Mercedes expects the addition of a four-cylinder diesel engine to the new CLS range will significantly boost fleet sales.
Nick Williams, product group manager, said he had high hopes for the new CLS 250CDI, which will be added to the range a month after the CLS’s March 2011 UK launch.
The previous-generation model had a 30% uptake in fleet with only one 3.0-litre diesel engine on offer.
The reason for the optimism in fleet is the addition of a 2.1-litre CLS 250CDI, which has a CO2 figure of 135g/km putting it in the 20% BIK tax band. It also has an official fuel figure of more than 55mpg. At this level it’s five BIK tax bands lower than the 160g/km CLS 350CDI with its 3.0-litre engine. However, this too comes in below the all-important 161g/km capital allowance band, allowing it onto a significantly greater number of car choice lists.
“The dilemma we have is that we still produce our CO2 figures by wheel size. In some countries the CLS is offered on 17-inch wheels and this helps the CO2 figure,” said Williams.
“However, we won’t bring the car in on the smaller wheels as it will harm the RVs, so we’re putting pressure on the factory to come up with other improvements.”
Williams highlighted the E-class coupe as an example of how, before a UK launch, the official CO2 figures were improved as new developments were introduced.
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