Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a totally new generation of Mercedes-Benz medium-duty engines with the series designation OM 93x in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim today. Together with the equally new heavy-duty OM 470 engine, Daimler is expanding its "BlueEfficiency Power" engine portfolio into a comprehensive range complying with the impending Euro VI emissions standard. Initially presented in 2011, the OM 471 is already in service on long-haul operations in the new Mercedes-Benz Actros.
"The new engines set new benchmarks in their class. They have been designed in uncompromising manner for environmental friendliness, economy and performance," noted Georg Weiberg, Head of Truck Product Engineering Daimler Trucks, at the presentation of the engines. For the first time ever in an engine series for commercial vehicles, all the engines comply with the future Euro VI emissions standard. Euro VI will be mandatory in the EU from 2013/14. "As such, Mercedes-Benz is once again assuming the pioneering role in environmental protection," Weiberg added. He emphasized that this was particularly important for the OM 93x, as medium-duty engines are deployed primarily in trucks and buses which are used in conurbations, where reductions in emissions directly benefit the local population.
At the same time, the new medium-duty engines are extremely economical thanks to their long service lives, low consumption of fuel, AdBlue and engine oil and long maintenance intervals. Cutting-edge engine technology assures the OM 93x series of spontaneous acceleration and impressive power delivery. One of the technical highlights is the variable valve timing, which features for the first time in a diesel engine.
"We have invested around 500 million euros in development of the new Mercedes-Benz OM 934 and OM 936 engines and their production facilities at the Mannheim plant," observes Stefan Buchner, Head of Global Powertrain, Procurement and Manufacturing Engineering Daimler Trucks. "This commitment has paid off: the new OM93x series is a milestone among medium-duty engines and suitable for a diverse range of applications – in trucks, buses and as an industrial engine." The engines form part of a modular system with a high degree of shared components.
The medium-duty OM 934 and OM 936 engines, with four and six cylinders and a displacement of 5.1 and 7.7 litres respectively, cover a power range from 115 kW (156 hp) to 260 kW (354 hp). In the long term, the two engines will replace the engines of the 900 series launched in 1996, with a production volume to date of almost one million units.
The heavy-duty OM 470 engine with six cylinders and a displacement of 10.7 litres spans the power range from 240 kW (326 hp) to 315 kW (428 hp). It follows the OM 471 with a displacement of 12.8 litres which was presented last year.
The new engines are tailor-made for light- to heavy-duty distribution transport and for service in light- and medium-duty construction and long-haul transport. The OM 936 is also designed for deployment in urban and rural-service buses in vertical and rural-service buses in vertical and horizontal configuration.
Installation in other brands and models of Daimler Trucks on other continents is planned in due course. It is also planned to use the cutting-edge four- and six-cylinder engines in off-highway applications as industrial engines. Series production of the urban bus variants at the Mannheim engine plant will start shortly.
The Mannheim plant operates according to the "synchronous factory" principle. This means that the three production areas of foundry, machining and assembly function as an integrated system as part of a continuous production flow. Global supplier management is also coordinated in Mannheim.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Presenting the most economical E-Class diesel and C‑Class petrol models to date: with a consumption of 4.5 litres/100 km and 119 g CO2/km for the E 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Edition and 5.8 litres/100 km and 136 g CO2/km for the new C 180 BlueEFFICIENCY, Mercedes-Benz is giving an impressive demonstration of just how much potential is still left in the internal-combustion engine. Take the C-Class, for instance: since its predecessor was launched in 2000, the output of the C 180 has increased by 21 percent, whilst consumption has been reduced by 37 percent. The present version of the C-Class is nearly twice as efficient as its predecessor.
The E 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Edition that is available from March 2012 is simply one of the most economical cars in its segment. Thanks to a bundle of efficiency-boosting measures, including an Aerodynamics package, electric power steering (EPS), a longer final-drive ratio and size 205/55 R 16 tyres with low rolling resistance, the model emits just 119 g CO2/km – that is ten grams or nearly eight percent less than before and equates to 4.5 litres of diesel per 100 km. The E 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Edition has an output of 125 kW (170 hp) and is available with a 6-speed manual transmission only.
The turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol unit is the brand new entry-level engine for the C-Class. With fuel consumption of 5.8 l/100 km and a CO2 figure of 136 g/km, the improvement compared to the previous C 180 when similarly equipped is as much as 21 g/km, or just under 1 l/100 km. This makes the C 180 BlueEFFICIENCY one of the very first petrol models to be ranked in energy efficiency class B. The 115 kW (156 hp) engine is very light when compared to its competitors and delivers impressive agility from standstill – peak torque of 250 Nm is on tap from just 1250 rpm all the way up to 4000 rpm.
Consumption per hp halved: efficiency has doubled in twelve years
The tremendous efficiency potential held by petrol engines is illustrated by a look back over the entry-level petrol models for the C-Class and its immediate predecessor, the 190 (W201 model series). This was launched in 1982 with an output of 66 kW (90 hp) and consumption of 8.5 litres/100 km based on the Euromix formula used at that time. When the W203 model series debuted in 2000, the output of the entry-level C 180 climbed to 95 kW (129 hp), while fuel consumption measured according to the new NEDC standard was 9.4 litres/100 km. Twelve years later, the entry-level C-Class from the W204 model series generates a powerful 115 kW (156 hp), but burns just 5.8 litres of fuel per 100 km. This means that output has increased by 21 percent while fuel consumption has been lowered by 37 percent since 2000. Or to put it another way – instead of 0.0729 litres of fuel per hp, today’s C-Class consumes just 0.0372 litres per hp, making it almost twice as efficient as its predecessor from 2000.
BlueDIRECT technology from the luxury segment becomes widely available
The technology of the Mercedes-Benz combustion system, which was first introduced in 2010 on the new V6 and V8 engines, has now made its four-cylinder debut with the launch of the new engine. At its core is third-generation spray-guided, homogenous direct injection with centrally positioned, fast-switching injectors, where fuel is injected at a pressure of up to 200 bar. A single-plunger pump with a flow control valve integrated into the pump module serves as the high-pressure pump. This is supplemented by multi-spark ignition, turbocharging and the ECO start/stop function.
Compared to the engine it replaces, internal engine friction has been reduced by 16 percent, while engine weight has been lowered by 18 percent, thereby setting a benchmark amongst comparable four-cylinder units.
Low friction losses and on-demand control of ancillary units both help to further enhance the engine's energy efficiency. Oil is supplied via a two-stage, variable-speed vane pump. An electronically controlled thermostat in the coolant circuit provides for map-controlled regulation of the warm-up phase, with no coolant flowing through the cylinder head when the engine is cold. The water pump is controlled in such a way that the passenger compartment can be heated up as soon as possible.
The key data at a glance:
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
After the release of a new series of diesel-powered performance cars from Merc's all-time Munich rival, the press began wondering whether the AMG sports division would apply the same tactics in the near future. And the answer is no. According to Ola Kallenius, chairman of the Affalterbach-based company, we won't see any diesel-powered AMG model very soon, as the company remains committed to the petrol engines, as diesel efficiency can now easily be matched by gasoline units through downsizing, turbocharging and direct injection. Other tough arguments behind the decision make reference to the superior technical benefits of petrol-running powerplants: they offer superior agility and response, they are lighter in terms of overall weight and they deliver a great sound, which, all have to recognize, are the perfect attributes of a true performance vehicle (not a ludicrous wannabe).
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Daimler and Nissan will produce Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder gasoline engines together at Nissan’s powertrain assembly plant in Decherd, Tennessee. Production will begin in 2014, with installed capacity of 250,000 units per year once full ramp–up is achieved. The Decherd facility will produce engines for Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti models.
“This is the newest milestone in our pragmatic collaboration and our most significant project outside of Europe so far,” said Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Localized capacity reduces exposure to foreign exchange rates while rapidly enabling a good business development in North America – a win-win for the Alliance and Daimler.”
The collaboration marks the first production of Mercedes-Benz engines in the North America Free Trade region. The Tennessee plant’s strategic location and logistics links ensure a direct supply of engines starting in 2014 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, built at Daimler’s vehicle plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
“In the context of our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy, we have decided that we will expand the production capacities required for this close to the customers. Through the strategic extension of our cooperation with Renault-Nissan we can realize near-market engine production in the NAFTA region on attractive economic terms and make optimum use of synergies arising from the cooperation.” Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said. “Thus we are systematically broadening our manufacturing footprint in this important growth market.”
Nissan began powertrain assembly in Decherd in 1997. Today it manufactures 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines for the complete lineup of U.S.-produced Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. The plant also houses crankshaft forging and cylinder block casting operations. In 2011, Decherd produced more than 580,000 engines on a covered area of more than 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square meters).
Project portfolio expands
Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance launched their strategic collaboration in April 2010, including an equity exchange that gives the Renault-Nissan Alliance a 3.1 percent stake in Daimler and Daimler a combined 3.1 percent interest in Renault and Nissan.
The collaboration began with three project pillars:
- Joint smart/Twingo architecture: The project is on track for launch in the early first quarter of 2014. Two-seater smart vehicles will be produced at Daimler’s plant in Hambach, France, and four-seater smart and Renault production are slated for Renault’s plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.
- All-new entry-level city van project for Mercedes-Benz: The project is on schedule with expected launch in late 2012.
- Powertrain cross-supply: The Alliance is supplying Daimler with compact three-cylinder gasoline engines to be used in smart and Twingo vehicles and four-cylinder diesel engines to be used in the jointly developed light commercial vehicle and in Mercedes-Benz’s next generation of premium compact cars. Daimler will supply Nissan and Infiniti with four- and six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines from the current and future engine portfolio as well as with automatic transmissions.
Since its founding in April 2010, the collaboration has been gradually expanded. In addition to the announcement this week about North American engine production, the companies had decided earlier to partner on:
- Platform sharing: Infiniti plans to base a premium compact vehicle on the Mercedes compact-car architecture, starting in 2014.
- Zero-emission vehicles: Daimler will provide batteries from its production facility in Kamenz, Germany, and Renault-Nissan will provide electric motors for the use in electric vehicles (smart and Twingo ZE). First releases will occur in 2014.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
