GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – At the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is adding the Vision GLK BLUETEC Hybrid to the line-up, which combines the new BLUETEC four-cylinder diesel engine generation with a hybrid module. This combination generates an overall output of 165 kW/224 hp, and a torque of 560 Nm. The Vision GLK BLUETEC Hybrid returns a fuel consumption of only 5.9 l per 100 km.

The Vision GLK BLUETEC Hybrid’s market launch is scheduled for autumn 2008. The vehicle can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds; its maximum speed is 215 km/h. It consumes an average of only 5.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers, and achieves the world’s lowest CO2 emissions in the SUV segment, with 157 grams per kilometer.

In conjunction with highly efficient BLUETEC emissions control and AdBlue injection, the GLK BLUETEC Hybrid meets the world’s most stringent exhaust emission limits, such as the American BIN5 and the European EU6 standards.

In the hybrid drivetrain, a completely new four-cylinder CDI diesel unit with a displacement of 2.2 liters acts as the internal combustion engine. The electric motor backs up the internal combustion engine during the fuel-intensive acceleration phase by contributing its maximum torque of 160 newton meters.

In addition, the system features a comfortable start-stop function, which switches the engine off in certain circumstances, for example when the car is stopped at traffic lights. The driver only needs to operate the accelerator in order to set off again. As the engine starts within milliseconds, the VISION GLK moves off with no delay. This direct starting also helps to minimize emissions and fuel consumption.

When it comes to braking, the procedures are reversed: the electric motor acts as a generator, feeding the electrical energy obtained by what is known as the “recuperation” process into an efficient yet compact lithium-ion battery. This energy can be retrieved when needed — for the next “boost” phase, for example. All these processes take place fully automatically, thanks to intelligent drive management.