A report published by Ward's Auto suggests that the German automaker could offer the oil-burning mill in several other models in the U.S. These would include the entry-level C-Class, the SLK-Class, and the E-Class sedan.
Fischer is mainly referring to rival Audi, whose TDI-powered A3 will be complemented by a diesel-burning A4 in the near future.
The turbodiesel that Mercedes plans on offering throughout its lineup is a 2.1-liter four-cylinder that makes 190 horsepower and 368 foot-pounds of torque. The EPA has not yet released the motor's fuel economy ratings, but it returns 37 miles per U.S. gallon in a mixed European cycle when bolted in the engine bay of a GLK-Class.
All automakers in the United States are required to have a fleet-wide average of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, and Mercedes-Benz sees downsized turbodiesel engines as a good way to achieve that target.
In Europe where gas prices are considerably higher than in the United States, Mercedes-Benz offers downsized turbodiesel engines in almost every single car in its lineup. Even the S-Class is available in S250 trim with a 2.1-liter four-cylinder.
