With Audi->ke14 and BMW->ke178 beginning to utilize diesel technology, Mercedes-Benz has decided to join the fight for efficiency with its top of the line model. Mercedes has just announced that the S350 diesel will be coming to the United States. The luxury car will pack a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 diesel that will put out 241 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque, a bit more output than the European version with its 235 hp and 398 lb.-ft. It will be the only S-Class diesel to be sold in the United States.

The S350 will bear the BlueTec badge and will use AdBlue urea injection technology to clean the exhaust. The S350 will get the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and will be capable of around 37 miles per gallon. That is a massive gain over the S550, S600 and the S400 hybrid that get 19 city and 26 highway.

Little is known of the Mercedes' price because Mum seems to be the word in regards to it. Mercedes->ke187 says they will not release pricing until closer to the car's launch in the first quarter of 2011.

If the S350 BlueTec works out, Mercedes might just have a leg up on the competition. This vehicle will improve Mercedes' overall fuel economy and the smaller engine will coincide nicely with the "green" movement currently snowballing into the future.

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