Coinciding with the release of the 2012 CLS will be a range of new Mercedes engines that will be at the heart of the admittedly more conservative-looking 2nd generation 4-door coupe.

The BlueEfficiency CLS 250 CDI will be powered by a 200 horsepower diesel displacing 2.1 liters. Like the other powertrains in the CLS lineup, this engine will be mated to Mercedes’ 7-speed G-Tronic transmission.

Also to be made available are a pair of sixes, the diesel being a 3-liter with an output of 250 horsepower. The gasoline-fed six which will power the CLS 350 BlueEfficiency model will have an output of 300 horsepower. Toward the end of next year, Mercedes will introduce the the CLS 500 BlueEfficiency, which will have a V8 with an ouptut of 410 horsepower. This engine mix will give CLS buyers the option to choose between a fuel sipping luxury car or a plush and rapid mode of transport. Not all engines will be available in all markets, so don’t expect your engine of choice for the CLS to be readily available in your area.

As part of an enhancement to its BlueEFFICIENCY package, Daimler has announced a new generator management system that will aid in further reducing the fuel consumption of its vehicles.

To be introduced next month, the new generator management system converts kinetic energy generated by the vehicle into electrical energy, which is then stored. Feeding this heretofore wasted energy back into the electrical system means that the alternator’s load can be lessened, which in turn reduces the load on the engine.

The system works seamlessly and transparently from the driver’s standpoint, and the management system works to heighten the charging rate of the battery when needed. Using kinetic energy from the brakes has long been a theorectical exercise and once again, Mercedes takes the lead in putting it to practical use. One of the first models to enjoy this technology will be the Viano, the Vito crewbus and all Vitos with passenger car type approval.

Those of you who will be attending the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC on the 12th and the 14th should check out Mercedes-Benz’s display showcasing their idea of the future of commercial transport. The company’s message is that “saving the planet need not cost the Earth,” clearly signifying its dedication to producing cleaner and more environmentally-friendly commercial vans and trucks for the future.

To give you a taste of things to come at the show, the Vito E-CELL, the world’s first ever battery-powered van to be mass-produced in one of Mercedes-Benz’s mainstream manufacturing plants, will be up for display in two forms—completely built up from top to bottom and stripped down to its underchassis. Fans will be able to scrutinize the high level of engineering that went into its electric driveline system.

Meanwhile, the cream of the crop version of the Vito, powered by Mercedes-Benz’s Euro 5 BlueEFFICIENCY engine, badged as the 113CDI will be parked on the show floor along with the Sprinter 316 NGT gasoline version sporting a factory-sourced dropside bodywork. According to Mercedes-Benz spokes officials, it spews out “practically no particulate emissions and has an exceptionally low carbon footprint when run on liquid biomethane produced from organic waste.” Sounds like a real treat for environmentalists out to get commercial vehicles for polluting the air. Don’t you think?

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the new C-Class Coupe at the Geneva Auto Show held just this March, and now the automaker is accepting orders for the vehicle destined to hit dealerships in June. Merc has also announced the full pricing information for the entire C-Class Coupe range.

Here are the prices for the full lineup of the C-Class Coupe:

C 180 BE (6-speed, mechanical) – EUR33,290
C 220 CDI BE (6-speed, mechanical) – EUR37,455
C 250 CDI BE (6-speed, mechanical) – EUR41,174
C 250 BE (7G-TRONIC PLUS) – EUR41,174
C 350 BE (7G-TRONIC PLUS) – EUR47,540

The C-Class Coupe line sports a couple of diesel power plants along with a trio of petrol engines. The headliner is the C 350 BlueEFFICIENCY’s V6 petrol engine that provides 34 mpg of fuel efficiency. This is topped by the C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY’s 53 mpg engine.

The vehicle also comes with a host of hi-tech gadgetry, including DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control, COMAND Online multimedia platform, AGILITY CONTROL for the suspension, and a drowsiness detection system called ATTENTION ASSIST. There is also mobile telephony integration, including phone book transfers, SMS messaging display, and a handy USB interface.

Aside from those standard packages and features, prospective buyers can also avail of other options such as the AMG Sports package that comes with a multi-function sports steering wheel and seven-spoke light-alloy wheels from the tuner.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class was recently given the title of 2011 Value Champion after the executive sedan line emerged as the vehicle that had the lowest value loss among the upper segment. This assessment was made by Auto Bild magazine and EurotaxSchwacke, the German subsidiary of Glass’s Guide—the leading used-car price guide.

In the value retention assessment, it was found that a 4-year old E300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY model still goes for over half of its original value—54.8 percent, to be exact. Mercedes-Benz vehicles have always been among the consistent top value retainers, and the streak continues up to 2010. This goes to show how highly regarded Merc vehicles are in the secondary market.

Other Merc vehicles that placed in the top three in other categories included the C-Class, the S-Class, the GLK as well as the M-Class. Among the models that were cited are the C250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, S250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, GLK 350 CDI and the ML 350 CDI.

You have to admit, if there’s one vehicle from Mercedes-Benz’s model lines that you’d dream about owning, it has got to be an S-Class. Being the flagship model of the German premium car manufacturer, it has packed everything from V12 monsters, stout V10′s and even twin-turbocharged V8′s. But now you’re going to see an S-Class with a four-banger diesel. So what gives?

Evolution happened. Mercedes-Benz was able to create a four-cylinder engine with enough wallop that it’s willing to risk its reputation by putting it on their most prestigious S-Class models. This is the first time in 60 years that something like this has ever happened. So this truly is a milestone for the company.

Here’s the deal. The engine is a 2.2-liter CDI turbocharged diesel that capable of delivering 369lb-ft torque at engine speeds as low as 1,600 rpm. Not only that—with such an impressive torque comes 204hp. Not much but the combination gives the S 250 CDI BlueEfficiency a 0-60 time of 8.2 seconds. Take note that it’s a diesel. Fuel economy is around 5.7 liters to a hundred kilometers, or roughly 41.2 miles per U.S. gallon as European tests have proven. CO2 emissions? 149g/km.

Mercedes-Benz has no plans whatsoever to release this variant in the US, though. So too bad.

A car is only as good as the engine that purrs under its hood. And for a fancy German-engineered car to be considered really premium, it’ll take a heck of a hefty fine engine to pull off what it’s supposed to be capable of. And so, Mercedes-Benz announces a whole new lineup of engines to make its S-Class flagship range really stand out, starting with brand new V6 and V8 BlueDIRECT petrol engines to join ranks with current direct injection diesel injections.

So what specific BlueEFFICIENCY technologies should you expect to be present on these new engines. Well, nothing less than a load-controlled oil pump and of course, low rolling resistance tires. With a EUR71,876 price tag on the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, you’ll get around 204hp and a fuel efficiency of 5.7l per 100 km.

The S 350 BlueTEC meanwhile will cost you around EUR76,279. With that price comes a brand new V6 diesel that churns out around 258hp, and will give you 6.8l per 100km of fuel consumption. Not bad eh?

There’s more—if you want more power, then check out the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY, pegged at EUR78,718, and the S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY, priced at EUR99,186. These two should easily give you 306hp and 435hp effectively with their brand new V6 and V8 gasoline engines respectively. Need we say more? Stay tuned for more details on the 2011 S-Class.

Mercedes-Benz launches yet another company, this time focusing on the company’s achievements in its bid for zero emissions. Running under the slogan “Fast forward to tomorrow”, the company seeks to show through all media channels—TV, online specials and ads—how far they’ve come in achieving their goals.

BlueEFFICIENCY, which later developed into various versions such as BlueTEC for diesel engines and BlueDIRECT for petrol engines, is just one of the company’s groundbreaking innovations. These were soon followed by the E-CELL electric drive and F-Cell fuel cell technologies, both of which have reached full production status. Mercedes-Benz is working hard to further develop these technologies to better meet the stricter emissions demands of the future, having its reputation as the inventor of the automobile at stake. True to that statement, the company is set to roll out the next generation A-Class E-CELL for production.

The company targets to have at least 85 new BlueEFFICIENCY models available by the end of this year, incorporating the latest technical and aerodynamic breakthroughs to cut down fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent. As the company’s technological profile now stands, their vehicles are already compliant with every known environmental and emissions standard. They are investing even more of their resources to ensure they stay ahead in the zero-emissions race, as highlighted by their latest campaign.

The Superchips ECU will give you an additional 34 bhp at 3,008 rpm, thus giving you a maximum power of 284 bhp, as opposed to 250 bhp in stock form. But unlike most ECU’s that bump the power while sacrificing drivability, Superchips says theirs gives you maximum power anywhere from 2,700 to 4,400 rpm. Torque has been spread out from 642 Nm at 2,469 rpm to a maximum of 2,549 Nm at 3,009 rpm. That should give your right foot enough room to handle all the power.

With a balance in power and drivability, Superchip’s remapped ECU should result in a more edgier driving experience, with sharper acceleration and throttle response. Heck, it gives you enough power not only to overtake but to tow as well. But even with all that power, the engine will still feel smooth as silk. It’s now available for GBP 445. That pricetag includes installation and taxes and should be applicable for all models from June 2009 onwards.

The most obvious changes to the exterior are signified by the redesigned headlights, bestowing a white collar look to the commercial vehicle. The new bumpers, both front and rear, mark other significant exterior updates. As far as interiors are concerned, the newer version offers improved overall cabin quality, a new color combination and easy-to-use ergonomic controls. The cabin noise levels have also been lowered considerably due to improved sound-proofing.

The technology section is where the most key changes have taken place. New generation Vito has made crucial strides towards the efficiency path. The engine now meets the tougher Euro VI emission regulations. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been lowered by up to 15 %. The engine lineup of the New Vito boasts of units 95 to 258 hp engine units all mated to six speed transmissions. Major technological updates include the sophisticated BlueEFFICIENCY features such as a engine stop/start system and low resistance tires.

The workhorse capabilities of Vito have also been improved. Its payload capacity has been enhanced by installing an improved suspension and improving chassis dynamics. Customers can choose from different suspension configuration to meet the requirements of a crew-bus model or high payload van.

Officially, the company sums up the new Vito in four points, namely:

• Drive system: extremely economical and clean
• Optional BlueEFFICIENCY technology
• Robust and resilient: payload capacity increased, suspension renewed
• Improved comfort; noise levels considerably reduced