Launched successfully twenty-four months ago, the E-Class is now set to benefit from an even wider range of engines: customers can now specify the innovative Mercedes-Benz Saloon with a newly developed 120kW supercharged engine. The new arrival means that the E-Class is now available with six state-of-the-art engines with outputs ranging from 120 kW to 350 kW.

The new E 200 KOMPRESSOR is available now from Mercedes-Benz dealers in Australia, with a recommended retail price of $82,500. The new 120kW supercharged E-Class saloon boasts the same equipment levels as the E 240.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon is the established leader in its segment both in Australia and world wide. Since its release in September 2002, exactly 5,636 Australians have opted for the benchmark expertise of the E-Class saloon. These figures compare favourably to the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6, with 3,319 and 622 units respectively over the corresponding period.

The E 200 KOMPRESSOR four-cylinder unit belongs to the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz engines which is distinguished by the unique TWINPULSE system. It uses a combination of different technologies - such as supercharging, charge-air cooling, four-valves per cylinder, fully variable camshaft adjustment and a Lanchester balancer - to deliver a maximum of driving enjoyment and smoothness while keeping fuel consumption to a minimum.

On the basis of the NEDC measurement method, the new 120 kW four-cylinder unit consumes just 8.4 litres of premium unleaded petrol per 100 kilometres, a saving of some 0.7 litres compared with its predecessor which had the same power output.

The Mercedes engineers achieved these exemplary fuel consumption figures principally by shifting the operating points into engine speed ranges offering optimum thermodynamic efficiency. The reduction of the displacement to 1.8 litres also had a positive effect on consumption figures thanks to lower friction losses and improved thermodynamics. The engine achieves its maximum torque of 240 Newton metres between 3000 and 4000 rpm.

Thanks to the TWINPULSE system, the unique combination of supercharger and Lanchester balancer resolves one of the paradoxes encountered in the development of four-cylinder engines: the balancer shafts compensate for the vibrations inherent to this type of engine and thus ensure a level of smoothness which is exemplary in this engine size class. In other words, by using supercharging and the very latest engine technology, the new four-cylinder powerplant in the E-Class combines the pulling power and low noise levels of a six-cylinder unit with the economy of a four-cylinder engine.

Aluminium cylinder head with fully variable camshaft adjustment

Manufactured in high-strength aluminium alloy, the cylinder head is equipped with 16 valves and two overhead camshafts. Unlike previous four-cylinder engines from Mercedes, there is fully variable adjustment of both camshafts. A newly developed vane-type adjuster with an integrated control valve optimises the valve timing by allowing it to be adjusted continuously. This has a positive effect on torque characteristics at full throttle, on fuel consumption and on exhaust emissions. The valves are controlled by roller cam followers and feature maintenance-free hydraulic valve play compensation.