Posted by Dan on Dec 10, 2009 in
Cool Cars
DaimlerChrysler AG’s Mercedes Car Group has proven their contribution with the environment by manufacturing vehicles with low fuel consumption and low exhaust emissions.
Oko Trend, one of the most internationally acclaimed environmental institutions based in Germany has awarded two Mercedes-Benz models: the Mercedes-Benz A 160 CDI compact car and the Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI van with the prestigious “Car Environment Certificate”. Now on its tenth year, the Car Environment Certificate is awarded to the vehicle/s that meet the institute’s strict environmental standards for automobiles. Only 15 vehicles from international automakers have been awarded by Oko Trend since 1997, and that includes the Mercedes-Benz A 160 CDI and the Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI.
The Oko Trend Institute for Environmental Research evaluated the two Mercedes vehicles along with other brands and selected the vehicles that achieved top ratings in various criteria. These include fuel consumption, exhaust/noise emissions, environmental friendly performance, and other environmental factors relating to the vehicle’s production, materials, logistics, and the environmental management systems done by the car manufacturer. The Mercedes-Benz A 160 CDI and Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI obtained above average results in all of these criteria allowing the two vehicles to get Oko Trend’s Car Environment Certificate.
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Oko Trend was impressed by the two Mercedes-Benz vehicles’ performance. Experts at Oko Trend commented: “The Mercedes-Benz A 160 CDI may be seen as one of the most eco-friendly vehicles with a conventional drive system. The development phase for this compact car was already based on a comprehensive environmental concept which takes the entire lifecycle of the vehicle into consideration. Numerous specific measures have reduced emissions during the production and operation of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class by approximately 17 percent compared to the preceding model. All in all, Mercedes has set new ecological standards for conventionally powered vehicles with the new A-Class.”
The institute gave a distinctive special praise to the Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI based on their evaluation. Oko Trend said: “The Mercedes-Benz B-Class is distinguished by a high degree of variability and spaciousness, as well as convincing environmental credentials”. The 140-hp diesel engine is equipped with a particulate filter as standard. Thanks to a high torque of 300 Nm, which is already available from 1600 rpm, this engine allows a relaxed style of driving and early upshifts. A fuel consumption of six litres per 100 km is feasible in practice. All in all, therefore, the Mercedes B 200 CDI achieves a very good environmental rating.”
Both Mercedes-Benz A 160 CDI compact car and the Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI van are equipped with diesel engines that offer improved fuel efficiently and reduced harmful exhaust emissions, without affecting the handling and performance. Both models are also equipped with quality Mercedes parts inside and out like those Mercedes cargo liner and Mercedes cargo mat found on the luxurious GL-Class.
Tags: Certificate, Environment, Mercedes, Models, Receives
Posted by Dan on Nov 30, 2009 in
Info In the news: Two Mercedes-Benz models were recently awarded with the Car Environment Certificate by the internationally renowned environmental institute Oko Trend. The Mercedes-Benz models that were awarded are Mercedes-Benz A 160 CDI and the Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI which are both manufactured by the Stuttgart brand. The two Mercedes models received top marks during an extensive and critical analysis by specialists at the independent institute.
Both the Mercedes-Benz A 160 CDI and Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI have achieved well-above-average results in all areas. According to the institute Oko Trend, the two Mercedes models have obtained excellent values in terms of fuel consumption and exhaust/noise emissions plus excel in virtue of its environmentally friendly production, materials and logistics.
The Oko Trend institute was so impress with the two Mercedes-Benz models that it said, “The Mercedes-Benz A 160 CDI may be seen as one of the most eco-friendly vehicles with a conventional drive system. The development phase for this compact car was already based on a comprehensive environmental concept which takes the entire lifecycle of the vehicle into consideration. Numerous specific measures have reduced emissions during the production and operation of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class by approximately 17 percent compared to the preceding model. All in all, Mercedes has set new ecological standards for conventionally powered vehicles with the new A-Class.”
The Mercedes-Benz A 160 CDI has a fuel consumption of 4.9 liters per 100 kilometers with a corresponding CO2 emission of 128 grams. Based on the research conducted by the Oko Trend, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is distinguished by a “high degree of variability and spaciousness, as well as convincing environmental credentials”. The Oko Trend institute has high regards for the power unit of the Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI saying, “The 140hp diesel is equipped with a particulate filter as standard. Thanks to a high torque of 300 Nm, which is already available from 1600 rpm, this engine allows a relaxed style of driving and early upshifts. A fuel consumption of six liters per 100 km is feasible in practice. All in all, therefore, the Mercedes B 200 CDI achieves a very good environmental rating.” The Institute also stressed the high ecological standards that generally apply at Mercedes-Benz.
Aside from the environmentally friendly standards that Mercedes-Benz is implementing it is also renowned for its high level of safety features. Every component added to a Mercedes vehicle is carefully scrutinized and tested for quality and durability especially in terms of safety parts like Mercedes brakes which are the primary safety features of a Benz car. Mercedes brake parts are manufactured and designed by the carmaker itself to further ensure quality. This is in keeping with the long tradition of the automaker in creating not only top-of-the-line vehicles but also producing high quality auto parts.
The Oko Trend Institute for Environmental Research is founded by the Bergische University of Wuppertal and has been publishing research reports regarding the eco-friendliness of car models since 1997. And last year this financially independent and neutral institute has expanded their analytical activities and started giving their internationally renowned Oko Trend Car Environment Certificate. These certificates are awarded only to vehicles which meet the particularly high environmental standards set by the institute. In making their assessment, the specialists take not only the vehicle specific criteria such as exhaust/noise emissions and fuel consumption but also take into consideration the environmental parameters relating to production, logistics, including the manufacturer’s environmental management systems. And that’s not all; vehicles need to obtain at least 90 percent of the maximum score in all assessment criteria in order to be awarded with the car Environment Certificate.
At present only 15 car models worldwide were given the Certificate and two of them were from Mercedes-Benz: one from the Mercedes compact class and Mercedes compact van class.
Tags: Awarded, Certificate, Environment, Institute, Mercedesbenz, Models, Trend