Modern Hong Kong Premium Vehicle Debates - Hybrids vs Diesel by Gregory Smyth

For years, the debate when buying a new car was whether to get a quieter gasoline engine, which used more fuel, or a noisier, more polluting diesel engine, which may save you a small amount on your fuel bill.

However, times have changed - we now know that gasoline premium vehicles are just as polluting in their own way as old diesels, and clean diesel technology has come along in leaps and bounds.

Now gasoline has dropped off the debating list, and buyers are wondering whether to get a luxury sedan or luxury sports car with hybrid technology, or a clean diesel engine.

Hong Kong hybrid cars have been regarded as more advanced, but as we find out, they may not necessarily be cleaner.

Clean diesel technology has been a surprise to many, including staff at the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States. While the diesel engines that premium cars are using are certainly becoming more efficient, the 'clean' part of the equation actually comes from the fuel itself.

Clean diesel for passenger cars to run on is actually ultra-low sulphur diesel, which can have, by definition, no more than 15 parts per million of sulphur. There are also other environmental clean-up systems on premium diesel vehicles, which prevent pollutants ever escaping through the tailpipe.

For example, on Mercedes vehicles that have Bluetec engines, the exhaust is filtered through a device that takes out much of the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. A mechanical filter that removes dust, soot and other particles is next, then in these luxury sports cars and passenger cars.

The remaining exhaust is sprayed with a urea-based substance that converts nitrates and nitrites into harmless nitrogen oxide and water. The system reduces harmful emissions by up to 90%, according to manufacturers of Mercedes vehicles.

The base reason that diesels are more efficient than similar gasoline powered premium vehicles remains unchanged - the compression ratio of diesel is much better than gasoline, with up to 25:1 for diesel compared to as little as 8:1 for gasoline.

A higher compression ratio means that a luxury sports car or passenger car can squeeze more mechanical energy from the air and fuel in the piston chamber - a bigger push. So, less energy is needed to move the same amount of mass, and a side benefit is that diesels in passenger cars are famous for some strong, beefy torque at the bottom end of the rev range.

Diesel-powered passenger cars are also getting more stylish and luxurious, as well as sportier, as Mercedes vehicles like the Kleeman ML 50k S8 prove. With a V8 supercharged engine, this clean diesel goes from 0-60 mph in a respectable 5.3 seconds.

It has a top speed of 168km/h (who said diesel Hong Kong premium cars were slow?), and side skirts and wheel arch flares give the car a little sexiness, to go along with its speed.

On the other hand, electric cars and hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius have traditionally been the choice for those looking for high miles per gallon.

They are the most efficient car available in the US, however at up to 60mpg are still beaten by diesels, which can get up to 75 mpg.

As one of the world's most exciting and prestigious brand, Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong offers luxury passenger cars and commercial vehicles extensive choice of Vito, Sprinter, Viano, Actros, Axor and Atego to the customers in Hong Kong and Macau.

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