to say. I mean Ms. Crow uses one square per wipe, yet she spent on the order of $68,000-$89,000 for a P.O.S. first generation prototype with a squirt of torque? Wow. I am really impressed that all these metrosexual Hollywood elites and their "partners" are delving into this great endeavor. Why, why, I just don't know what I would do with my life without knowing that the tards of the tarnished silver screen are stupid enough to flush money down the drain in order to impress of couple of enivornmental activist kooks who just so happened to crash their quiche and colonic party.
Water-based urea solution? How else do you dilute urea? Urea is also from...urine! How about a catheter for the driver?
BTW: Never saw what the MPG of this hilarious waste of $$$ is. Comments?
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