[saganite]

Soon. They had to come into compliance with new diesel emmission laws in the US. Mercedes calls their version BlueTec. More manufacturers should be coming out with their diesel engines soon.

Mercedes-Benz Preps a Trio of 50-State Diesel SUVs
By Matthew Phenix March 17, 2008 | 12:06:25 PMCategories: Diesel, New Vehicles
In the biggest clean-diesel push by a European automaker yet, Mercedes-Benz is set to roll out three Bluetec sport-utility vehicles, joining the E320 Bluetec sedan in showrooms. The 2009 GL320, ML320, and R320 Bluetec models (pictured here, left to right), supplant the older-tech CDI diesel models in the Mercedes range. They employ a 3.0-liter V-6 with a variable nozzle turbocharger and common-rail direct injection, producing 208 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, and matched to a seven-speed manu-matic transmission.

The company is claiming the diesels will improve fuel economy by 20 to 30 percent, and return a cruising range of up to 600 miles. As for performance, we enjoyed a brief but informative drive in the largest of the three, the GL320, not to mention an extended visit with the E320 Bluetec, we can say that the 3.0-liter engine is startlingly quiet and truly V-8-like in its pulling power (it has more torque than the top-drawer GL550’s 5.5-liter gasoline V-8).

Although the E320 Bluetec brought to market the first stages of Mercedes’ clean-diesel technology — including a particulate filter and an oxidation catalytic converter — these new vehicles introduce AdBlue urea-injection to further mitigate noxious nitrogen oxides. Unlike the outgoing CDI models, which aren’t for sale in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, or Vermont, the new Bluetec diesels are 50-state-legal. They reach showrooms this

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/03/we-drive-the-20.html

[TheBattman]

But the Europeans have been been burning ultra-low sulfur diesel for years - and have had regulations on emissions as strict or more so for years.... The problem is new certifications required in this country (even though the European standards meet or exceed all the US standards.... gotta make them pay for recertification...).

[az_gila]

Although the E320 Bluetec brought to market the first stages of Mercedes’ clean-diesel technology — including a particulate filter and an oxidation catalytic converter — these new vehicles introduce AdBlue urea-injection to further mitigate noxious nitrogen oxides. Unlike the outgoing CDI models, which aren’t for sale in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, or Vermont, the new Bluetec diesels are 50-state-legal. They reach showrooms this

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OK... where does the urea come from?

Special on-board collection containers...:^)

[Vinnie]

The company is claiming the diesels will improve fuel economy by 20 to 30 percent, and return a cruising range of up to 600 miles.

That's meaningless to me.
My kidneys have a range of 200 miles, tops.

But with the bluetec needing urea, maybe I can rig up some tubing and solve both problems at one time. :^)