Mercedes Paves the Way with an All-New 2.0-Litre Diesel Engine

Mercedes is paving the way for the future of diesel engines with a brand-new 2.0-litre 4-cylinder unit that is, as Mercedes claims, “future-proof”. The new RDE (Real Driving Emissions) legislation that’s due to arrive in Europe between 2017-2020 will emphasise a car’s real-world running figures, as opposed to the unachievable ones that we see all too often today.

THE OM 654, therefore, provides the basis for a whole new family of engines that will see an improvement in fuel consumption and emissions. Some of the things that make this new engine so effective include an all-aluminium build, steel pistons, NANOSLIDE® cylinder coating to minimise friction losses and of course weight reduction. The new 2.0-litre engine tips the scales at 168.4 kg - 34.4 kg less than the old 2.1-litre unit.

It will be put to use first in the all-new high-tech E-Class Saloon that’s due in Spring. It’s the E 220d that will be lucky enough to gain such an asset. It pairs the efficient engine with a slick 9-speed torque converter automatic ‘box. Figures come out at 72.4 mpg and 102 g/km which places the premium car into the £20/year tax bracket.

Of course, the Germans do not hold back in flaunting some figures that show its best side, such as the improvement that two decades has brought. Back in 1995, Mercedes’ passenger car average numbers were 30.7 mpg and 230 g/km of CO2. Today mpg has almost doubled to 56.5 and CO2 emissions nearly halved to 125 g/km.

But is the OM 654 as “future-proof” as they hope? Ja, or nein? Ja if you buy it now, but buy it after the 1st of April 2017 and it’s a big fat nein. It will end up costing £140 every single year to tax, that’s an increase of 600%! No doubt it will be cheaper than the old 2.1-litre diesel would be, but it doesn’t bear great news for the buyer.