Mercedes-Benz E200 CGI blueEFFICIENCY Explained

“Less is more”. This slogan certainly proves true when looking under the bonnet of the new Mercedes Benz E‑Class range. This is because the newly developed and modified 4-cylinder powerplants have a higher output than the previous 6-cylinder units, despite the reduction in displacement. Plus they return impressive fuel-consumption figures that were previously only achievable in the compact-car class. The Mercedes strategy is to use turbocharged engines with lower displacement in place of high-displacement, non-turbocharged engines. Key benefits of the concept include lighter weight, reduced internal friction and a more economical fuel-consumption map. Mercedes-Benz was the first car manufacturer to introduce spray-guided direct petrol injection into series production in 2006. Thanks to higher thermodynamic efficiency, this technology allows better use of the fuel and, therefore, lower fuel consumption and lower exhaust gas emissions. Mercedes engineers from every development department have worked together to optimise assemblies and components, to save fuel by means of reduced weight, a new form, improved functioning or efficient energy management.

‘BlueEfficiency’ is Mercedes answer to no compromises in performance, more power but with better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. The combination of CGI technology with BlueEFFICIENCY means that the new Mercedes E200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY will have efficiency, performance as well as environmental compatibility. BlueEFFICIENCY means that the new engine would be leaner on fuel as well as on the environment in the emissions department. CGI in Mercedes speak means stratified charge gasoline injection, but in simple words direct injection. Mercedes unveiled this technology in the 300 SL, the legendary “Gullwing” model. This classic sports car was the first series-produced automobile to feature a four-stroke engine with direct injection – a sensational development that boosted the 6-cylinder powerpack’s output significantly. Back in 1854 it was a very expensive piece of engineering and was fitted only with the exclusive gull winged Mercedes sports car and not any other model.

Under the new skin of the Mercedes Benz E-Class lurks a whole lot of thoughtful, eco-friendly technology. And the heart of this can be found in the Mercedes Benz all new 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine. This new technology driven engine benefits from advanced direct fuel injection and a low-inertia turbocharger. Free from any turbo-lag, this smooth-revving engine is able to move this 1.6-tonne luxury car with no issue at all.

Mercedes says that with their constantly-evolving engine technology programme, each new range brings with it marked improvements in the balance between performance and fuel economy. They say that while the new E-Class’s fuel economy generally remains constant, on average the range of engines now has 26 per cent more power and 18 per cent more torque than before.

The Mercedes Benz 4-cylinder engines are made almost entirely of aluminium: the crankcase is made of cast aluminium, while a special, high-strength aluminium alloy is used for the cylinder head. Two forged overhead camshafts with variable adjustment are used to control the 16 valves. A vane-type adjuster with integrated control valve allows fast and smooth adjustment of the timing, ensuring that it is always at the optimum setting. This setup has two advantages: firstly, the variable camshaft adjustment enables a high torque yield even at low revs; secondly, this technology allows high specific outputs. The valves are controlled by means of cam followers and feature maintenance-free, hydraulic valve clearance compensation.

The Mercedes engineers have paid special attention to the engine’s warm-up governor because it affects fuel consumption. This is why the new direct-injection petrol model features an electronically controlled thermostat to ensure that circulation of the coolant is stopped when the engine is cold. This setup allows the engine oil to heat up quickly and, therefore, minimises in-engine friction. This intelligent thermal management system is logic-controlled. In other words, it is based on driving style, ambient temperatures and other parameters.

The turbocharger module is welded to the exhaust manifold on the engine’s exhaust side and features a wastegate valve and a deceleration air function for controlling the pressure characteristics. There were very good reasons for using a turbocharger in place of the previously installed mechanical supercharger – not least the higher efficiency as the engine does not need to provide the extra drive power required for the mechanical supercharger. What’s more, the turbocharger takes up far less space than the supercharger, weighs around four kilograms lighter and, in addition, also offers better noise and vibration characteristics. The Mercedes engineers brought about a noticeable improvement in the turbocharger’s bottom-end response by incorporating newly developed turbine geometry and a cylinder-flushing process.

Visit a Mercedes Benz showroom today and test drive the E-Class sedan toget a better understanding of the Mercedes Benz drive comfort. For more information visit www.mercedes-benz.com.my or visit their facebook page at www.facebook/MercedesBenzMalaysia