[B Knotts]

Some of the paragraphs in the rest of the story that FReepers will enjoy most:

There is no urea distribution system in the United States. But Lenhardt says Mercedes could make the substance available to consumers through auto parts stores and oil-change businesses. Or it could be sold over the parts counter at Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Mercedes markets urea under the Adblue brand name.

Mercedes must design a warning system that prompts drivers to replenish the urea when it runs low. The car will run without urea but won't meet emissions standards.

The car also could be programmed to shut down after a specified number of miles if the driver does not have the urea tank refilled, Lenhardt says.

The EPA has not been enthusiastic about urea.

Regulators don't like the system because of the potential for drivers to let vehicles run out of urea. But the EPA won't stand in the way of the technology.

...

But, seriously...this is all good news for us diesel heads.

[B Knotts]

Incidentally, I will be surprised if DaimlerChrysler doesn't offer the S-Class in the U.S. with the new V-8 diesel.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Hopefully, the largest car market in the world, the US consumers, will start demanding that cars be more efficient and new technologies will emerge as a result.

[ArrogantBustard]

Not to be gross, but doesn't every driver (and passenger) have a built-in urea supply?

[Constitution Day]

Mercedes must design a warning system that prompts drivers to replenish the urea when it runs low.
The car will run without urea but won't meet emissions standards.

What a pisser!

[Rodney King]

The car will run without urea but won't meet emissions

In that case, you just need to be able to buy some at Pep Boys before you go into your emissions test. Other than that, you wouldn't catch me buying it.

[HamiltonJay]

Funny, TDI meets em now.. and been available for years....

[Old Professer]

I've got a dog that could fill your urea tank with enough to get you at least 100 miles and do it about every 30 minutes.

[Redcloak]

There is no urea distribution system in the United States.

There are usually free bottles of the stuff lying on the side of the road.

[ecomcon]

EPA is pissed.

[American Vet Repairman]

Mmmmmmmmm.....urea.

[Question_Assumptions]

This will take off if biodiesel ever takes off.

[Uncle Fud]

Diesel is about 8% more expensive than petrol where I live. Now assuming 12000 mi/year and 25mpg/33mpg for petrol/diesel, you will save a whopping $1.49 per day. I'll bet the price premium for these new Mercs is way higher than that.

[jamaksin]

Still holding out for the B-Class diesel ... four-cylinder, high mileage, ...

[Slip18]

I bought a brand new Mercedes 240D in 1980. I drove it for ten years and then sold it for $2000 less than I paid for it. It was a POS. It took 60 minutes to go from 0 to 60 mph. The carpeting from the garage into the house became black in a couple of years, and it would never come out. It also had mushrooms growing in the diesal tank that would clog the engine. That happened at about the 8th year.

I would never own another Mercedes.

[GOP_1900AD]

RE: M-Class and G-Class SUVs

Hmmmm! Very interesting!