[Dippy]

Mercedes Benz India launched the C200 with the new CGI engine at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai. There was an introduction by Dr Wilfried Aulbur the CEO, Mercedes India which was followed by a fantastic detailed technical presentation on the CGI engine by Professor Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian. Professor Bharat is the Vice President, Product Innovations & Process Technologies in Group Research and Advanced Engineering at Mercedes Benz in Germany. He had flown down here just for this event. Along with Mumbai, media from Bangalore and Delhi were also part of this launch through live webcast.

I had the chance to meet up with Professor Bharat after the launch event. Here are some high points he mentioned about the new CGI engines:

• The CGI engines have replaced the Kompressor range of engines in the C200. Unlike the Kompressors which came with a supercharger, the new engines are equipped with a turbocharger.
• This is the first of its kind engine to use sophisticated direct injection with spray guided combustion process.These engines can run with high excess air leading to better fuel efficiency.
• A unique feature of these engines are the fast acting piezoelectric injectors. They have nozzles which open outwards to create an annular gap just a few microns wide. The gap shapes the fuel jet and produces a uniform, hollow cone shaped spray pattern.The microsecond response times of the piezoelectric injectors help in delivering multiple injections per power stroke and help in lean burn operation. This helps to achieve outstanding fuel efficiency.The CGI engine's injection procedure makes for better fuel and thermodynamic efficiency than the wall guided process previously used with direct injection.
• Carbon Dioxide emissions are reduced to 201g/km as opposed to 215g/km in the C200K.
• Max torque in the C200 CGI is 285Nm@ 2400-4000rpm (C200K=240Nm@3500-4500). More torque at lower rpms.
• Power increase from 178 BHP to 186 BHP.
• ARAI fuel efficiency figures: 11.74 kms per litre

I asked him about the future plans for the Indian market and he told me that the CGI engines would make their way into the various models on sale in India within the next one year. New V6 and V8 CGI powerplants have been launched internationally. Another interesting point which Professor Bharat made that I didnt know of. The 1954 300 SL Gullwing came with CGI technology. Way back then !!!

Price for the C200 CGI: Rs.28.44 lakhs Ex Showroom Mumbai

Some pictures

Dr Aulbur and Professor Bharat Balasubramanian unveil the new CGI engine



Dr Aulbur and Professor Bharat with the C200 CGI



The CGI engine

[S350L-E240]

Why not LED fog lamps which now have pretty much become a standard on the C class? Also any change in equipment levels? And what is the difference in price compared to the existing car? And 0-100 time compared to previous engine?

But a brilliant start for Mercedes-Benz India. But wonder if the engine is going to be enough to drive sales compared to the 3.

Regards,

[Dippy]

For those who want to know more about the CGI engines here is a detailed explanation:

What is it? :

• This new technology CGI engine is the first one-of-its-kind in the world to use sophisticated petrol direct-injection engine with spray guided combustion process. CGI engines use sophisticated piezo-injectors (also seen on the F700 DiesOtto concept)
• Mercedes-Benz has replaced the previous 4-in-line petrol engine with the world's first spray-guided direct petrol injection and chosen to move over to direct-injection technology for its petrol engines.
• The powerful, efficient and clean engine has four catalysers and a series of in-engine measures mean that as well as meeting all current legislation,

What is the main advantage?

• Lies in the stratified operating mode from which it takes its name. In this mode the engine is run with high excess air and thus excellent fuel efficiency. Now, thanks to multiple injection, it is for the first time possible to extend this lean-burn operating mode to higher rpm and load ranges too.
• During each power stroke, a series of injections takes place, spaced just fractions of a second apart. This has the effect of significantly improving mixture formation, combustion and fuel consumption.

How does it Help:

• From a cold start up, the exhaust temperature can now increase dramatically, ensuring maximum efficiency straight away
• The engine’s innovative injection procedure makes for much better fuel and thermodynamic efficiency than the wall-guided combustion process previously employed with direct injection.

How does it work :

• A pair of closed-loop three-way catalytic converters are joined by two NOX storage catalysers to remove exhaust gases and turn harmful oxides of nitrogen into harmless nitrogen.
• In brief: Optimized combustion engines. CGI (stratified charge gasoline injection). Second- generation gasoline direct injection systems ensure optimal fuel utilization, thereby generating fuel economy potential. Here, fuel is sprayed around the spark plugs in the shape of a hollow cone, which enables precise fuel dosages and thus optimized combustion.
• Detailed explanation: Among the most important components of this innovative direct petrol injection system are the fast-acting piezoelectric injectors. They have nozzles which open outwards to create an annular gap just a few microns wide. This gap shapes the fuel jet and produces a uniform, hollow-cone-shaped spray pattern. The microsecond response times of the piezoelectric injectors provide the basis for delivering multiple injections per power stroke, and thus for lean-burn operation. By allowing flexible and efficient control of the combustion process they play a key part in ensuring the engine's outstanding fuel efficiency.

C 200 CGI Engine:

The C-Class points the way: the power plant at work under the bonnet of the C 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY sedan is a newly developed four-cylinder direct-injection unit with 137 kW/186 hp and a five-speed automatic transmission as standard. This engine makes do with 11.74kilometres / litre. CO2 emissions are 201 grams per kilometre. This is some 7 percent less than the figure for the previous four-cylinder Kompressor engine technology (131 kW/178 hp) with conventional fuel injection

[designersf]

Great technology introduced by Mercedes in India. It doesnt face as much competition from BMW with this engine so should sell well

[anandpadhye]

Kudos to Skoda to be the first to launch this technology in India...a good 1 year ahead of Mercedez...and for less than half the cost

[downsouth]

Originally Posted by Dippy

For those who want to know more about the CGI engines here is a detailed explanation:

Thanks for the info dippy, not bad to see Mercedes work on improving efficiency and emissions very impressive figures on the mileage. Hope we can see more brands adopting such technology soon.

[Mpower]

Great news!

Thanks to BS4 we are getting some really high tech stuff. However after all this hoo-haa technology the ARAI figure is only ~11 kmpl ??

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by Mpower

Great news!

Thanks to BS4 we are getting some really high tech stuff. However after all this hoo-haa technology the ARAI figure is only ~11 kmpl ??

Ditto... but then we are talking of a turbocharged 186 bhp engine with 285 nm of torque.

[Rehaan]

Dippy,

Thanks for the report.

Did they speak about any particular issues faced with the fuel quality in India, and if / what changes were made to better cope with that?

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

Ditto... but then we are talking of a turbocharged 186 bhp engine with 285 nm of torque.

Wonder if its also due to the procedure of the ARAI FE tests ?

cya
R

[avishar]

The Gullwing pioneered direct petrol ignition,woudnt say that it had CGI tecnology.CGI is quite different using piezo electronics,although the concept is the same.

[contangoback]

Dippy, excellent observations. You mention that Benz is the first one to do it. But the "Efficientynamics" technology in the Beemer already manages to keep the 3 series at 120-140 range in terms of CO2 emissions. Compared to this 200+ is still high. How do we know the difference?

[anandpadhye]

Co2 emissions of the Skoda Laura 1.8Tsi are 163 - as per my car manual.

[deetjohn]

The C200 CGI sport a 1.8L engine rt?

[hrishig]

So what's the value add for the customers? Is it mileage is it pickup ? or is it both?

Is yes then how much?
or something else?

Most Indian people don't care about what XYZ goes in the engine but care about the value add to them.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by hrishig

So what's the value add for the customers? Is it mileage is it pickup ? or is it both?

Way better driveability to start with. More torque @ lower rpms. Then, of course, the unit is more powerful and (supposedly) efficient as well.

Direct injection petrols will soon be available with the other brands too (similar to how common-rail diesels are now everywhere). Industry is talking about downsizing + direct-injection + forced induction. Advantage : Power of a larger engine, efficiency of the smaller, lower emissions and easier packaging under the hood too.

Originally Posted by anandpadhye

Kudos to Skoda to be the first to launch this technology in India

Absolutely. The Superb was the first direct-injection turbo-petrol to be sold in India.