Mercedes C class gets Renault-based 1.6-liter diesel

 Mercedes-Benz is offering a more fuel-efficient powertrain lineup in its new C class including a small diesel from Renault, a diesel hybrid and a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid. The sedan is also lighter, bigger and better-equipped than its predecessor to help it regain its sales lead against rivals, the BMW 3 series and Audi A4. "This is the most attractive C class we have ever built and you won't find a higher quality car in its class," Mercedes r&d head Thomas Weber said.

The lightest variant has a curb weight of 1400kg, 100kg less than its predecessor. Nearly all of the exterior body panels are made of aluminum to save weight.

What is the Renault engine?
European customers will be able to buy the C class with a Renault-based 1.6-liter diesel with either 115 hp or 136 hp . Fuel consumption is as low as 3.7 liters per 100km.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Citan are already the models from Stuttgart to get a diesel engine from Renault. A new reports says Renault’s new 136PS 1.6-liter four-cylinder common rail turbodiesel engine will find its way into the next Mercedes-Benz C-Class, following the introduction of the 1.5 dCi on the A180 CDI BlueEfficiency and Citan small van.

Renault announced shortly that it has reached an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to supply its new engine for the next-generation C-Class and Vito models, scheduled to launch in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Likely to be called the C200 CDI, the Renault-powered Mercedes will arrive in European dealerships in 2015 at the earliest.

Currently offered on models such as the Renault Mégane, Fluence, Scénic and the Nissan Qashqai, the 1.6-liter engine will undergo some modifications in order to be installed longitudinally in the C-Class’ engine bay and may even receive a slight power increase. The unit will be linked to a manual or automatic gearbox sending power to the rear wheels. The Renault engine will only equip entry-level C-Class models, with upscale versions to get larger powerplants developed by Mercedes-Benz. In its current state, the 1.6-liter dCi Energy 130 develops 130 PS (129 hp) at 4,000 rpm and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque at 1,750 rpm. On the Fluence sedan, the engine delivers a fuel economy of 4,6 l/100 km (51.1 US mpg).

Renault-Nissan currently supplies Daimler with the 110hp 1.5-liter diesel engine which powers the A-Class and the Citan small van (essentially a rebadged Kangoo).


The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler are also jointly developing the next generation Twingo and Smart, which will use a common platform and engines. The Mercedes deal could push the output of Renault’s engine plant in Cléon to 100,000 1.6-liter diesel units at the end of 2015.