Mercedes-Benz is the Global Leader for Diesel Models Equipped with Particulate Filters as Standard; smart cdi Models to be Included From 2006

The 20 Mercedes models with particulate filters as standard are now available to order. Until all of the diesel passenger cars are fitted with particulate filters as standard this summer, as announced at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, an optional system is being made available in an additional 15 diesel models alongside these 20 CDI models. The environmental initiative will be continued in the near future. “Mercedes-Benz is already the world leader when it comes to the number of models with standard-equipment diesel particulate filters,” says Dr. Eckhard Cordes, head of the Mercedes Car Group. “We’ll be doubling this number in the summer, which means we’ll be soon be offering 40 different vehicles with these filters. Of course the smart brand is included here as well. From spring 2006 we’ll be equipping the smart forfour cdi and the next-generation smart fortwo cdi with diesel particulate filters as standard.”

With this offering, Mercedes-Benz, which invented the passenger car diesel (1935) and the particulate filter (1985), is once again demonstrating its pioneering role in the development of environment-friendly passenger cars. Even without a diesel particulate filter, all new Mercedes-Benz CDI models already comply with the stringent EU4 emissions standard. Customers will also reap long-term benefits from the standard-equipment filter system, as the resale value of cars equipped with this innovative technology is expected to be higher than that of comparable vehicles not fitted with diesel particulate filters.

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