Mercedes->ke187 is rolling out an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission slotted for fitment within the brand’s sedans and wagons, starting with the E 350 BlueTEC. Mercedes says the transmission will not only help conserve fuel, but will decrease in-car NVH levels and reduce exterior noise pollution, while providing smoother shifts at faster intervals than the outgoing seven-speed 7G-TRONIC transmission it replaces.

While its just now becoming available in the E 350 BlueTEC, the 9G-TRONIC will become common across the Mercedes lineup. Expect to see the unit find a home within the S-Class->ke359 next, followed by C-Class->ke1593, and possibly the CLA-Class->ke3130. Engineers designed the transmission to be compatible with rear- and all-wheel-drive application, and even mild and full-hybrid systems. Basically, the 9G-TRONIC will be Mercedes’ bread-n-butter ‘box.

To meet the wide range of demands, engineers built the transmission to shift quickly and smoothly without any overly-perceivable shift points in its normal mode and sharp, direct shifts when placed in manual -- and even more so in S mode. The gearbox is also able to shift over multiple gears for fast acceleration and deceleration. For example, the 9G-TRONIC can shift from 9th gear to 5th gear if the driver floors the accelerator. Conversely, the transmission can seamlessly shift from 3rd gear to 9th gear after a hard acceleration run up an interstate on-ramp.

What this means for performance, both on the track and in between gas stations, is simple: more gears equals lower revs when cruising and therefore increased fuel efficiency while faster shifts mean quicker overall performance numbers.

Click past the jump for more info on the 9G-TRONIC and the E 350 BluTEC

The upcoming E 350 BluTEC equipped with the 9G-TRONIC is set to be highly competitive in its class for fuel efficiency. Its 248-horsepower, 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 can cruse at 75 mph in ninth gear while only turning over 1,350 rpm. That staggeringly low rev count heavily contributes to the car’s ability to get a combined 36.75 mpg on the European cycle. That number is up from 34 mpg with the outgoing seven-speed unit. The heavy E 350 BlueTEC is no slouch on the drag strip either. It’ll hit 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds from a standstill.

Engineers built the 9G-TRONIC for multiple applications, including high-performance salons and wagons making up to 737 pound-feet of torque. Such a high tolerance for the twist enables the transmission to inevitably find a home within the AMG department as well without any modifications.

This is also good news because the United States doesn’t currently get the E 350 BluTEC diesel. The 9G-TRONIC’s versatility means it will show up in the States before long and in almost every Mercedes vehicle.