22 Jun 04 13:28
From September 2004, Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloons and estate cars will be fitted with more tax-friendly diesel engines. Though the powerplants have identical power and torque figures as before, they comply with the upcoming Euro IV emissions criteria and so aren't liable for the 3 percent diesel surcharge. That said, the new engines cost more - £520 extra for the 3.2-litre car (£36,825), reducing the amount actually saved per year for a higher-rate company car user to around £100. The revised 3.2 is also less fuel-efficient (36.7mpg compared with 40.9mpg before); no figures were released for the 2.2-litre.
