Will It Succeed?
That depends on your definition of success. Though the Bluetec diesel offers a mix of power, economy, and refinement few other engines can deliver, it'll take some convincing for North American consumers to buy in. Some may have bad memories of slow and smoky diesels of yore. Another stumbling block is that diesel fuel has been running nearly a dollar per gallon more than regular gasoline.
Those who do decide on a diesel may look elsewhere in the Mercedes-Benz portfolio. Posh and practical the R320 may be, the slow sales of the R-class in general suggest it may be the answer a question no one really asked. Though the diesel engine addresses the issue of fuel economy, we think most Americans looking at a Bluetec Mercedes will opt instead for the more conventional ML320 and GL320 SUVs instead.