Bluetec magic makes diesels attractive

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Mercedes-Benz has seen the future, and it is diesel.

The German manufacturer, a division of DaimlerChrysler, says it is working on a range of substitutes for gasoline-fueled vehicles, including hydrogen power and hybrids. But it considers diesel to be the most promising, at least in the near term.

The reason: diesel-fueled vehicles, on average, provide about 30 percent better miles per gallon than those that run on gasoline.

In Europe, where gasoline prices approach $7 a gallon in some places, people understand. Diesel light vehicles there now total more than half of new car sales.

But Americans have shunned the oil burners for a variety of reasons.

One is availability. Only a few manufacturers offer diesels because U.S. pollution laws are more stringent than Europe's, and some states, such as California and New York, are even stricter, so that diesel cars can be sold in only 45 states.

Moreover, the standards are becoming even stricter. One result is that only Mercedes-Benz will offer a diesel car in the U.S. in 2007.

The car is the E320 Bluetec, a name for a new, modular technology tailored to meet the tough emissions requirements here.

It will happen in two stages: In 2007, which was timed to coincide with the introduction of new, low-sulfur diesel fuel across the country last month, the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec uses two catalytic converters and a particulate scrubber to meet the emissions standards.

But because of the stricter state standards, the Bluetec still will be sold in only 45 states.